Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Beware of flip-flops
When incorporating French style into your wardrobe, be cautious about wearing flip-flops. I did see people wearing them, but only on certain occasions, if they were going to the beach for example. That's an important one, going to the beach. I remember when I put my flip-flops on the first sunny day in March, I got sideways glances from my French mom, and my sister proceeded to ask me if I was going to the beach. Later on that day, as the five of us sat around the lunch table with our toes exposed, we realized that every one of our French families had asked us the same question. But this didn't stop us from wearing flip-flops. It was kind of an act of rebellion after that. It didn't matter if it was 45 degrees as we walked to school and our toes were numb, the flip-flops had become an American identity for us. But now that I look back on it, as the weather becomes colder and I still wear my flip-flops, I realize that it is kind of an impractical habit. I have friends who wear flip-flops until December. I don't know why we do this in America. Maybe we should just save them for the beach?
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I think people wear flip flops until December for the same reason they were sweats with the word juicy on the butt. People just don't care. Especially college students. Did French students dress any differently than other French people?
ReplyDeleteI saw you rocking the cons and blouse yesterday in class and I really like that your sporting these French trends that you are writing about in your blog. Maybe you could take pictures of you in some of the trends you are writing about. It might give another dimension to your blog and help others put together correct French Fashion outfits.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this; a lot of the popular girls at my high school wore flip-flops all year round. Now, most of my friends wear flats in place of flip flops during the fall, but they still seem to be a bit impractical. What about flats? Did the French have any aversion to that?
ReplyDeleteAnd--your mom is French! I know I already said something about your sister. Did you grow up in France?
Before I studied in Rome a few years ago, our advisor gave us a word to the wise: Don't wear flip flops! You will automatically be revealed as a sloppy American!
ReplyDeleteThat is only sort of true. Most women wore spike heels and boots at all hours of the day, which is quite remarkable especially considering the cobblestones.
I think that flip flops, once it's chilly, is a sure fire way to catch a cold. My grandmother who is from the Ukraine always yells at us (lovingly) to wear socks and slippers, even in the house.
In Poland, everyone in the family wore a pair of house slippers/shoes all of the time in the house. Of course, going out in the city, the Poles wore heels and less practical shoes. My Roman family wasn't so worried about house shoes, however.