Flipflop Thong Sandals
A look at what is currently available on eBay
Why Do People Care So Much If Your Shoes Are Even Partially Off?
I was standing in line at Barnes & Noble and had one of my feet out of my flipflops.Put my (bare) foot on top of my other foot that still had the flipflop on.An employee saw me and yelled in front of everyone"If you can't keep your shoes on you need to leave my store". I got so mad I put the books down & walked right out!
At my office job (no customers come in) most women have their shoes off at least sometimes.One manager gets mad even if you are sitting at your desk!She has a rule that if the shoes are closed toe no one can see your toes at any time.If they are sandals your toes can't go past the first strap.If you have on thong sandals the tops of your toes can't be past the thong piece.They can be just barely off but not to the point of being comfy.
If you are standing or sitting someplace and have your toes over the thong strap.If you have a pair of toe ring sandals,toes 2-5 are COMPLETELY bare.But if you have your big toe OVER the thin leather ring people freak out?
This guy at Barnes & Nobles was totally out of line, and your manager is pretty foot-phobic too. It's sad there is so much anti-barefoot bias in the US, because there really is no reason for it. Bare feet are *not* unhealthy or dangerous; our skin is made to keep pathogens out, they don't smell unless they just came out of shoes, and indeed as you mention, you see the entire foot anyhow, you didn't even put your foot on the floor. Even if you did, there'd be no risk; fungus needs a quite damp place to spread. It can live for a while on a damp locker room floor with lots of moisture & sweat, but not on a dry store floor. Nor is it likely that a barefooter has foot fungus in the first place, since it also can't grow well on a bare, exposed skin. It needs to be picked up by the bare skin of course, but it can only grow & catch hold if you then put your foot inside a closed shoe, where the warm, dark & damp environment is just right for a fungus to grow.
Injuries aren't likely either; I've been barefoot for ten years, never divert my step no matter how much glass I see, and I get a tiny splinter maybe once a year. Never had a cut, never had even the smallest splinter indoors.
I guess people have such a great anti-foot bias because of several things
1) shoes cause many foot problems, especially for women. Yes, if you've been wearing those narrow, pointed-toe, high-heeled shoes all your life, your feet are probably going to look really bad and hurt too. That doesn't make people think too favorably about feet; unfortunately the feet are the target of their disgust while the shoes are the problem. A study of people in India & China who never wore shoes, including many rikshaw coolies who ran barefoot on the streets all day long, showed they had very few foot problems, far less than Western folks with all their fancy footwear.
2) Foot odor. Once again, this is caused by the shoes, not the feet. It's not the sweat you're smelling, it's a substance created by bacteria breaking down sweat in anaerobe circumstances (with little or no oxygen). This happens inside shoes, or underneath wide (esp. synthetic) straps of open shoes, but not on the bare foot. On the bare foot, no matter how much you sweat, the sweat just dries up & is broken down without the smell. But you *notice* the smell when you take the shoes off & the foot is bare, so once again the bare foot gets the blame.
The next points apply to the US only; in other countries, including all of Western Europe (where health care & hygiene really isn't backward or lax) most people believe going barefoot is healthy and not dangerous. But in the US, barefooters have to deal with the widespread belief that going barefoot in stores is against Health Department regulations. This is a myth; the Health Department doesn't care one way or another. However, it causes people to kick barefooters out because they don't want to get cited, and also it makes people think 'well, there must be something unhealthy about it since it's against the law'. Would make sense, if it *were* against the law, but it isn't...still the myth lives on and thus many people believe it must be unhealthy. Only the US has these Health Department signs, other countries rarely have any signs at all (never seen one here in the Netherlands), and even the rare places that do have a dress code don't blame the Health Department.
Next US problem is the fear of injuries and resulting lawsuits. As I mentioned above, injuries are very rare, and insurance companies don't require or even recommend footwear for customers. In the unlikely case a barefooter were injured, there's such a thing as 'contributory negligence' meaning he wouldn't have much of a case. However many store owners don't realize such things in detail, so they worry. In other countries people suing over injuries is rare and settlements much lower (and I mean *much* lower) so this also is a US problem only.
Since these problems are all based on misconceptions, the one thing that can be done about them is inform people of the truth. There are Health Department letters available from most US states at the link in the source, also a link showing it's not illegal to drive barefoot. Not everyone may instantly agree; people who have heard anti-barefoot arguments all their lives usually aren't willing to accept they've been wrong in a matter of minutes. But I do believe educating people will help change attitudes in the long run.
Items recently purchased from this site
BALENCIAGA 'Arena' Grenadine Flip Flop Thong Sandals NEW 38 EU, New Miu Miu Brown Leather Studded Jeweled Thong Flat Sandals Flip Flops Size 38, MANOLO BLAHNIK RED BERRY PATENT LEATHER THONGS FLIPFLOPS SANDALS 37.5 7.5 B, 23901 auth LOUIS VUITTON off-white patent leather Thongs Flip Flop Sandals 36.5, Authentic Louis Vuitton Mens Sandals Flip Flops Thongs US 6, Slide Box, Dust Bag, CHANEL Leather Thong Flip Flop Flat Sandals Shoes Black 36 EU / 6 US , CHANEL Leather Thong Flip Flop Flat Sandals Shoes 36 6, Ladies Women Chanel Black Silver Thong Flip Flop Sandal Logo Shoe Size 39.5 9.5, 100% AUTH WOMENS CHANEL CAMELLIA JELLY THONG SANDALS, FLIP FLOPS, SIZE 39, New Valentino Rockstud Thong Sandal Flip Flop Red Size US 10 EU 40 Shoes , NIB GUCCI BINARY THONGS SANDALS SHOES FLIP FLOPS G6.5, NIB GUCCI BINARY THONGS SANDALS SHOES FLIP FLOPS G7.5, 24027 auth PRADA LINEA ROSSA black patent leather Thongs Flip Flop Sandals 36.5, ROBERT CLERGERIE Dark Green Flip-Flop Thong Sandal Womens Flat Shoe NEW 39.5-9.5, SIGERSON MORRISON sz 6 brown leather chain flipflop kitten heel thong sandals, PRADA Platform Thong Flat Flip Flop Sandal Shoe Red 38, VALENTINO $645 Gray Leather/Champagne Raffia Rosettes Flip-Flop Thong Sandals 9, PRADA Cork Platfrom Thong Flat Flip Flop Sandal Shoe 38, GUCCI Men's Suede Logo Thong Sandals 8 F/W 2012 Black Flip Flops *IN STORES*, New Prada Pink Flip Flop Logo Thong Sandals Flat Shoes sz 41 / 10 US, Christian Dior White Patent Leather Flip Flop Thong Sandals Size EU 37 US 6 6.5, Auth Chanel Camellia Blue Flip Flops Thongs Sandals , New Gucci Black GG Logo Thong Flip Flop Lifford Sandals Shoes 5 B 35 $360, GUCCI Womens Sz 11 Gucci Flip Flops Thong Sandals Gucci Shoes Auth White Flats , NIB Tory Burch Khaki Blk Lise Reva Flip Flop Thong Logo Sandal Shoe 7 VHTF RARE , NIB Tory Burch Khaki Blk Lise Reva Flip Flop Thong Logo Sandal Shoe 8 VHTF RARE , NWT PRADA FLATS RED THONGS LOGO FLIP FLOPS SANDALS 7.5, NWT PRADA FLATS BALTIC BLUE THONGS LOGO FLIP FLOPS SANDALS 8.5, NWT PRADA FLATS BALTIC BLUE THONGS LOGO FLIP FLOPS SANDALS 7.5, NWT PRADA FLATS BALTIC BLUE THONGS LOGO FLIP FLOPS SANDALS 6.5, GUCCI New Womens Flats Thong Shoes Sandals sz 37 - 7.5 Auth Black Flip Flops, NEW TORY BURCH MILLER 2 BLACK THONG SILVER LOGO SANDAL FLIP FLOP 7, TORY BURCH sz 6.5 grey snakeskin cork platform thong flipflop sandals, NEW Tory Burch Miller Sandals Sandal Thong Flip Flop Slides Slip in 6.5 36.5, NIB Tory Burch Navy Red Lise Reva Flip Flop Thong Logo Sandal Shoe 7 VHTF RARE, PRADA CALZATURE NAPLAK COLOUR RED SIZE 37 SANDALS SHOES FLIP FLOPS THONGS NIB, NEW MIU MIU Prada Authentic Designer Brown Leather Thong Flip Flops Sandal Sz 38, MENS SPORT THONG FLIP FLOP SANDALS (Wholesale Lots of 36 Pairs), TOD'S Womens Twiggy Flip Flop Blue Kitten Heel Thong Sandals Shoes US 9 / 39 NEW, NIB $225 TORY BURCH MILLER 2 NAVY BLUE THONG GOLD LOGO SANDAL FLIP FLOP 5.5, JIMMY CHOO Leopard Print Ponyskin Thong Slides Sandals Flip Flops Shoes 38.5 8.5, DOLCE & GABBANA Sandals Flats Flip Flops Rhinestones Thongs Pink Size 36.5, FINN COMFORT PHUKET BLACK PATENT THONG SANDAL FLIP FLOP EU 39 US 8-8.5 NEW, FINN COMFORT PHUKET BLACK PATENT THONG SANDAL FLIP FLOP EU 38 US 7 NEW, Tory Burch thong flat shoe black leather 'MILLER' Sandal 9 / 39 flip flop, Tory Burch thong flat shoe beige leather 'MILLER' Sandal 7.5 / 37.5 flip flop, AUTH NIB Burberry Thong Sandals Flip Flops Black Nova Check 41 10 11 Hard 2 Find, AUTH NIB Burberry Thong Sandals Flip Flops Black Nova Check 36 5.5 6 Hard 2 Find, AUTH NEW Burberry Thong Sandals Flip Flops Black Nova Check 36 5.5 6 Hard 2 Find, New Aut Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 9.5, New Authen Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 8, New Auth Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop White Flora Sandal 10.5, NEW FINN COMFORT WICHITA GOLD JEWEL VELCRO THONGS FLIP FLOPS SANDALS 41 10 10.5, New Prada Black Patent Sandals Shoes 35.5 5.5 Thong Flip Flop, New Aut Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 10.5, New Authen Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 7, New Auth Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 7.5, New Auth Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 8.5, New Authe Tory Burch Breely Leather Thong Thora Flip Flop Fuschia Pink Sandal 10, Worn Once CHANEL Sandals Thongs Flip Flops Flats 41 11 White Quilted Flower , Tory Burch 'Cherilyn' Sandal Thong Flat beige /gold shoe Flip Flop Pom Pon 8.5, TORY BURCH SQUARE MILLER THONG BLACK PATENT LEATHER LOGO SANDAL FLIP FLOP 7.5, NIB Tory Burch Mini Leopard Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 8, Cydwoq REVOLT Black Leather Wood Sole Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong Womens 36 6, NIB Tory Burch Mini Leopard Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 7 , NIB Tory Burch Mini Leopard Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 9 , NIB Tory Burch Min Leopard Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 10 , NEW Jack Rogers Sandals Navajo UNWORN NWOT Flip Flops Thongs Black 8M, NIB Tory Burch Bronze Suede Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 7 , $525 Lot of 2 pairs of Gucci flip flops thongs sandals slides sz 8, Naot Men's Gomez Brown Leather Flip Flops Thong Sandals Size 42, Naot Men's Gomez Brown Leather Flip Flops Thong Sandals Size 43, Naot Men's Gomez Brown Leather Flip Flops Thong Sandals Size 45, Naot Men's Gomez Brown Leather Flip Flops Thong Sandals Size 46, Naot Men's Gomez Brown Leather Flip Flops Thong Sandals Size 47, NIB Tory Burch Bronze Suede Leather THORA Leather Sandal Shoe Flip Flop Thong 8 , Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Coquine Thong Flip Flop Sandal US womens size 6 1/2, NEW ARMANI JEANS LADIES PINK FOAM THONG FLIP FLOPS SANDALS SHOES 8, NEW ARMANI JEANS LADIES PINK FOAM THONG FLIP FLOPS SANDALS SHOES 5.5, Santini nastia68b Leather Thong Flip Flop Sandal 38 / 8, Santini nastia68b Leather Thong Flip Flop Sandal 36 / 6, Santini nastia68b Leather Thong Flip Flop Sandal 37 / 7, Santini nastia68b Leather Thong Flip Flop Sandal 39 / 9, To Boot New York Brown Leather Thong Sandals size 8 - 9 US $295 Mens Flip Flops, Beach Flip-Flops thongs shoes picnic ocean SANDALS Solid Gold 14k Charm, Tory Burch Thora Leopard Patent Sandals Flip Flop Thongs flats size 6, Tory Burch Thora Womens Black Patent Sandals Flip Flop Thongs flats size 6, Men's Cushioned Cushion Thong Lightweight Flip Flop Sandals Brown w/ Green Trim, New JOHN VARVATOS Brown Braided Thong SANDALS Mens 9.5 Flip Flops, Coach Women's A8628 Radiant leather Sandals Black Flip Flops Thong New, Coach Women's A8626 Radiant Metallic Sandals Leather Gold Flip Flops Thong New, Coach Women's A8628 Radiant Leather Sandals Chestnut Flip Flops Thong 6.5 B New, New COACH NELLA PATENT WEDGE Thong Sandals BLACK Signature Shoes Flip Flops sz 6, New COACH NELLA PATENT WEDGE Thong Sandals BLACK Signature Shoes Flip Flops 6.5, New COACH NELLA PATENT WEDGE Thong Sandals BLACK Signature Shoes Flip Flops 7, New COACH NELLA PATENT WEDGE Thong Sandals BLACK Signature Shoes Flip Flops 7.5, New COACH NELLA PATENT WEDGE Thong Sandals BLACK Signature Shoes Flip Flops 5.5,
