My Summer Soapbox

My sister sent me the link to this Seattle Times article, Near-naked feet at office ... and other unpleasant summer fashion trends, By Robin Givhan.

Some choice excerpts:

A foot in a flip-flop might as well be naked. And naked feet don't belong anywhere near an office.

And there's no debating this. Flip-flops should be paired with surf shorts and swimsuits; they should be found on beaches and in public showers. Exceptions can be made for walking the dog, watering the lawn, taking out the trash and ensuring that a fresh pedicure makes it from salon to home without getting smudged.

Flip-flops are sloppy, cheap and generally unattractive. And that is part of their charm. They represent the blissful informality of summer, the most grudging, reluctant response to the admonishment, "No shoes, no service."

My summer soapbox:

• The noise made by flip-flopped feet, or any other backless shoe for that matter, is exceptionally unattractive in quiet surroundings. Like offices. And church. And when making your way to the front of a group to be presented as speaker or with an award.
  
• Don't think you can fix that problem by wearing pantihose. What's worse than a near-naked foot? The toeless clog with pantihose. You people frighten me! One day you're going to be scurrying along, trying to accomplish something, and wind up with a broken leg because you didn't have the good sense to put on some real shoes.
  
• Backless shoes MUST be worn without stockings. Bare skin grips the shoe, thereby holding it onto your foot.

More quotes from the Seattle Times article:

Warm weather brings additional ghastly threats to the aesthetic landscape: leggings and sweat rags.

The fashion industry is a-twitter over the return of leggings, those footless tights that last made a significant stand in the 1980s. Designers have shown them layered under filmy skirts and short sundresses, and in theory, it is a charmingly bohemian style.

Can there be such a thing as too much self-confidence? One must consider that question regularly. So often women embrace a trend that is by all measures unflattering on them - low-rise trousers, shrugs, miniskirts - and yet they still strut proudly along the street, head held high, shoulders back.

The sweat rag should engender no such ambivalence. This grotesque accouterment is most often spotted in the hands - or on the head - of young men.

He is simply hot. But he views himself as exceptionally cool. And so in lieu of a handkerchief or a Kleenex, he is carrying a hand towel.

To which I can only say:

• Please, please, please remember that legging are TIGHTS, not pants!!!
  
• And -- EEEEEEIWW!

What's your summer soapbox?