Are flip-flops damaging your career?

By Belinda Goldsmith
Thu Jun 29, 1:38 PM ET



NEW YORK (Reuters) - With more women wearing flip-flops to the office this summer, U.S. style gurus are warning that the casual shoe once mainly seen on the beach could be damaging to careers -- as well as to feet.

Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded or other fancy flip flops to the office -- when she can get away with it.

"Occasionally I wear flip flops to work," she said. "I wear nicer shoes if I'm meeting with clients or if I know there will be someone in the office who doesn't approve of flip flops."

Cardinale is one of thousands of young women in New York who consider flip-flops an essential part of their summer wardrobe.

An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer.

More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer.

But many companies disagree.

"The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas.

Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career.

"Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office," said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You."

Doctors say it's not just careers they could harm.

Physicians at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons say flip-flops are linked to a growing number of heel problems among teens and young adults.

"We're seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn't have this problem," said spokeswoman Marybeth Crane in a recent statement.

She said flip-flops with thin soles have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion which eventually brings pain and inflammation.

$140 FOR FLIP-FLOPS?

Flip-flops are far from new, dating back at least 70 years and believed developed out of traditional Japanese woven or wooden soled sandals in New Zealand.

The basic flat sole with a Y-shaped strap, that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, is known in every nation and to every social class.

In developing countries, they are the cheapest -- and often only -- form of footwear, easy to make and easy to fit.

The term "flip-flop" derives from the noise they make while slapping against the wearer's heels and the floor but they are also known as thongs in Australia, jandals in New Zealand, and slippers in Hawaii.

But flip-flops took on a new life among the young and trendy a few years ago. They have surged in popularity with shops now selling them in every conceivable color, with sequins, flowers, and even bridal flip-flops with over 300 Swarovski crystals on the straps for about $140 a pair.

Last June the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team was widely criticized for wearing flip-flops when they visited the White House and met President George W. Bush.

Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee of Color and Trends, a New York-based forecasting service specializing in footwear and accessories, thinks flip-flops' popularity will wane.

"Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."

LINK

[Hairyhandedgent]

My businesses are fairly casual places and I figure most adults know how to dress without being told... but even though summer temps here routinely hit 110 I think I'd have to send a person to find more suitable footwear if they showed up in flip flops ... but then I'm a jerk

[obijon80]

I've heard that flip-flops are a podiatrist's dream come true.

Some people don't realize how dangerous wearing that kind of footwear can be. Even if you work in an office you can drop a box of paper on your foot, someone could roll their chair over it, you could get your toes tangled up on wires with the possibility of falling and really hurting yourself. It's a companies nightmare. They leave themselves open to lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit.

[SoupIsGood]

I don't wear none of that crap! Tennis shoes or dress shoes when needed for me.

[Hairyhandedgent]

That reminds me, when I was at UT in the mid 70's the shuttle bus drivers union went out on strike...at the time many of the drivers could have been characterized as leftover hippies. Other than money the big sticking point in negotiations was management's insistence that drivers not be allowed to wear flip flops and actually held up ratification of the contract. Management claimed that it couldn't get reasonable liability insurance without the clause. the union claimed it's members should have the right to be comfortable. Managemtnt hired replacement drivers and the union caved but the topic was hotly debated in the Daily Texan for a couple of months ...flip flops, love 'em or hate 'em.

[Hantler]

Yes

- John Kerry

MB.. Hantler

[boo_radley]

I hate seeing flip-flops in the office on any day other than casual friday.

[borderbandit]

Hi all,
This is an entirely different subject, but I am looking to move to San Antopnio in late July after I complete my MBA and i am wondering if any body has any suggestions where I should apply. I have already applied at the usual USAA, HEB, Capitol group, Valero, Toyota, and SBC. Any help you could give me would be appreciated.\

Thanks

Originally Posted by MomBear

By Belinda Goldsmith
Thu Jun 29, 1:38 PM ET



NEW YORK (Reuters) - With more women wearing flip-flops to the office this summer, U.S. style gurus are warning that the casual shoe once mainly seen on the beach could be damaging to careers -- as well as to feet.

Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded or other fancy flip flops to the office -- when she can get away with it.

"Occasionally I wear flip flops to work," she said. "I wear nicer shoes if I'm meeting with clients or if I know there will be someone in the office who doesn't approve of flip flops."

Cardinale is one of thousands of young women in New York who consider flip-flops an essential part of their summer wardrobe.

An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer.

More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer.

But many companies disagree.

"The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas.

Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career.

"Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office," said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You."

Doctors say it's not just careers they could harm.

Physicians at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons say flip-flops are linked to a growing number of heel problems among teens and young adults.

"We're seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn't have this problem," said spokeswoman Marybeth Crane in a recent statement.

She said flip-flops with thin soles have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion which eventually brings pain and inflammation.

$140 FOR FLIP-FLOPS?

Flip-flops are far from new, dating back at least 70 years and believed developed out of traditional Japanese woven or wooden soled sandals in New Zealand.

The basic flat sole with a Y-shaped strap, that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, is known in every nation and to every social class.

In developing countries, they are the cheapest -- and often only -- form of footwear, easy to make and easy to fit.

The term "flip-flop" derives from the noise they make while slapping against the wearer's heels and the floor but they are also known as thongs in Australia, jandals in New Zealand, and slippers in Hawaii.

But flip-flops took on a new life among the young and trendy a few years ago. They have surged in popularity with shops now selling them in every conceivable color, with sequins, flowers, and even bridal flip-flops with over 300 Swarovski crystals on the straps for about $140 a pair.

Last June the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team was widely criticized for wearing flip-flops when they visited the White House and met President George W. Bush.

Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee of Color and Trends, a New York-based forecasting service specializing in footwear and accessories, thinks flip-flops' popularity will wane.

"Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."

LINK

[Hairyhandedgent]

Originally Posted by borderbandit

Hi all,
This is an entirely different subject, but I am looking to move to San Antopnio in late July after I complete my MBA and i am wondering if any body has any suggestions where I should apply. I have already applied at the usual USAA, HEB, Capitol group, Valero, Toyota, and SBC. Any help you could give me would be appreciated.\

Thanks

Spurs could use a Center and a long, young, athletic Bowen protege

[Sith Lord]

I wear flip flops a lot this time of year...at work or not. I don't haul things around. I sit at the computer. If I hurt my foot, I would HAVE to be doing something stupid.

Sith

when you get up there's a possibility of you kicking your chair or spilling hot coffee on your bare foot.

Originally Posted by borderbandit

Hi all,
This is an entirely different subject, but I am looking to move to San Antopnio in late July after I complete my MBA and i am wondering if any body has any suggestions where I should apply. I have already applied at the usual USAA, HEB, Capitol group, Valero, Toyota, and SBC. Any help you could give me would be appreciated.\

Thanks

www.hotjobs.com

www.monster.com

start there and see if there is anything you would be interested in.

What do you want to do?

[pshows]

i wear flip flops all the time.... at home... and even then they're a little dangerous. i dropped a full bottle of wine on my toes. it hurt like the dickens. but i was drunk too... so that may explain why it was dangerous. i mean, i also got a fishing hook stuck in my head this weekend... because my cousin was drunk... but that doesn't mean i'll never fish with him again. just like i'll keep wearing flip-flops. podiatrists and head wounds be damned!!

[shelden]

Yup, I'm old enough that "thongs" used to be what we called flip-flops.

[JamesR]

Originally Posted by MomBear

when you get up there's a possibility of you kicking your chair or spilling hot coffee on your bare foot.

I sustained second degree burns after dropping a coffee pot full of hot coffee on my foot.....i was wearing tennis shoes and shocks.

(yes this really happened)

[TexasPandaMama]

I wear flip flops to work... Although I am a stay at home mom. But recently my foot started hurting in the heel and I was unable to step down at all on my foot. The tendon supporting my arch was inflamed... from wearing flip flops. I had to cut them out a lot.

[shelden]

Originally Posted by JamesR

I sustained second degree burns after dropping a coffee pot full of hot coffee on my foot.....i was wearing tennis shoes and shocks.

Poor baby. The skin on the top of your foot is very delicate and tender. That must have hurt like a son of a gun.

I wear flip flops to work... Although I am a stay at home mom. But recently my foot started hurting in the heel and I was unable to step down at all on my foot. The tendon supporting my arch was inflamed... from wearing flip flops. I had to cut them out a lot.

Do you suppose wearing flip-flops is what caused TD's plantar fascitis? That Island Style will get you every time.

[JamesR]

Originally Posted by shelden

Poor baby. The skin on the top of your foot is very delicate and tender. That must have hurt like a son of a gun.

Heck yes it did! I couldn't wear socks for weeks.

So I wore flip-flops to school