The Collegian

Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Detour

Media Credit: Courtesy of www.soothingminds.co.uk

Media Credit: Courtesy of www.soothingminds.co.uk

Californians. Flip flops. Both are well known words often associated with each other. Since the beginning of the sandal, Californians have been typically stereotyped as wearing only it on their feet all year long. As an avid flip flop wearer and lover of the sandal, I do not understand why some people might feel that these wonderful creations should be worn strictly in the summer.

Many of my friends call me crazy for wearing flip flops in the rain, but should I punish my toes, who long to be free, by smashing them in to an enclosure such as a sneaker or tennis shoe? The answer to that question is no. Toes have feelings too, and personally, I would not like my toes to abandon me in my days of need. This often leads to another issue people might have with wearing sandals in the not-so-sunny or warm weather, a question I have often been asked myself: Don't your toes get cold? Well, it depends. When the seasons first start to turn, the toes tend to stay a nice temperature-not so warm that the problem of sticky toe occurs, but not so cold that the toes begin to lose pigment. When the temperature changes to a point where the toes can no longer maintain themselves though, they will often feel as though they are frozen.

It's for this sole reason, in my opinion, that the 'toe sock' was created. For those of you who are not familiar with the toe sock, let me briefly explain. It is a sock that has individual encasings for each toe as a way to let each phalange be separate from one another yet still have the warmth of body heat from the neighboring toe.

This leads me to my assumption that toe socks were made for sandals. If you do not believe me, wear a pair of toe socks with sneakers and you will find that the phrase 'cruel and unusual punishment' does not begin to describe the agony your toes will feel. They will feel hot, smothered, itchy, enclosed, smashed like sardines in an over packed sardine tin, suffocated and many worse things that are just too awful to describe on paper. Should you wear these same toe socks with a pair of friendly flip flops you will find that your toes no longer have to suffer with the elements of the colder seasons. They will be able to experience the freedom of bare feet, but still be comforted by the warmth of the sock.

Why should your flip flops be banned to the darkness of the closet, alone and collecting dust while the weather is cold? Should they not feel the same love all year long? Sure toe socks and flip flips might not be the most stylish fashion statement in today's fashion sense, but what guy could resist the fun, flirty sight of a girl's toes dressed in penguin printed toe socks? Tell me, what girl could resist the sight of a guy whose outfit matches perfectly from the shirt on his back to literally the tips of his toes?

Is it wrong to want your toes to experience the happiness of floppy freedom, to know that you appreciate each one for what they are, and do not always need to feel as though the foot is made up of a heel and one large toe, most often enclosed in a single compartment?

In conclusion, I feel that everyone, whether Californian or not, should embrace the goodness of the flip flop and toe sock, and help bring them together as they were meant to be. Show love to your toes; wear flip flops and toe socks.

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