Monday, June 7, 2010

What Not To Wear

I'm not sure about you working girls, but my favorite thing about the weather getting warmer is that I get to wear FLIP FLOPS all the time. (Check out the ones I just bought from Havianas). The minute the weather goes above 60, I'm in them. And I'm in them until November. Luckily my assistant at school has the same addiction so she doesn't think it's weird when I'm wearing my $1 old navy flip flops in the rain.


However, this week at work I got a horrifying phone call from my boss (the owner of the school who lives 2 hours away aka we never see her) saying that she knows the weather is getting warmer but we have to remember to wear closed toe shoes with a back for safety reasons. Safety reasons. The school is childproof, what kind of trouble are my feet going to get into?!?! I guess I could drop something on my toes or possibly trip up the stairs (which I do in regular shoes) but I'm willing to take the risk!


Like the good school girl that I am, I've been following the rules and wearing flats and/or other sneakers (like these pumas) that are a little cooler looking with my work clothes than my gym shoes. But the flip flop ban is really putting a damper on my workday! We are outside constantly with the kids and walking to the park and taking class trips and having socks and shoes on is making me SO much hotter!


What do you girls wear to work? Are you a flats kind of person? Or are you one of those (who I totally envy) that can work all day in heels? Are you allowed to wear flip flops in your office? Even if they're the semi dressy kind (like these from Target).


I just don't get why everyone is against them! Could it really just be because of the noise they make when you walk?!?!

25 comments:

Melanie's Randomness said...

I can wear whatever I want to work but it gets so cold from the air conditioning I usually wear sneakers. Safety reasons?? I don't get that. Flip Flops aren't that dangerous?!?!

dating diva said...

I don't undstand the safety thing either. I work in heels at my internship 9-4PM and then switch to flats when I bartend at night.

-Delilah

Renée said...

I love flip flops too, but I think there's a time and a place for them. Even if your work is pretty casual, I still don't think they're appropriate for any job environment unless you're a life guard. They just scream "I didn't care enough about my appearance this morning and was too lazy to put on a proper pair of shoes" which to me comes across as unprofessional.

Katness said...

I work on customer service in hotel and our boss is do easy going he doesnt care what we have in our feet. So i wear flip flops, ballerinas, sneakers or rare occasions heels.

MonsteRawr said...

I work in a theatre, so in my case, shoes really can be a safety concern. I wear some form of sneakers everyday, no exceptions. When I was in college, we would periodically have some genius show up to work in flats or flip flops, and they would immediately be sent home.

Besides, I agree with Renee. They're great for the beach or running to the grocery store, but in a professional environment they say, "In college I used to go to class in pjs."

LaNeshe said...

For some reason flip-flops get a bad wrap.

Angeline said...

We can wear non-rubber sandals (probably even flip flops) at work in the summer, but I try to relegate those to Casual Fridays only. Flip flops, which are my only shoe outside of work, often give the appearance of messiness and often make a smacking sound while you walk (not desirable in a corporate office, but every workplace is different). Sandals that strap to your feet give the same ventilation while looking super-snazzy.

Lisa said...

I've never seen the attraction of flip flops as 24/7 summer footwear. They're fine for the beach or wearing around the house, but when I'm at work or out and about I prefer dressy flat sandals and peep-toe flats or low wedges. They look so much more polished and professional and still provide your feet with ventilation and comfort. If your feet get too hot in closed-toe shoes at work, perhaps you could look into sportier ballet flats with mesh sides? I think Puma makes those.

Girl About Business said...

Yea, it may seem like flip flops are no harm in the workplace but I'm sure your employer is trying to protect you from the weird things that can happen while wearing flip flops. My mom wore them before to work all the time, literally. One day she made a mistake and kicked the edge of a file cabinet in between her toes and didn't know that it had rusted or that her foot was infected. If she hadn't went to the doctor when she did, the infection would have been in her thigh and near amputation. That's just one scare... like Lisa said there are comfortable/safer alternatives :-)

Anonymous said...

I used to hate this rule when I worked in an office. Like so much. I live in flip flops all summer too.

Anonymous said...

it depends on what i'm doing that day at work. some days i just sit in front of a computer or at meetings and i can wear heels, flats or whatever.

other days im running around the office / campus (i work at a university) and i wear my birkenstocks which are great for walking long distances or sneakers, but i don't really like them. converse shoes are also a fav in my outfit.

Amy said...

I agree with the naysayers on rubber flip-flops. To me it's the equivalent of wearing sweatpants to work. It just doesn't look like you've put any effort in at all. That said, I do have a couple pairs of dressier flat sandals (I think they were BOGO at Payless? They were super cheap!) that I wear to work in the summer. Just as comfy and convenient but they look 100% more put-together. They go with jeans, pants, shorts or dresses. I wear them everywhere! Best investment ever if you like comfy sandals!

CM said...

I work in a small office for a privately owned company. Although, they try to ACT corporate, the fact is, everyone pretty much wears what they want but flip flops are iffy. The nicer ones are OK but the $1 Old Navy ones can cause a stir depending on who's looking.

Liz @ Dogs and Wine said...

I'm pretty lucky. We don't really have a dress code at my office, so during the summer, it's flops! Although usually it's flats. :-)

Content Director - Strong Female Leaders said...

Unfortunately I have to dress up for work. Our company requires "Business Casual". But I do wear a lot of flats.

nmaha said...

I'm not sure about the safety issues, however I have never worked in an environment where flip flops were acceptable. Though I really want to be the girl in sexy high heels, sadly I'm more of a flats girl, so it's ballerinas and sandals for me.
I love this blog (I've been following you girls for a few months now) and it has inspired me to start my own. So please do drop by and give me some tips. You can find me at www.morethanjustmummy.blogspot.com

Melissa said...

I only wear flip flops on casual days when my boss isn't in the office. (Usually, those are the days where I'm also completely alone, so who'd be there to complain?) But on regular business casual workdays, never flip flops: just flats.

I switched from heels to flats, and now when I wear heels (perhaps the wrong kind of heels) I get blisters. I might just stick with flats :)

Precious Pig said...

I love flip flops (we call them "thongs" in Australia and no one here is against them - they are practically a part of our national uniform!) but I can certainly understand the safety concerns. One time I was walking to the bus stop in my trusty old pair of thongs and the strappy bit between the toes came unplugged and the flip flopped right off just as my delicate little foot landed on top of a dirty needle on the ground. Perfect timing. I had to get a tetanus shot.

I still wear thongs but not for long distances anymore! These days it's ballet flats ftw.

Sara said...

that stinks!! (Esp since you're outside a lot) Where I work is a dressy professional enviorment so I tend to wear heels or ballerinas depending on the outfit. Once summer comes on Fridays I will wear shimmery fancy flip flops/sandels. 1$ Old Navy flops are for the pool.

rachaelgking said...

I'm with you. I would KILL to wear flips at work! I still wear them TO work and then change, but it's not the same.

Kristin said...

I also love flip flops. Luckily, I'm a full-time grad student plus working a job from my home, so I can wear whatever shoes I want. That being said, I would not wear flip flops to most workplaces.

To speak specifically to schools: Is this a dress code rule for students? When I was a student in middle/high school, I remember being very miffed at the fact that students would get in trouble for violating the dress code by wearing sandals while teachers were constantly wearing them. They were supposed to be setting the example.

Angela said...

I own a business and I don't wear flip flops to work. Yes, sometimes I stare at them sometimes when I'm getting ready for work but I can never bring myself to put them on to go to work, even on a very casual Friday when I might be the only one at work that day. Flip flops just don't seem like the appropriate work footwear, even if they are the fancy kind.

Becca said...

I am a teacher in an elementary school, and we are allowed to wear flip flops. We have been told at one time or another that we really shouldn't, but not that we can't.

I believe the reasoning was that if you have to chase after a child, which does happen, you won't be able to run as fast in flip flops. Doesn't make sense because I can run much faster in flip flops than in heels.

I do make a point not to wear the cheap old navy kind. Gotta look somewhat "professional"

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

I walk all day in heels maximum of 2 inches high but I'm at a desk a lot

Flip flops are unprofessional, as are Crocs and there's a time and place for them.

That being said, I do love my BIrkenstocks... they're amazing for being on your feet all day.

Anonymous said...

You're not the only one! I woke up at 5am to go for bloodwork before my hour drive to work. I worked for 6 hours before the head of HR saw me in flip flops that I slipped on without thinking at 6am. She told me that is against policy then told my boss to send me home. Did I mention that I'm a school secretary and the kids are home for the summer? The killer is I've given my notice and am leaving in two days... thankfully.