When to Break Out Your Sandals

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

When to Break Out Your Sandals

— by Angie

on April 18, 2011

Here in Seattle where it’s seldom hot, many people break out their sandals in chilly weather. On a sunny Spring day last week, it reached a daytime high of 55° Fahrenheit (13° Centigrade) and there was a sandal epidemic on the streets of Seattle. I was wearing boots and socks.

I run very, very cold, and I can’t tolerate even remotely cold feet. It needs to be above 75° (24° C) for me to wear closed-toe sling back wedges and above 80° (27° C) before I will even consider wearing sandals. And actually, I can comfortably wear ballet flats and pumps up to 90° (32° C), especially if the heat is dry and not humid.

So I can live through a whole Seattle Summer without wearing sandals. That’s why I have a large collection of boots. I do realize though, that most people break out their sandals long before I would, and very few people prefer to wear closed footwear with socks.

Over to you. When do you break out your sandals?

Footwear · Summer 2011

75 comments · Add a comment

Steph

Veteran

It was a very pleasant 65 the other day and I wore sandals without regret.

April 18, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Diana

Veteran

Hmm… I break out my sandals when I decide it’s too warm to wear boots and/or tights with my skirts! (So, maybe like when it’s around 65-70? I do run warm but I also love my boots.) I actually find almost all closed-toe shoes exceedingly uncomfortable without socks (because my feet sweat and then they rub), which means my mary janes and ballet flats and the like can only really be worn under pants where the socks won’t show or with tights under a skirt.

April 18, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Antje

Veteran

Ha. I am SO waiting to break out my sandals. It really depends on the weather. I’ve worn sandals in April before, but this spring has been so cold and rainy and awful that mine still haven’t seen the light of day. This is especially vexing since I bought new ones so early this year, in February… I swear as soon as the temperature hits 60 and it hasn’t rained for a day, mine are coming out!

April 18, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Lisa

Veteran

I am a big fan of shoes and socks. Or sandals. My least favorite look is actually ballet flats or slingbacks, shoes where wearing socks or footpeds are hard to do without seeing them. My feet sweat a lot and I need the material to capture the sweat, otherwise I slosh around and get blisters. I will wear boots until 70F. Then I switch to shoes with footpeds or sandals. When it is 85F and up though, I only wear sandals. My feet swell too much in the heat for closed shoes at that point.

April 18, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Angela N

I live in FL so sandals are worn almost all year here. I miss having boots weather for sure, but am building my sandal collection now that I can wear them more. I might get a couple of months to actually wear my boots now. Not that I am complaining. I love the weather here.

April 18, 2011 at 3:21 pm

Memaw

(website)

Out here in New Mexico, I have been wearing sandals since the middle of March. The weather turned warm then and we have only one or two cool (not cold) days since then. I have quite a collection of sandals because of this weather. Pedicures are a MUST!

April 18, 2011 at 3:26 pm

Shasie

(website)

Active Member

Argh, I wouldn’t be able to survive in that weather. We are pretty much already seeing the beginning of summer here in houston, where it’s pushin 85+ everyday!

http://live-life-in-style.blogspot.com

April 18, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Joy

Veteran

It’s been cool here most days this season and I haven’t even brought out the sandals yet. I’ve put away the boots but kept the booties and oxfords to wer with socks on cool days. I’m wearing mostly ballet flats or closed-toe, low-heel pumps these days while waiting for warmer weather in at least the 80s.

April 18, 2011 at 3:37 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

High five, Joy! You are the only person so far who needs 80 degree weather for sandals.

April 18, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Queen Mum

Veteran

I need pretty close to 70 before I break out mine. I think I’ve worn sandals 4 times so far over the past 2 weeks (today being one of them)

April 18, 2011 at 3:47 pm

lex

Living in Sydney means we have different notions of heat and cold. Wearing sandals in 55 F seems insane to me! For us, that’s the DEPTHS of winter and I’d be wearing jackets and scarves.

I break out the sandals around 25 degrees C, say, 77F and up. I can also wear pumps and ballet flats at the higher temps – all of us can! They test you at Customs for this ability before they let you live here.

April 18, 2011 at 3:53 pm

Marlene

I still have a huge collection of sandals from back in my San Diego days. I have worn them very little since moving north to the pacific northwest. Then last week, I just bought a new pair of sandals.,,,I’m starting to regret that purchase. It has been so chilly and wet that there have been no chances to wear any of them. I’m still marching around in my boots and shoes with cozy socks. I’m sure it will be high 70’s before I will expose my feet to the sunlight.

Angie – I am with you on the cold feet. I am finding that as I get older, I am running colder and colder every year. I used to not even notice if my feet were cold or hot or anything. Now, everything hurts, they are either too hot or too cold and generally super fussy. And I am unwilling to put up with anything other than comfort.

April 18, 2011 at 3:57 pm

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Anything over 70 degrees is acceptable sandal weather – but I can comfortably wear ballet flats to 80. Sandals at 55 degrees is insane!

April 18, 2011 at 4:17 pm

Aziraphale

Veteran

I live only a few hours’ drive north of Seattle, so I could probably make it through a whole summer without wearing sandals too. I certainly wouldn’t break them out in early spring weather! But I do usually wear them for the months of July and August. When I say “sandals,” I’m including the dreaded flip flops. What can I say? I like ’em. For casual wear only, of course.

April 18, 2011 at 4:20 pm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I have oxfords that have an open weave design on the upper part which I would wear above 70 degrees (with long pants), but real sandals it has to be closer to 80 for me.

April 18, 2011 at 4:24 pm

Carole

Veteran

I love to wear sandals because they don’t hurt my feet, so I will get them out ASAP. I’m still waiting, though. Like Seattle, I don’t think we have had a day reach 60 degrees yet. But I will probably wait til it hits 65, and then it’s no holds barred!

I am taking note, Angie, and realize it is smart to invest in more boots. I have lots of sandals because it’s easier to find ones that are comfy, but not nearly enough boots.

April 18, 2011 at 4:29 pm

Erica B.

(website)

It’s been in the high 70s to mid 80s in the last few weeks. Sandals have been out for a while now.

April 18, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Lynne

(website)

How different things are in different parts of the world! Here in Sydney, a max of 55F would be the very depths of winter — and definitely not sandal weather! But then we think jeans are mid-winter wear, and far too hot for summer! sandals? When the minimum temp doesn’t fall below the high 60s

April 18, 2011 at 4:52 pm

Amrita

80-85 F is about right. It doesn’t get that warm very often here on the central coast of CA. I do wear socks with sandals for casual occasions. Other people seem to be hardier than I, however. The sun peeked out the other day (it was about 60 F) and a lot of people on the street had stripped off to shorts, tank tops, and sandals–even some bare feet. Brrrrr….

April 18, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Sheila

Veteran

I really enjoy wearing sandals. but, like Angie, I run very cold. We live 30 miles north of Seattle in a convergence zone (read: where the storm fronts collide!) and I am still wearing gloves or mittens when I go out during the DAY! Except for today, when I did not wear them home after our workout.

After nearly 30 years of living in San Diego-La Jolla, I own some fun, stylish sandals but I never wear them. I take them on trips when we travel to other states where the weather is wam like it’s supposed to be in the summer. Oh, I do have one pair of classic huaraches that I wear if the mercury hits 75 or above. The shoes are in pristine condition.

April 18, 2011 at 5:13 pm

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I am in the same boat as you, Angie; I don’t bring out sandals when my tootsies can be cold

April 18, 2011 at 5:14 pm

Angela

I live an hour outside Toronto and today was 5 degrees Celsius!!! I don’t wear sandals until at least 25 degrees C. Our work dress code doesn’t have any rules about it but some people are sloppy with them…Crocs don’t count lol

April 18, 2011 at 5:29 pm

Jessica

(website)

I’ve been wearing them off and on since mid March (temps in the 60s.) I am cold natured, but if I’m comfortable with no tights, I’m fine in sandals!

April 18, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Melody

Active Member

In the south, we have some very warm days sprinkled in February, probably half and half in March, and now in April, we’re having temps reach the mid-80’s with frequent heavy thunderstorms and tornado activity. I’ve already made the switch from booties to flats (no socks) and peeptoes/slingbacks. I’ve got my eye on some cute little rubber flats from LL Bean for the rainy days. I’ll probably wait until May to pull out the sandals when morning temps are consistently out of the 40’s.

April 18, 2011 at 5:36 pm

Kristine

Veteran

I actually don’t have sandals! I wear flip flops on days I’m in the yard and ballet flats nearly everywhere else. I’m hoping to find a pair this summer. I run cold also though, so probably not until it’s consistently in the 80s.

April 18, 2011 at 6:09 pm

catgirl

Veteran

I would never wear sandals if I didn’t break them out at around 70 degrees here. But I’m not happy about it. I have exactly 2 pairs of open toe shoes, other than the ones I use for poolside/beach trips outside of Alaska.

April 18, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Linda

The vast majority of my shoes that are really comfortable for extended walking are boots or sandals, so I pretty much have to start wearing sandals at least on weekends when it gets too warm for boots. My feet do tend to get hot easily, so it’s OK. Still not sandal weather here in Boston, though!

April 18, 2011 at 6:38 pm

Jonesy

Veteran

I run hot, so I’m going to say anything above 60 degrees F (no rain) and the sandals are out! I vividly remember attending an outdoor wedding in downtown Chicago. It was mid-April and in the low 50s, and we were near the lake, so it was probably upper 40s. I had planned to wear a black dress, no hose, and slingbacks, and by golly that’s what I wore! I admit to being a tiny bit chilly at the ceremony (sitting down, in the shade) but as long as I was moving around I wasn’t cold, and I looked good, which is all that counts :).

April 18, 2011 at 6:43 pm

Sarah Crabtree

(website)

Michigan girl here — now I live in Chicago. The sandals come on when the snow melts. The shoes come on when the snow returns. As a result of this attitude, my sweet grandma bought me these: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61959?feat=2-SR0

April 18, 2011 at 6:46 pm

gina

(website)

I run a bit cold. I prefer warmer weather for sandals – at least mid-70’s for most of the day. I can comfortably wear closed shoes with socks or tights up into the mid-80’s.

A few days ago, we had a high in the upper 50’s, and I saw about half a dozen people in sandals with bare feet. Just looking at them made me chilly!

April 18, 2011 at 6:57 pm

Niki Lea

Veteran

Our weather is almost identical to Seattle’s. But I’ve worn sandals three or four times already since February. Quite clearly I’m in denial about how warm it actually is, but I’m so ready for warmer weather and sunshine! When I do wear sandals I get looks and comments from coworkers.

April 18, 2011 at 7:08 pm

Kari

Veteran

I can *stand* to wear sandals when it is above about 70 degrees, and definitely no colder! My feet are not the coldest part of my body – really, it’s my arms and upper body that get chilled more than anything else.

That being said, my sandal-wearing days are still few and far between since I prefer just to wear them when it is 75-80 degrees or warmer. This is one of the many reasons I don’t go in for pedicures. There are just so few opportunities for anyone but me to ever see my toenails!

April 18, 2011 at 7:12 pm

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Oh wow!! I run very warm and would rather be too cold than too hot any day of the week (for instance, today I wore only a leather jacket when the temperature was around 1 degree C), but even I wouldn’t be wearing sandals at 13C. I suspect some of it is psychological. Here in Canada we’re assured of a long sweltering summer with plenty of days where the mercury hits 30C (uuuuuuugh), so I think most of us feel exempt from the pressure to break out our summer footwear at the earliest opportunity. Personally my sandals don’t come out until the temperature hits at least 20C or 70F. If I wore closed-toed shoes too far beyond that threshold, though, I’d probably pass out from heat stroke.

April 18, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Eva

Active Member

If it is sunny, then I would wear sandals if the high will get to 65 or better (I might start out at 55). But if it is raining when I leave for work, I put my sandals away. I don’t like the feel of wet squishy feet when I get to the office, especially in the cool air conditioning.

April 18, 2011 at 7:41 pm

Debbie

Veteran

Since it was 98 degrees here today the sandals have been out for awhile. I still wear ballet flats too. I would love more boot weather.

April 18, 2011 at 7:42 pm

Maya

Veteran

I find any closed shoes worn without socks painful, so I don’t own too many pumps and ballet flats. In theory I could go straight from boots to sandals, but I love the look of dainty little flats and pretty, funky pumps so I still wear them when I won’t be walking much.

I’m not a huge fan of sandals aesthetically. I would much rather wear boots. However, they are much more comfortable for me than pumps or flats, and much better suited to summers here. Once it’s consistently over 75, I am in sandals until autumn mercifully begins.

April 18, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Heather

Veteran

50+ and sandals and peeps are in full effect for me. I always jump the gun.

April 18, 2011 at 8:37 pm

taylor

Veteran

I am close to freezing most of the year too, but I do wear peeptoes year round on days when the rain isn’t pouring down.
I wear sandals when it is a bit cooler than I like…basically if the shoe works with the outfit…it gets worn no matter the weather.

April 18, 2011 at 10:00 pm

Jenna S.

Active Member

I run pretty cold, too. I wear boots and thick socks if it’s below 50. Once the weather breaks into the 50s (and I judge by what the temperature is when I leave the house, not what the high is), I start wearing closed-toe flats and heels. Peep-toes and sandals only come out once the weather hits 70.

April 18, 2011 at 10:36 pm

Meercat

(website)

Here in chilly Northeast England, I have been surprised to see people wearing sandals at the first hint of warm-ish weather, 15-20 degrees C. We just moved here ourselves from North Carolina and what’s funny to me is that while you’ll see some people in capris and sandals, other people will still be in Uggs and parkas!

April 18, 2011 at 11:25 pm

Wendy

Reading these posts ,it does show how we humans adapt to our surroundings . Here in temperate northern England though we can need boots & sandals in the same day! Today 68 degrees is forecast in an unseasonable ‘ heatwave’ so there will be shorts & sandals everywhere . The thought of daily 80-85 degrees fills me with dismay but , I suppose I would adapt.

April 19, 2011 at 12:28 am

Louise

Veteran

I painted my toenails mint choc chip (pale greeny blue) and have been wearing sandals on and off for the past 2 weeks. We are having a particularly balmy spring in my part of the UK with day time highs of around 18′ c. It’s still cold at night though so I still have my winter duvet on and wear shoes if I’m going to be out late x

April 19, 2011 at 12:37 am

rute

Veteran

13ºc that’s our winter temperature! Love Portugal.
For me it has to be above 22ºc to wear sandals and above 25ºc I cannot tolerate flats or shoes only sandals. I never have cold feet!

April 19, 2011 at 2:44 am

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

My feet get hot before the rest of me does, so I have worn mine a couple of times this spring already: once when it soared into the 70s one weekend, and last weekend when it was in the mid-50s. I was super-bundled up on top and closed shoes just felt like too much. But usually it’s not until it is in the 60s that they get busted out.

April 19, 2011 at 3:27 am

Sarah

Active Member

I’m with you, kind of. When I lived in Seattle I don’t think I even owned a pair of sandals, it just never got that warm. I had one pair of flip flop style sandals, but those were for wearing out on the patio to drink coffee in the morning or something, not to wear out and about.

Now that I’m back in the midwest, I wear a lot more sandals. We’ve already been up in the 90s and it’s only April! In the summer here I love to take my shoes off when I get home to keep cool.

The thing is, my feet are my least favorite part of my body, so mostly I am aching for Seattle.

April 19, 2011 at 4:54 am

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Well i wore platform sandals with tights last weekend and it was 50 something. But for actual sandal weather i think i need at least 70 degrees.

April 19, 2011 at 6:48 am

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I break out the sandals as soon as it hits the mid 70s, which here usually occurs in March. I’ve been wearing sandals for weeks now, and will probably continue through October at least.
I wish we had a longer boot season because I adore them.

April 19, 2011 at 7:31 am

rae

(website)

Veteran

70 is still too cold for me to wear sandals. 75-80 is more like it, but we get way more of that temp range than Seattle does.

April 19, 2011 at 7:49 am

Lisette

(website)

Active Member

I can’t wear sandals at work for safety reasons so I don’t have very many. Usually, a late Easter/ Mother’s day is a good call for breaking them out on the weekend. Not this year though! We are having sleet and snow and could see a couple of inches accumulation! Will this winter ever go away!

April 19, 2011 at 8:19 am

Sara

I live in Texas so I have been known to break them out in February! You can almost wear sandals here year round.

April 19, 2011 at 8:23 am

Vani

Veteran

I broke out my sandals when I woke up one morning and it was just too warm even in the house. Somehow the temperature had jumped from a high of 50s to a balmy 70 degrees early in the morning. We had a short fall/winter last year which makes me very sad because I love wearing boots

April 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

Barbara

Veteran

I broke out my black patent gladiators today! It’s been warm the last couple of weeks, so I’ve been wearing sandals a while. I’m so hot-natured I wear sandals in the house, year round!

It’s 75 degrees and sunny right now. Sending some sun your way, Angie!

April 19, 2011 at 8:57 am

Meg

When to break out? They never get packed up here in Florida! There are definitely some boot days here, but you can usually count on cold spells to last no more than a few days and even then the afternoons tend to warm up quickly. It’s 85 here today already and we’ve seen 90 degrees this month.

April 19, 2011 at 9:48 am

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I’ll break them out for a sunny 65, otherwise it’s 70.

I have sort of a crazy metabolism; I heat up very easily however if I’m not moving I also get cold pretty easily. When I lived in NYC I often did not wear a jacket in the winter because I heated up too much walking to school. But I -always- have gloves.

April 19, 2011 at 10:10 am

Nomi

I live in the Washington, DC area. Our temperatures fluctuate wildly, so you see women in boots and women in sandals sitting next to one another on the subway. Sometimes this has to do with their individual metabolisms, but sometimes it’s because they gambled on today’s weather being anything like yesterday’s!

I run very warm, but I have a management job in a somewhat conservative workplace. So on my own time (errands, funtime) I will wear sandals & flip-flops even in 40-degree (F) weather, but don’t switch to sandals (usually with heels) for work until it’s hot enough that I don’t think anyone would argue — at least 80 degrees F.

April 19, 2011 at 10:41 am

mamark

I try not to wear sandals before my kids’ spring break (first week of April) – not only because we’re still having intermittent warm/rainy days, but because I like giving my toenails a break from polish from November until sandal weather.

April 19, 2011 at 11:09 am

Bevs

For me to break out the sandals it has to be at least 70 (though if the sun is out, I can get away with 65.) I am still wearing boots and tights here in Seattle, with temps in the low 50s. I have worn ballet flats a couple of times this month but that was kind of pushing it for me.

April 19, 2011 at 11:43 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

If it’s above 65 and not raining, I’m all about the sandals! But today it’s in the upper 60s and raining, so I went back to boots.

April 19, 2011 at 12:02 pm

slythwolf

(website)

It has to be at least 70 when I leave the house, or forget it. Also, I think of open toes as very casual, and they are forbidden at my workplace, so I actually don’t think I own any right now, other than a $2 pair of flip flops.

April 19, 2011 at 12:19 pm

Kate

80 degrees. That’s my minimum for sandal wear. If my feet and hands are cold, I’m cold. That’s also why I have a huge collection of gloves, one of my big indulgences.

Once the temps get above 80 degrees and stay there, my preference would be to run around barefoot.

April 19, 2011 at 12:20 pm

Debora

Veteran

Usually about the same time that I break out the shorts, and the temperatures have to be in the high 70’s or 80’s for that.

April 19, 2011 at 1:31 pm

Inge

My sandal routine is exactly the same as yours, Angie, and for exactly the same reason: I am very very unhappy when my feet are cold, and they get cold very quickly. If I don’t count my yellow slingback wedges that have a small cut-out at the toe area, I think I have one pair of “real” sandals and I didn’t even wear them once last Summer. I’m perfectly happy wearing boots with socks, even in Summer, and pumps etc. And even if I wear sandals when it’s really warm, I still usually need to switch them out for another pair of shoes in the evening, as soon as the sun goes away, I start to cool off again:-)

April 19, 2011 at 1:44 pm

FancyMomma

(website)

I usually start the transition transition from boots (everyday in the winter!) to flats, pumps and not-too-open sandals around the beginning of April (still wearing boots on cool or rainy days). Then, by the end of May/beginning of June, I am usually completely into not-too-open sandals and peep-toes and sling-backs. Very open sandals and flip-flops come out in June…and stay until September, and then I make the backwards transition back to boots.

April 19, 2011 at 1:45 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

See! You virtually all break out your sandals in cooler temperatures than I do. Rae and Lex, you bat on my cold feet Team.

High five, Inge! We have exactly the same foot temperature style

April 19, 2011 at 2:36 pm

Late Bloomer

(website)

Active Member

I need to have it 85 or higher to wear sandals which means I wear them 6 or 7 months each year. But then I get cold really easily.

April 19, 2011 at 4:48 pm

Inge

High five indeed, Angie!-)

April 20, 2011 at 2:22 am

LuAnn

Active Member

It was 91 deg here yesterday. I usually break out the sandals when we get to upper 70’s because I don’t like cold feet either.

April 20, 2011 at 3:19 am

shirley bryant

Member

well; i break out with my sandals 2 weeks after the weather has ben warn. but i do love the winter. i am a big fan of sandals with heels or platform. the weather is so funny in new york. i just love wearing heel hot or cold.it all about looking good, whatever you have on.

April 20, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Fathenry

In Seattle, I feel like I’m pushing it to exchange the boots and puffer jacket for pumps (sans hose) and trench. Today was nice enough that pumps with slacks worked okay. Must be about 80 degrees to wear sandals!

April 20, 2011 at 8:14 pm

Bianca

Veteran

I think it looks a little odd when people break out sandals so early in the year. I’m a summer lover too, but I need to wait until the 70’s (maybe mid 60’s) b/f the sandals come out. I have stopped wearing boots here in CT…I’m onto sockless ballet flats (as if you would wear them another way?)

April 21, 2011 at 5:38 pm

cheryl

Veteran

It has to be in the mid 70’s or hotter for me. I hate having cold feet!

April 24, 2011 at 8:48 pm

Claire

I live in Phoenix, and here, the question is more, “When do you break out the boots?” as we try to stretch our fall/winter/spring as long as we can. Now it is July and most of us HAVE to wear sandals. Case in point: I just thrifted a beautiful pair of metallic Anne Klein taupe suede driving mocs. I wanted to wear them today….but even though I run cold, at 100+F, it’s just too hot for my feet in flats.

We have two seasons here, Summer and Christmas. I see snow birds wearing sandals in January. I wait as long as I can, wearing ballet flats well into the 90s, which this year was through June. Now we are into the long haul. I won’t be able to wear a flat until late September.

July 16, 2011 at 6:46 pm

Antome

Really the only guy here :)?
It’s ok, I guess. For me it’s in June, around these days, when I consider going out in shorts, that’s when I switch to sandals.

June 3, 2015 at 7:20 am

Kaysha Smith

Usually, the appropriate time to wear sandals is 70°+

March 16, 2016 at 11:57 pm

Annie

I take out my sandals when the temp reaches 50 and then if it dips a little colder still have a hard time putting on closed shoes. So pretty much once the temp hits 50degrees Fahrenheit I put away all closed shoes except for my gym sneakers until November. I live in the Northeast

April 15, 2019 at 6:13 am

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