Flip-Flops - Crimes of fashion

I was in the Ubahn station last night and I just noticed something that I hadn't seen before, at least here in Munich anyway. As I sat there waiting for a train that was extremely late, I watched as girl after girl walked by all decked out for clubbing and what not. The only thing was they were wearing flip-flops. Driving to and from work today, I noticed the same thing. Girls everywhere wearing flip-flops as if we were in Panama City.

Is this some new fashion trend?

What are the do's and dont's of fashion this summer?

Being from the West Coast and more to the point Oregon thats normal

Yeah, but we're in Munich and there ain't a beach for 500 miles. I can just imagine being in a club and dancing to the flip-flop beat.

Man, don't tell me the flip flops I just bought in the states for a dollar are out of fashion already! Darnit!

were they wearing socks underneath those flip flops?

flip flops are IN!!! Just check out the shoe stores. I personally have 7 pairs.

I was told by my 8 year old I was very uncool because I didn't want him to wear a pair of jeans to school that had a rip (compliments of him) in the knee. He is also refusing to cut his hair. I understand he is just trying to gather some individuallity but calling me uncool?

My 8-year old is Ok (but won't wear anything he didn't pick at the store) - it's my four year old that doesn't want his hair cut, or combed a certain way. Argh

Flip flops are uncomfortable. It is like having major permanent toe jam and the flip flop flip flop sound is annoying.

maybe you don't have the legs for them?

I saw a chap yesterday in town walking around shirtless with his shorts rolled up and tucked into his waistband.. so it looked like he was wearing nappies or really bulky speedo's.
Not a good look... but hey, who am I to say. Maybe it'll take off.

Flip flops were in last year (doesn't anyone remember?) and they seem to be still "in". I like them, but think they're dangerous for driving in. Also I feel a bit strange walking on dirty floors (like mucky public loos) in them? Anyone else feel this way?

puddles are definitely a don´t, especially in public loos...but flip flops have their place. Especially on hot days.

eurovol...birks with socks is normal, flip flops with socks (I worry about you)

Flip flops (as you crazy foreigners call them) are always in! I've been a flip flopper since I was knee-high, nothing like the cool breeze between your toes.
@Nicky, yes they are dangerous to drive in, simple remedy for that is to take them off when driving, always worked for me.

uh no perdido, in oregon they wear birkenstocks and forget to shave their legs (and wear deo -- okay am eugene prejudiced). eastern oregon, they wear cowboy boots! p.s., just got back from texas, and all people, men and women alike were wearing flip flops. i got me a nice pair from teva, but they don't make that flip-flip sound.

hi my name is elf and i survived 4 years of oregon.

My Aussie mates swear by flip flops, they even go to the extent of making sure the ones they buy are double bungers!?!? Maybe an aussie on here can explain?

I grew up in flip flops and clogs and generally any shoes that make noise. When I was about 7 I wanted to wear tap shoes all the time...even to school...I loved the noise they made.

Flip flops are very comfy...despite what people think. You get used to the bit between your toe and they get worn in to the shape of your foot. Can't wear them yet cuz my ankle is still on the mend...but as soon as I can...I will be putting them on. I hate socks and shoes in the summer! That said...doubt I would wear them clubbing (not that I go clubbing). Sandals yes...but not flip flops.

I walk through India couple of times in my 20's wearing flip flops. Those were the days.

Maybe this explains why mr. blimey has shoes that make tap noises and honest to god fire sparks when he runs down the street

Well flip-flops and driving can be a bit expensive.
Wearing flip-flops while you are driving is not explicitly forbidden but under §23 Straßenverkehrsordnung (which covers suitability to drive - loading, clear views, number of passengers, physcial ability...), suitable footwear can also be demanded.
It would be classed as a "unsichere Verkehrsführung" and could cause a fine of 50€ and 3 points in Flensburg . Have a prang and it could cost you 75€ upwards plus those points.
According to the ADAC, your insurer can oblige you to pay your own damages as you have contributed to the cause of the accident.
Same applies to platform heels, mules, muddy wellies and any other kind of footwear (or lack of - driving barefoot is the same penalty).

If it's over 18 degrees, nothing feels better.

second only to bare feet, or as they're affectionately called in Oz: 'Nike Air Abo's'.

That's brilliant...would it be wrong for a Kiwi to steal that term? Probably.

flip fliops are fab...what's not to like? comfortable, airy and with built-in sounds effects...

flipflops look nice on men too but only if they have nice feet.
saw a really cute guy wearing flipflops the other day but he had the minging-est feet ever!! hairy with long dirty yellowed toenails and scaley skin. euhw.

I have quite a few pairs of flipflops too but not sure I'd wear them to a club or to go dancing or anything.

Sounds like you saw one of those nasty hobbitsesses

Flip flops on men is a true fashion crime.

@Showem...who gives a ...? They're comfortable and keep you toeses cool. Couldn't care less if some folk think it's a fashion crime, function over form.

flip flops are great i have 7pairs all different colours and styles!

i wear them all the time now... at least now i can wander around town in them without getting the funny looks i did a few months ago!

i also wear them on nights out as well, no more blisters! and comfy to wear all night! except for maybe when someone stands on your toes! ouch!

Ok, I think i'm the first person on this thread to call them by their proper name:

Thongs.

Flip Flops are the sound they make. If we all called shoes by their sounds, I'd call the following:

Gumboots = Squish Squash's
Black Leather Shoes = Creak Creak's
Sneakers = Soundless's
Clogs = Click Clock's

Mind you, out of those, flip flops still sounds the best.

Timmeh, no one gives a ... . But I still think they look ridiculous on men. There's plenty of other sandal options out there. I recommend something more manly like Tevas or something. I'm not going to put you ignore just because you are wearing flip-flops, but I will probably smirk.

It's all the rage in the UK. Like turn-up jeans, Munich will follow on and all girlies will be wearing them soon. There is no escape ladies, you must follow the trends.

luv my flip-flops...everytime I go home, I buy a "few" more pairs...amazingly, you can find havaianas in almost any supermarket for about 9 reais, which would be something (not too sure about the exchange rate, and too lazy to look it up) around 3 euros max?!?
last year I came back with 8 pairs, the year before, 9 ... not all mine though, as they make fantastic birthday presents for the girlfriends (i.e.female friends)

@Showem,
Tevas! Bleeargh...they're an old man shoe! (no offence to any Teva wearers or old men)
We'll have to agree to disagree, I reckon there is nada wrong wearing shorts, t-shirt & jandals/Nike Air-Abo's/flip flops. I like the casualness of it all.

Havaiana's - big big fan. Dirt cheap too.

Still, nothing can top the Target/Safeway/Coles/Woolworths €2 pair. Last a lifetime they do.

While we're on the subject of flip-flops, did anybody else see Alun Cochrane last night at the English Comedy Club? His IKEA piece was brilliant (not verbatim):

"Did you hear about IKEA opening a store in Saudi Arabia? There was a stampede, and 3 people got trampled to death. That's a bizarre way to die. Trampled to death by flip-flops! At least Ikea had the decency to ship out 3 coffins... flat-packed. Only they still haven't managed to put them together... there was an Allen key missing".

Eh hem!
It's only you Auzzies who call jandals (proper name) thongs...for everyone else in the world, thongs belong in your arse crack, so unless you've got some ingenious method of wearing jandals/flip flops there isn't anyway you can claim that thongs is the correct term

We use them for putting coals on the fire.

Thing a Thong of thix penth.. a pocket full of rye

thank god someone bought the true name into this godless thread

Flip flops are logical devices not footwear.

Thongs people Thongs!

As an aside i cant believe "slobwear" such as thongs and uggboots get "fashion-ised". thongs are practical footwear for a hot summers day at the beach. anyone wearing them as fashion to a nightclub should be put up against the wall and shot.

Here's buckets law of footwear . the cheaper the better. the bestt thongs cost 2 bucks and are at the back of kmart . when you lose one at the beach you have a contest to see who can throw the other one furthest, before trundling off to Kmart with your last $2 coin.

Anything that costs more is criminal

Ahh Jandals, great for disciplining the kids too, and giving the dog something to fetch, really multi purposes things. Not may of the alternatives are waterproof and float like the true jandal either.

You haven't lived til you've ripped your &2 Target thongs waterskiing on them.

From Merriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: flip-flop
Pronunciation: 'flip-"fläp
Function: noun
1 : the sound or motion of something flapping loosely
2 a : a backward handspring b : a sudden reversal (as of direction or point of view)
3 : a usually electronic device or a circuit (as in a computer) capable of assuming either of two stable states
4 : a rubber sandal loosely fastened to the foot by a thong
- flip-flop intransitive verb

So nothing wrong with calling them 'flip flops'.

Call them flip flops, call them thongs (Although, I agree that thongs are actually something that belongs b/ween your bum cheeks...), call them any name you like - I love mine!!!

go to new zealand, i know alot of girls who have a pair to match each outfit

and people, they are called JANDALS, jandals i tell you

Love the fact that Birkenstocks here are purely House Shoes - and the only people who wear them out are those middle aged trendsetters who wear them with socks when they pop down the street for the paper.

There are clubs in Oz where it's basically mandatory to wear them to get in. Bought a pair about 4 years back, set me back about $200AUD.

i love flip-flops. They are great cuz you can get em pretty cheap, so its easy to get a pair to match every outfit :] And they are easy to slip on n off and are quite comfy.

i don't really like the sound they make though..some are really loud and kind of embarrassing, I think it depends on what they are made of?

The thing I don't like is when you go to someone's house and are expected to take shoes off. Often times feet get dirty when wearing flip flops...and then there is the whole having to walk around bare feet with everyone looking at your feet (not everyone likes their feet and toes...I have a friend who is highly phobic about people seeing her feet...she even wears socks to bed!). This is not so much a problem here I find...because there is so much hardwood and people seem to wear shoes in their flats...but back home in Canada...it is mainly carpeting so you are stuck.

I hate wearing my outside shoes in the house. Feel like I'm in walking around in a barn if I do. And if your feet are dirty, just imagine what was on your shoes!

I also hate wearing shoes in my flat, I don't mind if other people wear them but I don't, I walk around in my flat without footwear even when it is -20°C outside.
I even take my shoes off at work so that even when my boss calls me in next door to his office, I don't bother putting my shoes on! Yes, I do have an office on my own... I remember having a meeting once and getting up to sketch out a process on the wipeboard. Then I realised after 5 minutes that everyone was staring at my bare feet - I'd kicked my shoes off under the table without noticing. Ooops.
I keep a little pack of wet wipes in my handbag when I wear any kind of open shoes, my feet get really dirty easily and I don't like to put my foot grot on other peoples' carpet/floors (I'm housetrained you see ).
PS flip-flops hurt my feet

Be careful you don't get stopped by the "Bullen" wearing flip flops whilst driving... This will get you a 200 Euro Fine and 1 star on your licence. Barefoot will get you 400 Fine and 3 star...

Bare Footed cheek if you ask me
HanZi