I Hate Flip Flops

I hate flip flops. I despise everything about them. That stupid thing that goes between your toes. The weird way they make you walk. And what about stacked or platform flip flops? Ick. I’m not going to pretend like I was never like most folks, stocking up on the $2 rubber shoes in every single color whenever I had the chance, because I did. Oh, I was bad. I used to wear flip flops with nice dresses, jeans, to work, to church… Heck, at one time, in my mind, flip flops were the epitome of versatility.

After almost a decade of living in Philadelphia, and 5 years of traveling to and from work on public transportation, flip flops lost their luster to me. Maybe it was the raggedy heels that I’d see on a daily basis that turned me off of flip flops. Look, when you’re walking in the concrete jungle in flip flops, your feet are going to take a beating. No matter what you do, if you wear flip flops regularly in the city, your feet are going to get dry, cracked, and dirty. From my own experience, it took months and months of intensive treatment after wearing flip flops every day one summer to get back to the days of soft, supple feet. Oh goodness, and I don’t even want to talk about that obnoxious flip floppy sound they make when you walk…

I understand the appeal, though. Flip flops are easy. They’re inexpensive. They (appear to, but don’t) go with everything. If you’re going to the beach, hanging out around the house, or are running a quick errand, by all means, wear your clip clop flip flops. If you’re headed out to dinner with your man, or out shopping with your girlfriends, hang the flip flops up and give these alternatives a try:

Thong sandals: Although they still have that dreaded toe thing, thong sandals are typically more sturdy than flip flops. They have a strap around the ankle that provides support, and are just as versatile as flip flops.

Gladiator sandals: Trendy, yet still casual, gladiator sandals can add an extra oomph to a simple outfit in the way that flip flops never could. Dress them up, or dress them down, they might take a few seconds more to put on than sliding on your trusty flip flops, but it’ll be worth it!

Wedges: If you absolutely must slide into a shoe, give wedges a try. They are a lot more sturdy than flip flops, and even a tiny wedge gives your booty and legs a little pop.

How do YOU feel about flip flops? Are they your go to shoes? Are you willing to give one of these alternatives a try?