They’re back! Flip-flops. Maybe they never really went away. In any case, flip-flops are one of the hottest trends in summer fashion footwear. If you are wondering when the first shoe of this type appeared, I did a little research and discovered that sandals—which is what we are talking about here—came into existence around 2000 B.C. So for those of you who think this shoe is a brand new creation, think again.
This shoe began as a basic item to protect the soles of the feet. A simple strap between the toes made it easy to wear. In recent years this utilitarian footwear has been recognized as a beach shoe or a shower shoe. That’s right, a shower shoe. In the 1950’s, the flip-flops emerged in California as “go-aheads” named such because you couldn’t walk backwards in them.
So how did we get from the shower shoe to the hottest footwear of the season? One of the morning television news shows recently did a feature story on flip-flops. Several of the reporters were actually touting this as the shoe to wear to work. Fortunately, one of the news anchors, a well-dressed man in a suit and tie, expressed his dismay at the thought of these thongs showing up at the office.
Flip-flops now come in every imaginable fabric and heel-height. Once an inexpensive plastic shoe with a flat sole, it now comes in a variety of manmade and natural materials, in low to high heels, any color and design you can imagine and prices ranging for $5 to $200.
Flip-flops have become versatile, but once again people are confusing the latest fashion with business attire. Flip-flops, and their sandal cousins, are not business professional footwear. The “go-ahead” will most likely not help you get ahead in your career.
It is not simply a matter of appearance-whether these shoes look professional or not—it is a matter of safety as well. Any shoe that has an open toe, heel or both can create peril in the workplace.
So before you slip into your cool new flip-flops for which you just paid a small fortune, think about where you work. Are these shoes appropriate? If you work in a fashion store where you are modeling the trendiest new styles, go for it. If you are waiting tables at the beachside restaurant, wear them. If the boss is wearing them, it’s okay. Do your homework before you make your decision.
Consider the words of Corby O’Connor, business etiquette columnist for the New Jersey Star Ledger who writes, ” As far as flip-flops are concerned, don’t even consider wearing them to your job unless you are a lifeguard. Not only are they casual to the extreme and indicate you don’t take your job too seriously; they pose a safety hazard to your feet.”
Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert and the author of Manners That Sell. She conducts presentations for organizations that want their employees to be at ease in business situations and to represent them well in the marketplace. You can visit her website:www.mannersthatsell.com. Sign up for her valuable monthly newsletter at:http://mannersthatsell.com/signup/index.html.
Lydia Ramsey, author of MANNERS THAT SELL, keynote speaker and seminar leader, is a leading authority on business etiquette and protocol. To sign up for more FREE business etiquette tips, click here.