Wearing sandals - help me out here - YouLookFab Forum

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Wearing sandals - help me out here

Anonymous

I live in an area of the country where most women paint their toenails. I have never painted my nails because I have somewhat odd-shaped nails and I don't want to call attention to them. I do, however, keep my hands and feet very well groomed and wear sandals without thinking twice about whether or not my toenails are painted. My worry now is about the growths on my toes. Right now the bumps are small and barely noticeable, so I'm still wearing sandals. What should I do if they grow larger? I mean, on the one hand I don't want to display unsightly feet (I always choose footwear, particularly sandals, that hide my bunions), but at the same time I feel I have as much of a right as everyone else to wear sandals and be comfortable in the summer.

P.S. I don't think it's healthy to wear nail polish. Just my opinion.

BC

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from

Liz

Veteran

Since there is no problem right now, why not wait and see how you feel about your feet down the road? Enjoy wearing your sandals, and then decide, in the future, whether you want to continue. It sounds like the conflict is something you're generating internally (your desire to hide your feet conflicting with your desire to wear sandals). If you can sort out that conflict, then you'll have freedom to make whatever choice you like.

Dee

Veteran

I struggle with this. Due to 20+ years of RA, I have some issues in my toes that will need surgery to correct. It's pretty obvious when I wear open sandals and (depending on the day or location) I am very self-conscious about it. But, as you say, I am also unwilling to spend a hot summer in close-toed shoes, so in casual settings and among friends, I just wear what I want. It's not like they don't know I have RA. But I do have a few pairs of non-open front sandals (may be open in the side or back though) that I wear in more formal settings.

Anonymous

I'm conscious of the toes on my left foot too - and have to pick open toe shoes very carefully. If you are worried about having them unpolished and looking ungroomed, just use a very pale colour that won't call attention to them, or even just a clear polish. I think buffed and clipped and smooth feet are every bit as attractive as polished toes

Author Linda

Veteran

I never use polish except if I go to a special event where I'm wearing something dressy. And then I only wear it for one night. A good friend and dermatologist told me that wearing polish all the time is bad for nails. I know companies are using less harmful ingredients now than they did even five years ago, but still... I like the natural look anyway. So I guess I'm saying wear whatever style of shoe favors your foot and any toe issues, but don't worry about polish. Healthy and well-kept hands and feet are always acceptable.

Anonymous

Thanks. I feel better now.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I was really self-conscious about my toes when I was younger and so refused to ever wear sandals. But after a while I realized that I only notice other people's feet in sandals if they are exceptionally off in some way -- dirty, bright polish that is badly chipped, toenails that are too long, in desperate need of a pedicure, etc. So now as long as they are in reasonably good shape I don't worry about my own exposed toes too much.

SW Ann

Veteran

I live in the original open shoe capital....all year round (even when it's too cold for yours truly to wear anything but a closed toe shoe) ....The only thing I notice are really badly groomed feet. If your feet are smooth and well taken care of, it won't be noticed. Wear your sandals and enjoy the breeze on your toes!!!!

rachylou

Veteran

I say cross the bridge when you get there, but I don't think it will be a big deal. Open weeping sores... a slightly different matter

Anonymous

I took a look at these pictures and thought heck, my feet look great in comparison:

http://listcovery.com/celebrit.....iest-feet/

The bump on top of my big toe is such that I was surprised when I discovered it. It's not like you look down and think, "Whoa! There's a bump there." The little bump on the adjacent toe is on the side, and I didn't even know it was there until my doctor pointed it out to me. (Thanks, doc!) Hopefully they won't get any bigger. Meanwhile, I've gotten rid of all heels over 1.5" due to occasional toe pain, and I'm not going to worry about the bumps for now, other than to buy shoes that I hope won't aggravate them. My bunions aren't big, either, but I keep them hidden anyway because who can say--in all honesty--that bunions are nice to look at.

shedev

Veteran

Most of those celebrities seemed to be wearing shoes that were ill fitting, toes hanging over or looking like they are gripping. Wear shoes that are comfy and you'll be fine.

Anonymous

Yep. It does look like they suffer for the sake of fashion. Maybe they didn't think anyone would focus on their feet. Well, some photographer did. At any rate, I've never worn shoes like that and don't intend to. There are so many better choices.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't remember ever really noticing someone else's feet in sandals - maybe if they have particularly striking nail polish on or something, but otherwise nope. I'd say as long as everything is clean and groomed, your comfort is more important than worrying about people's reactions to your feet.

A few months ago when I fell and injured my knee, I had a bruise all the way down my shin to my ankle that took weeks to fade. I avoided wearing skirts for the first week or so (not that hard since I wasn't really super-mobile) but once I was feeling OK I just went about my life, and didn't always wear long pants. I noticed a few people looking, but only for a second or two, and of course no one made any comments. I think it's human nature to check the people around you out when you're in public, but the vast majority of people aren't going to say or even think anything rude.

Anonymous

Thanks. I think at some level practicality has to trump fashion. The summers are hot where I live, and I can't bear the thought of trying to get through it in closed-in shoes.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree - wear your sandals.

There are less toxic polishes available too -

http://ecowatch.com/2014/02/19.....sh-brands/

Anonymous

I have no plans to polish my nails. Like I said, I don't want to draw attention to my feet. I just want to be comfortable in sandals that stylishly conceal my bunions. I'll worry about the bumps if and when they become noticeable. With luck they won't get larger.

Thistle

Veteran

Frankly, I almost never notice someone's feet, even in open toes sandals, unless they are calling attention to them (say, fire engine red polish).

Nail polish probably isn't the best, but it's my little sin I am not allergic to it unlike most make-up, and, frankly, I love polished toes on me and I love wearing sandals. I don't wear it in the winter, and as summer is only 3 months long (yeah, justify, justify, justify )

Greyscale

Veteran

I think we each are far more aware of the bumps and imperfections on our own feet than anyone else will ever be. Until I started wearing sandals two years ago, I thought my feet were too weird and ugly. I do try to keep my nails clipped neatly, but I also don't wear polish, and I always have huge calluses, abrasions, and injured toenails from dancing, plus a mild deformity in my instep that results in a big bump on each foot that is always red from pressure from my shoes.

Now I just think they're feet. I agree with everyone who thinks that it's fine to show imperfect feet. But I do also sympathize with being reluctant to show them.

My only-tangentially-related story, aka, porn toes:

When I started Irish step dance five years ago, I banged my big toe hard and the whole nail turned black. It took about a year to grow out. Meanwhile, I'd just bought my first sandals and I felt weird showing the big black toenail. One night I was at a party and mentioned my predicament. A friend of a friend had nail polish in her purse and offered to paint my toenails. The polish was bright fire engine red - actually, this woman is an, er, adult actress, and this was what she'd brought to work that day for a photo shoot!

The next morning I decided to wear my sandals. I felt SO self-conscious. It felt like my toes were as bright a beacon as Rudolph's nose. Then I remembered I was scheduled to meet with my advisor, a very famous scientist in his 50s. He's the type who wears running gear to work every day. As I walked to his office I tried to reassure myself that my toenails were totally normal, that everyone else wears nail polish all the time, that he certainly wouldn't notice. (Also, technically, I shouldn't have been wearing shorts and sandals in lab, though everyone always did.) Combined with my usual anxiety about meeting with him, it was quite literally enough to make me skip the meeting, but I made myself go.

And of course, the very first thing he said was "nice toenail polish!" After a few seconds of mortification, I realized that had broken the ice and it didn't seem so ridiculous any more, though I bumbled my way through some sort of unnecessary explanation / justification.

Diana

Veteran

I wouldn't worry about it, as I don't think most people notice feet unless they are really gross (like the open sores Rachy mentioned) and yours are probably much better looking than you think. But if you are really self conscious about it, some cage sandals are pretty covered while still being breezy. (I'm thinking those Munro ones lots of people here have).

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

After looking at the celebrity feet link, I'm feeling pretty good--like I could practically be a foot model!
I agree with others; well groomed feet are presentable, and others won't be looking at them as much as you will be.

netmaker101

me too. I have a big toe that has a nail that's growing out and I wear a bandage. how do I deal with that? at least for this summer. I thought about sticking a fake nail on it.. It won't break my heart because I don't really care what anyone thinkts. a bandage will do until it grows out.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I agree you should wear your sandals. I have had lumps and bumps and bunions all over my feet since my 20s and it never occurred to me to cover up. I have only had one person comment and she is family. I think family are our harshest critics (next to ourselves). I really don't think others notice.

tulle

Veteran

I never wear nail polish on my fingernails (makes me feel suffocated for some reason) but I do use it on my toenails in Summer. I don't love my own naked toes, so I get your concerns. If you don't feel like polishing, maybe changing the sort of sandal you wear is the answer. A woven leather type like a huarache or fisherman's sandal can be airy and comfortable while protecting and obscuring the toes. For dressier looks, peep-toe ankle strap shoes reveal just a bit of the toes while still looking bare.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm so grateful I was always surrounded by males who thought it was weird to see nail polish on toes! Seriously, who dictates all these do's and dont's that adult females are supposed to follow these days?

Clean feet, clipped nails, and no gaping wounds are the requirements for wearing sandals in the summer, IMHO. Anything else depends on the personal whims and preferences of the owner of said feet.

Cococat

Veteran

I have corns on some of my toes from pointy shoes in the 80s and the start of bunions and I wear bright polish on my toes and sandals all through summer. Nobody has ever said anything, and to be honest, it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

Generally I don't think that people notice such things.

BlondeAmbition

I wouldn't worry so much, as long as your feet are well groomed, moisturized (don't forget that!) and tended to then you have every right to wear sandals just like everyone else.

Nail polish can be bad for your toes but I think it's mostly the acetone based removers that do the most damage. I only paint my toe nails in the summer months and let my nail recoop in the winter. And I never paint the nails on my hands, ever.

Anonymous

I don't go out the door without clean, groomed and moisturized feet--even in the winter. I appreciate knowing I can wear sandals with confidence. Thanks, everyone!

DonnaF

Veteran

Do what you want!!! Post-YLF at the age of 58 or so, I started wearing toenail and fingernail polish for the first time in my LIFE. I'm not particularly concerned about the chemicals due to all the decades I've gone without, and at the same time I stopped coloring my hair so I swapped chemical exposure.

Why did I start the polish? I've had sclerodactyly fingers/hands since about 2001, i.e. my hands are claw-like, plus one thumb is missing a nail and the skin is red and wrinkly. IOW, they are not exactly attractive. I will have scleroderma for the rest of my life as I doubt there will be a cure in my lifetime. These hands can grip slightly better than they could in past years, but I know they will never be able to stretch to an octave on the piano. But I am alive and will live past the 15 year mark with this disease and so may actually die from something else. I decided to OWN my look since it is not going to change. Plus, I like play with colors: This week, most blue with two yellow gold fingernails. GO WARRIORS!!!

Anonymous

Interesting perspective. Thank God I can still reach an octave! My DH had to have two toenails removed, so I get it. Fortunately, that's not my problem so until it is, I'm not going to paint my nails. It's just not "me," if that makes sense. I've never painted them, and don't particularly like painted nails. I would if I had to, though. We all have issues, don't we? God bless.