No sandals for gen Z??!!

Anonymous

Just saw this: https://www.huffpost.com/entry.....96c06c0cc4

As a person that wears sandals more than 6 months a year, I really hope this trend dies I'd sooner be fully covered than wear closed shoes in summer!

I did have a creeper compliment my sandals a few years back and follow me around a store, but figured that was a one off.

1 year ago

General

44 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

Jules

Veteran

Broadly speaking I am happy socks are back in style, the bare foot/ankle trend was so impractical for our Canadian climate. I do enjoy my sandals sockless for 2-3 months of the year though! I'm not too worried about what Gen Z thinks, since I live with them and they let me know their trends are not mine and vice versa

1 year ago

Jules

Veteran

Birks and cabin socks also had a definite moment here back in the 90s, then became a bit of a joke, but I don't hate it..

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1 year ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Sorry but, as someone who was raised ultra conservatively religious, the 'foot fetish' argument has always existed (in this context, as part of policing which body parts women could or could not expose so as not to 'tempt' men)... My how the internet has ironically brought us full circle now, lol!

I just know that, if I *didn't* wear open toed shoes during our 6+ months of subtropically humid summer, the people complaining about the sight of my toes would soon have even *worse* things to say about the smell of them instead

1 year ago

Carol

(website)

Veteran

It's good that teens are exposed to the idea of creeps at a younger age, because there are a lot of them, and the more you know, the better. They may not decide to cover their feet forever, but if it makes them feel better now, so be it.

1 year ago

Helena

Veteran

Can confirm there are rarely any teenaged bare feet coming through this house (and we have a pool lol) but I had no idea this was part of the reason! What a world!

1 year ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The Gen Z I see here are usually wearing one of three things on their feet:

Birkies - often with socks, but I see barefeet too
Sneakers
Crocs - often with socks

I'm not sure if Gen Z have pedicures, but manicures are HUGE. Fancy and ornate fingernails are almost always part of their look.

1 year ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well! This is news to me, and I live with a Gen Z'er. Who is happy to wear bare feet and sandals (when not on their bike or long board) and whose friends seem happy to do so as well.

1 year ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m self conscious of my bunions (after having them pointed out to me by my mother when I was in my 40’s) but as a long time runner, I’ve always taken really good care of my feet, and I do love a pretty pedi and nice sandal!

High top Converse and pool slides or Crocs with white socks are big with the young’uns, whose summer uniform seems to be ultra short jean cut-offs and sweatshirts. Their mum’s are the ones in Teva’s and pedi’s that are any colour other than red, pink, or coral, and their G’mas in sparkly, strappy wedges and pink, coral, or gold pedis!

1 year ago

slim cat

Veteran

Interesting read - explains some fashion choices. I'm in sandals most of the May-September in Bay Area ( too hot and the feet get swollen as well ).

1 year ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes I just think, dang, people are weird.

I hadn’t noticed this, and as someone who wears sandals most days in summer, I liked being blissfully unaware of this phenomenon. But I’m not changing my footwear to deter some oddball from looking at my feet. My adolescence was marked by men who talked to my chest rather than my face, so I guess I get it on some level, just a little.

1 year ago

LJP

Veteran

This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever read . Who thinks of these things ?? Like Carla , I am VERY aware of the bunion I have on one foot and will not wear sandals that expose it but worrying about toe weirdos? Haha .

1 year ago

nuancedream

Veteran

When I worked as a contractor for a large aerospace manufacturer, I had to wear closed toe and closed heeled footwear every day for safety reasons. In the summer, it was especially miserable. When I got off work, I immediately changed into sandals once I got into my car. Now, I'm pretty much in sandals most of the summer. I want that pretty pedi on display.

1 year ago

Dee

Veteran

Boy, this is definitely different, the things people have to worry about now. Love wearing my sandals in this heat, never thought about people leering/judging bare feet, that’s just strange.

1 year ago

KMM

Active Member

This is so strange, I had no idea about the foot fetish fear. Makes me sad for them.

My teens wear sneakers and midcalf socks every livelong day in the summer, regardless of temp. Heck, my stepdaughter wears her Doc Martins even if it's 95 degrees. It blows my mind, but with kids that age it's usually form over function anyway. Just wash your d*mn socks, please.

edit: for clarity

1 year ago

Anonymous

I'm relieved to know we'll all be wearing our sandals "immodestly" together I swear the 2020s just keep getting stranger and stranger!

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.
First time I saw it, it was one of my young clients, and she had mismatched socks to boot. This was for an Interview :/

1 year ago

Helena

Veteran

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."

*facepalm*

1 year ago

Anonymous

Stinky feet in socks when its 95 and humid are grosser :p Plus odd tan lines across ones calves is not so cute either!
ETA plus ending up in the ER from heatstroke ...

1 year ago

Sal

Veteran

And all the influencers seem to wear Hermes Oran slides?

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. At the balls (proms) it was all sandals with heels!

1 year ago

Anonymous

Good! I have seen those slides a lot!

1 year ago

LJP

Veteran

I was obsessed with those Hermes sandals and found the perfect affordable-for-me replica from Browns. I love them

1 year ago

Kathie

Veteran

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.

1 year ago

Bee

Active Member

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.

https://www.instagram.com/reel.....BiNWFlZA==

1 year ago

Indigoprint

Veteran

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.
Now I know!
Kind of sad to think a body part can be considered creepy tho.

1 year ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh come on! I have three Z's and believe me in this climate I see their, and their friends', toes all the time.

1 year ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

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.
He is out at work right now so I can’t ask what he thinks about this.

1 year ago

anchie

Veteran

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.

1 year ago

Bijou

Veteran

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.

1 year ago

Anonymous

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??

1 year ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

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.

1 year ago

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