Ban on flip-flops

[judecorp]

I just got a call from a coworker saying that my boss (we've kind of been skirting around the issue) has outlawed flip-flops.

Auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, sucks. Flip-flops, while tacky and unprofessional, are a huge part of what I wear in the summer when I'm going to families' homes because they are very easy to slip on and off. (Even if families tell me I don't have to, I always take my shoes off when I enter out of respect and because I'm used to working with a lot of Vietnamese and Muslim families.) All the other shoes I have are lace-up shoes.

I hate them, but I might have to break down and buy a pair of fake crocs or something. Bleh. They are so yucky but I don't want to buy expensive or nice shoes for work.

Crocs = I don't care if they are comfortable, you look like a dumbass. Yuck.

Comments

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

I bought a pair of keds that slip on and off and are soooo comfy. They are on sale and free ship on shoebuy.

http://www.shoebuy.com/keds-hampton-sport-mary-jane/252294/539389

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Those are cute but not really my style. But I bet they look good on you!

Maybe I have to go find some leather mandals (man sandals) or something like I used to have. I had an awesome pair of Doc Marten sandals back in the day.

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

Has the boss banned all flip-flops, or can you get away with a nice upscale "thong" sandal? If you can, I highly recommended Merrell thongs. They're comfortable and very attractive, if a bit pricey. They can retail for $60-$90, but you can generally get them on ebay more cheaply.

Still, not $10 flip-flops, but I can't imagine any boss objecting to them.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Apparently anything with a thong, or that makes a flip-flop sound, is out. I have several pairs of really nice thong sandals as well... and don't have any of the cheapy-cheaps.

[msredkitty.livejournal.com]

i haven't put on real shoes for a month. sorry, i'm no help. i live in my flip-flops.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I hear ya.

[yip95.livejournal.com]

I thought they were stupid-looking as well...and then I tried them on. My feet were in love and there wasn't anything I could do about it. And then I realized that I very rarely care what other people think, anyway, so I decided I liked them and haven't looked back. The fake, cheap "crocs" are crap, though. Not nearly as comfortable and look just as stupid.

Now flip-flops...those I don't particularly understand. Useful for the beach or the shower, but uncomfy for long walks and dangerous for kids to be running around it. And downright idiotic when pair with dressy work clothes.

But I'm not really the one to be giving fashion advice, so I simply judge from afar. :)

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people think of the classic Cayman style of Crocs as the ugly model. I wear those for travel, but this summer I'm fond of the Malindi style, which looks like a slingback flat. The Prima (ballet flat) and Alice (Mary Jane-style) are similarly styled and wicked easy to slip on and off.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You have to understand that I don't wear dressy work clothes. Hell, most of the time I'm not even considered "business casual." In the summer I pretty much wear short-sleeved shirts (polos, etc.) and nicer shorts. So flip-flops don't look silly. :)

Also, I have no fashion sense.

[jodied.livejournal.com]

We're not allowed to wear "flip-flops" where I work either, but no one seems to bat an eye if they look a little upscale and we call them "slides" or "sandals."

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Apparently anything that flips or flops or makes that sound is contraband. Bleh!

[colleenod.livejournal.com]

I hate arbitrary rules. They banned jeans and open-toed shoes at my last job and there was just no good reason. (I work in publishing. No one ever saw me.)

One of my old principals announced at my first staff meeting that while the dress code permitted pants (no jeans), dresses and skirts were preferred for female teachers. I couldn't believe he said that. I didn't mind dressing up a bit when I was a teacher though... especially since I looked like I was 12. (I was 22.)

Yeah, pick-up some comfy sandals and see if those pass muster. :-)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

My old job had a "no blue jean" rule which was always amusing for me because a lot of my coworkers had blue jeans that were really nice (fancy expensive jeans) and were MUCH neater and nicer than my cargo pants with a hole in them. Yet they weren't jeans, so they were okay. :)

I think maybe I will get some mandals.

[ladygreyy.livejournal.com]

Wow. I've worn nothing but Crocs since a few months after my leg surgery since they're all that doesn't cause pain. I have a few different pairs in different styles. I don't see anything dumbass about em.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Heh, the whole "look like a dumbass" thing is the name of a group on Facebook that has always cracked me up!

[katishna.livejournal.com]

I have to agree one one hand that crocs look goofy as hell, especially on my giant feet. But on the other hand, i've never owned a more comfy pair of shoes, and I don't have back or leg problems after walking for hours in my crocs. The cheap ones fall apart almost instantly, but if you go ahead and drop $30 on a real pair, they will last you years. I have a pair that i've had for 2 years now and they look and fit fine.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Maybe I will have to try some on!

[theshapeshifter.livejournal.com]

I was at Payless the other day and they had a lot of cheapie ballet slipper type shoes - maybe something like that would bridge the gap between 'suitable for work' and 'easy to take off'?

Kudos on taking your shoes off in other peoples' homes, btw. As a Canadian, I shudder at shoes on inside a private home. :p

[childlight.livejournal.com]

I am just the opposite. I would cringe if someone I didn't know well took their shoes off in my house. I would constantly worry if my floor was clean enough. I never go without shoes even in my own house. I do sweep and mop the floors but I just feel like I have dirty feet if I go barefoot.

[tracy-n-mia.livejournal.com]

I would support a ban on Crocs. There is a ban on Crocs in my home :-) Mia actually has a pair, but Crocs are not allowed on my child's feet.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I think I may buy a pair of fake crocs for my kid because she is cute and makes everything look good. But on me I think they would look majorly stupid.

[marlatiara.livejournal.com]

I am anti-Crocs but I will tell you that there are other styles that are somewhat less hideous. I was amused to see HIGH HEELED crocs among them (those are not the less hideous ones - there are ones that look like ballet flats that aren't toooooooo bad and some Mary Jane ones that are reasonable).

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yikes! High heeled crocs? That is INSANE!!

I am not a fan of the other styles of crocs because they are super girly. But yes, they are cuter than the originals.

[sarahaubry.livejournal.com]

you just wait. crocs are the best kids shoes EVER. easy to clean, easy to put on.....jackson LOVES his.

they have some big people ones that aren't too ugly - i have the maryjane ones and they are kinda cute.

[anitsirk.livejournal.com]

they are especially great for kids with fat feet.
i made fun, now i own 3 pairs. (2 from thrift stores, one from dh, but still...)

[estrange.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Crocs! It's practically all I wear, even in winter. I buy a few sizes too big and it feels like I'm bare foot.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Really? Don't they just fall off if they are too big?

[smurfbrother.livejournal.com]

Nobody looks hot in crocs.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dear Lord, that's funny.

[sacharine.livejournal.com]

http://www.birkenstockusa.com/products/women/sandals/milano/dark-brown-birko-flor/3470

Is what i wear when i can't wear flip flops. I know Birkenstocks are a bit pricey but they last FOREVER and mold to your feet. I've had mine for 8 years and they aren't even close to worn out.

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with this one. I just bought a new pair of Birks, with a heel strap (I believe they're the Milanos in sacharine's link, there), but I still wear the pair that I got when I was pregnant with kidlet-the-younger (which aren't made any more, but look almost identical to these: http://www.birkenstockusa.com/products/women/sandals/Pisa), and she just turned nine (omg, she's NINE!).

Just don't get Birkenfakes. They don't last, and they're nowhere near as comfortable as the real thing. The real Birks are worth what you pay for them. IMO, of course. =)

[quezz.livejournal.com]

I can't recommend Keen sandals more highly -- I own a "dress pair" that are very appropriate for work as well as their offshoot, Mions, which look like the Shoes of Borg but are super comfortable. When I'm at work, I also keep a pair of "school shoes" around -- Converses with anime graffiti.

[odd-dog.livejournal.com]

I <3 Vans slip-ons (the unisex kind). Once you break 'em in (it takes a day or so), OMG, soooo comfy.

[eight.livejournal.com]

I can't be sure someone else didn't already say this because WHOAH, 54 comments! But the other day at Dick's I saw a display of "Crocs for people who hate crocs" ... I also think crocs look dumb, but their new designs are SO much less heinous that I was really considering it. Worth a look maybe?

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

That really sucks. My office doesn't allow them either, and though I skirt the business cas rules on a lot of things, I don't really do flip flops since I have to walk a lot. but all my sketchers STINK, so I wish I had some alternative.