https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 01 May 2026 16:10:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2339228 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:32:20 +0000 LaPed 2339228@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Socks and sandals seems to be *the* dominant footwear look for high school and college students in the northeast, and also the upper Midwest (where I’ve been traveling for the past month). I’m not convinced “feet are gross” and stalker prevention are the only or main reasons for it. I think it’s also an increasing unwillingness to wear anything uncomfortable. Socks means fewer blisters, and also comfort across a wider range of temps. And then there’s youthful contrarianism and the desire to embrace and wear anything that the previous generation dubbed irredeemably uncool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2339196 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:20:38 +0000 Anonymous 2339196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Never tried Docs, but in general, I'm not comfortable wearing any closed footwear without socks/hosiery- except maybe ballet flats or mules. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2339058 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:56:42 +0000 Zaeobi 2339058@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder whether socks with Docs makes sense for breaking them in too? (I've never bought any but I believe the leather is quite stiff at first? It could easily rub you the wrong way (literally!) without socks at first, no?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2338773 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 11:48:22 +0000 Jen 2338773@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All this does make me recall that in the 90s, I routinely wore Docs with socks with all summer outfits—not to hide my feet, but because it was the look. So it’s hard to know why people are doing what they do.</p> <p>Now, ironically, unlike others eschewing sandals to hide bunions, I often wear sandals BECAUSE of my bunions—sandals often squeeze them the least. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2338772 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 11:31:14 +0000 Anonymous 2338772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2338724 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 21:38:17 +0000 Angie 2338724@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've just come back from HOT Greece, and almost every G-Zer was SOCKLESS :)</p> <p>Birkies, flip flops, or flat sandals with bare feet. Usually some type of gladiator. That covers many countries across the globe.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337490 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 22:07:36 +0000 Anonymous 2337490@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Been paying more attention to people's shoes at my different events this week.<br /> Mostly crocs and sneakers on kids and young adults. A few sockless sandals, but pretty rare.<br /> Mostly flat sandals and sneakers for everyone else, including quite a few sandals on 40+ y/o men. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337465 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 18:16:20 +0000 Echo 2337465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a Gen Zer who never, ever wears sandals. She has never mentioned the foot fetish thing, but I think it is more what they perceive as socially acceptable within their groups and fashionable.</p> <p>But the fetish thing strikes me as a really bad reason not to wear sandals. Realistically, while they may not be as popular or as exploited online, there are people with ring fetishes, earring fetishes, muscle (usually on women) fetishes, even disability and ethnic background fetishes. Honestly, you name it, and there is probably someone who has a fetish for it. You cannot live your life always worrying about the creeps who might take your picture in public.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337426 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 02:13:22 +0000 elpgal 2337426@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First no side-parts, now no bare feet? And this is the gen that is ok with bare midriffs?! I am old and puzzled. I push back against the idea that visible foot skin is gross even in a workplace setting.</p> <p>All the middle-schoolers I know wear Crocs (often brightly colored) with socks even in 100 degree weather, so it does seem to be true. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337137 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:23:23 +0000 Zaeobi 2337137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lol folk here wear socks with slides even in the winter - &amp; even in the rain! So I wonder whether they're doing it for the reasons above, or something else...&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337112 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:23:11 +0000 lyn67 2337112@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OOOps, I love my sandals in summer! The slimmer the better! And still&nbsp; love my always dark ink/black gel nailpolish to them!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337083 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:50:38 +0000 Astrid 2337083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My youngest brother, born in 2003, doesn’t wear sandals at all. He says it’s because he never found a pair which are good looking to his eyes. Don’t think it has anything to do with foot fetishists. I love my sandals in summer, I would die in closed shoes… </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337032 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:15:55 +0000 Star (Lise) 2337032@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have noticed for the last few years that youngsters around here only where trainers and sneakers even in high heat.&nbsp; I can't do it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337031 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:11:41 +0000 RobinF 2337031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, not sure I buy the reason but my 1996 kid doesn't wear sandals. He is always in Converse and socks. This could have started with the fetish thing but I bet for most it is just following the crowd.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z/page/2#post-2337021 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:44:27 +0000 gryffin 2337021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another mother of a gen z.&nbsp; My son lives in sneakers (always with socks) and birks arizonas.&nbsp; He wear his sandal with or without socks.&nbsp; He is occ barefoot in the house and yard.&nbsp; His friends are usually in sneakers or barefoot in the house.&nbsp; I've never heard of this toe fetish thing but you can bet I'll be asking him when I get home from work.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2337020 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:40:16 +0000 Janet 2337020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suntiger, exactly my reaction. “Feet are gross”?? Good lord. If some gen z is judging my gen x self for wearing sandals and showing my ancient feet, I will just laugh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2337019 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:15:30 +0000 Anonymous 2337019@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It really is sad! Isn't it bad enough that we're body shamed for everything else? I really didn't think there were *that* many people into feet. And if feet are considered taboo, won't that just cause more of that?? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2337003 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:10:22 +0000 Bijou 2337003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I cannot see this being a trend in Australia, our weather is just too hot to wear socks in summer. Birks are worn by all ages and without socks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2337002 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:58:36 +0000 anchie 2337002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As mother of 2 Gen Zs, I can confirm that it is somewhat true. I don’t remember when I saw their feet last. First thing they do when they wake up is to put the socks on and they stay on until they go to bed. I don’t really understand that phenomenon and I tried to convince my daughter for years to wear sandals in hot weather. But I don’t think it is related to any foot fetish at all. They just say that feet are gross. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336983 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 02:02:30 +0000 Jenni NZ 2336983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I thought it was a fashion thing for them to wear socks a lot with their slides. I do see that heaps from teens/early 20s. Funnily enough I had a discussion just last night with my son who recently turned 27 (born 1996) as to whether he was Gen Z or not. He said some say he is and some say not. The HuffPost article says it starts 1997.<br /> He is out at work right now so I can’t ask what he thinks about this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336978 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 01:43:00 +0000 Jaime 2336978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh come on! I have three Z's and believe me in this climate I see their, and their friends', toes all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336968 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:54:04 +0000 Indigoprint 2336968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So interesting...I have noticed that age group of kids wearing socks when I had previously thought barefoot was the norm. I especially notice "footie" style socks as opposed to a crew with Birkies, slides and crocs and wondered.<br /> Now I know!<br /> Kind of sad to think a body part can be considered creepy tho. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336967 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:36:53 +0000 Bee 2336967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m not the biggest fan of open-toed shoes, but these Gen Zer’s sound like a bunch of prudes! I recently saw a reel on Instagram about a style “glow up” that had me writing a comment, something I rarely ever do. </p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuZg6eDtX1S/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/reel.....BiNWFlZA==</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336965 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 23:49:03 +0000 Kathie 2336965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>While the article was entertaining/weird, I’ve been wearing shoes with a closed toe, but open arch or heel (slingbacks, clogs) to work in the summer for 5+ years, so I kind of get the overall point. Sandals started feeling too casual, and, realistically, I work with a lot of men, and they wear closed toe shoes at work as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336959 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 22:41:51 +0000 LJP 2336959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was obsessed with those Hermes sandals and found the perfect affordable-for-me replica from Browns. I love them &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336919 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:24:54 +0000 Anonymous 2336919@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good! I have seen those slides a lot! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336915 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:12:54 +0000 Sal 2336915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And all the influencers seem to wear Hermes Oran slides?</p> <p>I haven't noticed here - birks and forms of slides seem to be the go in the summer - along with sneakers of various types and loafers for the more dressy.&nbsp; At the balls&nbsp; (proms) it was all sandals with heels!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336912 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:09:45 +0000 Anonymous 2336912@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Stinky feet in socks when its 95 and humid are grosser :p Plus odd tan lines across ones calves is not so cute either!<br /> ETA plus ending up in the ER from heatstroke ... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336907 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:59:22 +0000 Helena 2336907@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So I asked one of my Gen Zs, so clearly not a representative sample, but their hypothesis was far simpler than the article's was: "feet are gross."</p> <p>*facepalm* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/no-sandals-for-gen-z#post-2336906 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:50:39 +0000 Anonymous 2336906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm relieved to know we'll all be wearing our sandals "immodestly" together I swear the 2020s just keep getting stranger and stranger! </p> <p>That said, I do see a lot of people wearing pool slides with socks here- but I just kinda thought it was an odd trend.<br /> First time I saw it, it was one of my young clients, and she had mismatched socks to boot. This was for an Interview :/ </p>