Haters gonna hate, and I'm a hater. Like cherrybomb, I don't understand why anyone would want to wear these things in the city.

But, more importantly, is it really warm enough in Paris in May to be wearing flipflops and sandals?

You'll have to ask the people who look for AC in Paris in May.

Why would you want to wear flip flops? You'll get your toes stepped on. You'll fall in the escalator. You'll look strange. You'll get blisters between your toes.

You'll look like a Gypsy from the Eiffel Tower. Now, wait... gypsies wear real shoes. If you want sandals, try Mephistos or some good walking sandals.

Yes, I agree with "Walmart, Tatoos (the wrong kind), and Welfare"... that sums it up. On the other hand, some people can look ok in cheap rubber flip flops. (I'm hedging because the Walmart, tatoo, welfare crowd may also carry guns.)

My travel shoes include: Aerosoles and Ecco. And instead of flat flip flops, try the much thicker soles with great support-- Fit Flops. I have them in silver and in gold. It's like having your feet massaged while walking.

I grew up knowing that flip flops were designed by a Parisian to be worn during the summer months.

I'm a 50 year old woman and I wear flip flops all over Paris, often in May. I walk for many, many miles and never have a problem. They work just fine for my feet and my back. My feet never get filthy, but I do make sure I bathe every day! And I have been stopped and asked for directions too many times by native French speakers to think that I am immediately tagged as a tourist or an American simply because I'm wearing flip-flops. Oh, and I have never shopped at Walmart, have no tatoos, never been on welfare, and in fact, earned 6 figures last year (while wearing flip-flops!)

I'm with you plafield! Let's kick up our dirty heels and enjoy Paris!

You can also check "Health Concerns" here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip-flops

plafield--I'm glad you are doing so well. But the impression is still there when I see someone wearing flip-flops. And I doubt that I'm alone. Of course, if I actually got to know you, that impression would undoubtedly change over time.

But just seeing someone out in public, we only have the information that our eyes provide at that time. And flip-flops definitely give the impression to many of us of a person who doesn't care much about how they look and aren't particularly well informed about proper footwear to protect one's feet while walking around (other than limited walking around the house or on the beach). It just seems, from the research I've done, that flip-flops are an extremely short-sighted choice of footwear for real walking. Reminds me a bit of the poor young lady wearing high heels we saw struggling along the 5 Terre paths--another poor footwear choice.

I third the vote for Fit Flops. I don't wear flip flops but saw that Fit Flops tighten the legs and your bottom. Seeing as my legs and bottom could use some tightening, I bought the Fit Flops. I don't know that they did much for my "problems" but they are THE MOST comfortable "shoe" I have ever worn. I now own two pairs and will probably purchase a third.

Y'all are still discussing this? Whether to wear flip flops is at the forefront of travel planning? In the words of a wise LOLCat: travel planning, ur doin it wrong.

ttp

to equal the Paris thread ..........

Peter

cherrybomb, it's just so that some people can save some money on footwear in order to be able to afford the $8 Cokes.

Kerouac: people will complain about the cost of coca cola despite buying $50 flip flops because someone here said it was the only ok version when no one cares anyhow. I stand by my LOLCat assertion.

End game: with the advent of the interwebs people wear the same thing wherever. It is all the same stock of clothing available. No country has a secret stash of fashion. All the same. Bad, good, or otherwise.

I've spent a lot of time researching this and found the ideal outfits for the travelling fashionista :

http://illuminations.blogs.com/illum...an_tourist.jpg

Note that the flip flops are optional

Glad they are optional, as her ankles are already swelling. His shoes look much more comfy, but maybe its the sox....

Actually, he must be German with the socks and sandals together. Though I would have thought that he would have had some sort of a very, very tight, colorful, shiny material shirt and extremely tight and short shorts if German. Maybe he emigrated from Germany to the USA, that would explain the shirt.

I think I saw that guy at a popular restaurant in Kauai. He was scratching his armpit with a fork. It rather ruined my appetite.

But wait, I'm confused...

Should the OP WEAR the Flip-flops, or NOT?

I think there are flip flops, and there are flip flops. The old style ones are thin rubber mats with a thin rubber thong. Those, you can barely keep on your feet and probably would get your feet very dirty.

The newer/better kind are more sturdy and are comfortable.

And your point is? ;)

The old kind are awful and useless. The newer ones would be fine for general sightseeing IMHO.

French branches of Lidl are selling intermediate flip flops at the moment for €4.99 .

Crucial information !

Peter

Article on flip flops: Cautions and advice.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beaut...ummer-1635481/

hey kerouac, where are the pictures you post? I would love to check them out. Thanks!

144 replies re flip flops????? Wowo wow wow.
No wonder no one looks at my Musica Española thread!
What's the world coming to?


BTW Roussilon you're funny!

amsdon, I know, it's sad. Top it that's what I do when there is no response

I would wear Keens!

That's ok....I am amused though.

flip flops clothes. Every major city has the same fashions. You will see flip flops everywhere but mostly in some neighborhoods. Mine is like keruac's, very ethnic and you will see everything, flipflops, goth, saris. etc.
Paris and London are the same. Yes the dressier the thong the better. Have fun. London is much more casual than Paris.

It seems that shoes are always a hit on Fodor's. Why not? We all wear them and are very picky about them.

A word of warning. On last years European Odyssey I wore leather flip flop style sandals

By the end of the summer the leather sole had become very smooth which was fine on normal pavements but lethal on stone surfaces and I frequently took them off and walked barefoot when descending steep stone slopes. Take some sand paper with you.

( Pedro Garcia's here is a link for the sartorially inclined.
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/p...912gh_12_f.jpg

Here's another warning about the hazards of wearing flip flops:

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/07/30/...s-dangerous%2F

Flip flops cause 200,000 accidents in the UK each year and the cost of treating them is £40m.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...36_468x330.jpg

Even US royalty can get it wrong ?

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...88_306x586.jpg

ok - who is that, exactly?

Flip flops cause 200,000 accidents in the UK each year and the cost of treating them is £40m>

really??? I'm surprised that 200,000 uk citizens own them - if they do, there's a 100% accident rate!

If you mean the photo, it's Chelsea Clinton, Hil's and Bill's daughter.

Wonder what the stats are on accidents to wearers of or caused by wearers of 5" stiletto heels?

oops, silly me.

didn't she get married recently?

Looks like the Clinton girl is following the fashion of the Material Maiden.
http://tinyurl.com/24gstbg

Everybody wears flip-flops everywhere in the world, I think, nowadays. It's like jeans. They sell them in all the stores, I can't believe someone thinks they don't wear them in France.

Those half-Greek or Roman-inspired sandals aren't some French thing, they are currently trendy in lots of places, including the US. I think they are stupid (a sandal that is like a shoe so not as comfortable or casual), but fashion isn't always logical. You'll see them in all the stores and fashion magazines in US and Europe.