Sandals hold a bit of an odd place in the world of menswear. On one hand, they’re obviously a very old type of footwear; but on the other hand, they’re not really present in the classical western men’s wardrobe. True, the ancient Romans and Greeks all wore sandals, yet wearing a pair of sandals with a suit is not something you’ll see today. Read on to learn our thoughts on this distinct type of footwear.
Table of Contents
The Evolution Of Sandals
To Wear Or Not To Wear Sandals
Gentleman’s Gazette Recommends…
How To Look Good In Sandals
Sandals for men are sometimes also referred to as “mandals,” and they’re the subject of an ongoing debate–especially when worn with socks. Let us start by saying you can wear whatever you want, whenever you want in this day and age. So the real question is this: would a dapper gentleman consider sandals to be in good taste?
The Evolution Of Sandals
The word originates from the Greek word sandalon or sandalion. Sandals are defined as shoes that leave most of your foot exposed, but beyond that, there’s no universal definition for the word. Going back, the earliest known pair of men’s sandals in the world are over 10,000 years old. They were made from sagebrush bark. Greek and Roman soldiers were known to fight in sandals known as buskins. Going back hundreds or thousands of years in history, many men wore sandals.However, in more recent history, sandals have pretty much fallen out of favor for the classic well-dressed man.
So how did that change come about? Partly, it was because shoemaking got a lot more sophisticated than just slapping a few pieces of leather or bark onto your foot. It’s also likely that the climate in Europe contributed to the fact that a closed-toed shoe has been the standard for men for over a hundred years in Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Of course, each country and culture will have its own standards and there is no universal truth.
Also, if you think about it, most places that experience temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter (10 degrees Celsius) will probably not want to wear sandals all year round. Looking back at the 1930s and 1940s, which are often considered to be the golden era of classic menswear, you will have a very hard time finding men wearing sandals. All the illustrations and photos from magazines usually show men either barefoot on the beach, or sometimes wearing espadrilles. If you look at Cary Grant in the photo below, you’ll see that he was wearing socks, but not sandals.
It was really much more common to see men wearing loafers, sometimes with socks, even when they wore shorts or espadrilles (which have fallen somewhat out of favor, especially in the US, even though in places like Spain or Italy, they’re more prevalent). Today, probably the most popular sandals are flip-flops. In the US, they didn’t really become popular until the 1960s but these days, you can see men wearing them all over the place.
To Wear Or Not To Wear Sandals
Have you ever seen an outfit based around or incorporating sandals that you thought looked better than if it would have incorporated regular shoes? Put simply: we haven’t. If you can come up with something, please share in the comments below! At the end of the day, if you care about style and you want to achieve a classy look, we strongly suggest you stay clear of sandals in most situations.
Why do we say most? Well, there are always exceptions. For example: if you’re at the beach, the pool, or a spa area–of course, that’s when you can feel free to wear sandals such as flip-flops. When it’s practical and it makes sense and the climate around you commands it, absolutely. But anywhere else? There are a number of reasons not to wear them, and we’ll list them here.
1. They Look Really Cheap.
Just think of Tevas, Birkenstocks, or flip-flops. Most of them are made out of cheap materials, and that’s what they look like: cheap. Even if you try to “upgrade,” and you invest a few hundred dollars in Salvatore Ferragamo flip-flops, they’re still just that: flip-flops. When I grew up in Germany in the ’80s and ’90s, Birkenstocks were a traditional house shoe and nothing else. No one would ever dare to wear them on the street until they became more popular in the US. Models and stars like Heidi Klum would wear them in public, and so it became more and more acceptable to wear theem out and about. But back in the day, people would have been ashamed to be seen in the street like that.
Because most sandals lack the structure of a dress shoe, they’re oftentimes glued and use very inexpensive materials such as plastic or rubber heel caps, and other materials that are not high-end. Of course, there are exceptions, and we found some really nice high-end sandals (more on those below).
2. Most Men Don’t Have Pretty Feet.
Now, most women I know really take good care of their feet, it’s just something they know they want to pay attention to, because oftentimes they wear sandals that expose their feet and they literally want to put their best foot forward. However, the same isn’t true for men. Hairy toes, ungroomed toenails, calluses, warts, and other such things are just not pretty to look at. Of course, you can go and have a pedicure which is not unusual anymore in today’s world. But at the same time, it’s a lot of work to keep up with it, and it’s still not a very classy look, even if you have a high-end pair of sandals.
3. No One Wants to Really See Your Feet.
No one really wants to see your feet (with the exception of the inclinations of a small and particular group). Just think of the person behind you on the plane or on the bus taking off their shoes and putting them right next to you–frankly, few things are more repulsive.
4. They Are A Fashion Faux-Pas.
Just think of country clubs, weddings, nice restaurants, or cities in general. These are all not good places to wear sandals. Why? Well, they weren’t made for such environments. Of course, if you’re at the beach, anywhere that it’s wet, or if it’s really hot outside, then sandals can be a decent option, even as a man.
5. Sandals Make You Look Sloppy.
Sandals are a convenient and casual look that you can just slip onto your feet, but they’re not something you’d ever want to show up in for an interview, for example. Now, if comfort and convenience are very high up on your priority list, ask yourself this: how much longer does it take to put on a comfortable pair of boat shoes or espadrilles? Not much, really. Yes, as we mentioned, sandals do have their place: pools, spas, and so forth. But other than that, skip them.
6. They Can Be Bad For Your Feet.
Last but not least, sandals can be bad for your feet in the long term especially if you walk a lot. The lack of structure and arch support is just not beneficial to your feet, as the footbed is usually quite flat. You are also more likely to end up with splinters or dirt on your feet (due to the open constuction), so these are all good reasons to skip the sandals unless it’s really necessary to wear them.
Gentleman’s Gazette Recommends…
Obviously, we’re not big fans of sandals at the Gentleman’s Gazette, but sometimes they will be necessary. In those cases, we came up with two different models that even I would wear if the circ*mstances called for it.
Huarache Sandals
Huaraches are popular in Mexico, made out of woven leather, and look distinctly casual. Oftentimes, you can find them with either a leather or rubber sole. The model depicted above came from Etsy, and cost just $56.00 shipped to the US. It has a crepe sole, and it’s a very nice, casual summer shoe that covers most of your foot. However, because the leather is woven and unlined, you still get the airflow you would get with other types of sandals. In our opinion, this is a much better option than most men’s sandals out there, especially flip-flops, Tevas, or Birkenstocks.
Fisherman Sandals
If you look at this model from Church’s which retails for $495, you can see the similarity to a men’s dress shoe. It’s Goodyear welted, has a slight heel, is made out of good quality leather, and has a nice lining. Overall, it’s a quality pair of footwear that rivals the build quality of regular dress shoes. It also has a closed toe, so people won’t necessarily see any toes or toe hair, but still with a good amount of airflow, and you can wear them all day long.
That being said, $495 is an awful lot of money to spend on sandals; personally, I’d rather invest my money in a woven leather penny loafer, for example. I think loafers are just better summer shoes with a more refined look. In the case of the Huarache sandals, I can see myself wearing them; for $56, they don’t break the bank, and would be perfect for those one or two occasions when I might need them per year or per season. Of course, if you live in an area directly by the beach, then it’s true that you’ll need more sandals–but at the Gentleman’s Gazette, we don’t really focus on beachwear style (often, anyway).
How To Look Good In Sandals
It’s our position that sandals for men look best when worn with shorts, or maybe a polo shirt. Alternatively, it might be so hot at the beach that you won’t even need them. If you purchase a pair of fisherman sandals, you could conceivably get away with wearing them with a pair of linen pants, or a pair of seersucker pants or slacks that are longer. Whatever the case, it would need to be to be a distinct summer fabric; otherwise, it would just look out of place. One thing you should always avoid is to wear your sandals with socks–and yes, I know many of my German countrymen do this, but it’s just an awful look that should simply never happen, even if you don’t care much about style.
What’s your take on sandals? How & when do you usually wear them? Share with us in the comments section below!
Sandals can be worn as part of an everyday look or dressed up for a night out on the town. They're also great for transitioning from spring into summer or fall into winter because they help keep your feet cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather. They're easy to slip into.
Sandals can be worn as part of an everyday look or dressed up for a night out on the town. They're also great for transitioning from spring into summer or fall into winter because they help keep your feet cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather. They're easy to slip into.
Men's sandals are any type of open-concept shoe crafted for a foot between 8 to 18 inches in length. This may fit a male foot, or not. A male foot may also fit into women's sandals and you may also not ascribe to any of these categories and still wear men's sandals. There are no rules here.
When it is very hot outside, you will not always feel like wearing closed shoes that make your feet hot. Take this chance to wear sandals and allow your feet to stay cool. This will not only help your feet feel better throughout the intense heat but can also help you keep your body temperature cool, as well.
To pull off sandals with jeans: Make sure your jeans are a good fit and quite snug. Go for dark denim as it tends to be more versatile than lighter blue washes. Wear your jeans rolled up or make sure the hem sits above the ankle at least.
If it's warm enough to comfortably go outside with bare legs, it's warm enough to wear sandals. The keyword here is comfortably, ladies—for some that might be in the 60-degree range, and for other people that could mean temperatures in the 80s.
November. Once the weather is consistently cold, it's time to cover those toes and give thanks … for great boots! Especially those that are ankle height, whether it be a colorful bootie, a slouchy bootie, or “statement sole” bootie, which we love as our go-to shoe for late fall and early winter.
Sure, most of the time when you're wearing sandals, you'll be in shorts. But if you're feeling daring, a pair of jeans or chinos will look great with a pair of nice sandals. Just be sure to cuff your trousers so your hem doesn't drag.
Avoid sandals made from rubber or plastic, as these cause feet to sweat more.Look for natural materials such as leather or cotton. Give your feet a break and don't wear the same pair of sandals two days in a row. This will give them time to dry out properly between outings.
Wearing socks with sandals can help combat that. Though the style has been long considered a fashion faux-pas and the trademark “German on vacation” look, wearing socks with sandals — when styled right — opens a myriad of opportunities, while offering increased comfort and warmth.
Sandals are a very sweat friendly shoe to wear in the summer weather. When you take them off they air out naturally, leaving your shoes stink free. They're built to allow your foot to breathe which means your feet will sweat less, to begin with, but even when you do get sweaty your sandals won't be worse for the wear.
Preventing foot odour can be as simple as wearing open sandals when you can, or changing tights or socks at least once a day. "Choose socks containing at least 70% cotton, wool or bamboo, although some man-made fibre socks are specifically designed to keep feet dry," adds McConnachie.
When you walk across the beach, your foot sinks into the sand, which can quickly overheat your feet if you're wearing shoes. Sneakers don't give your feet much room to breathe. Wearing sandals keeps your feel cool, which can make your beach day much more enjoyable.
The secret to dressy casual is balancing the fancier pieces with more laidback items and accessories. Your favorite pair of kitten heels or your go-to beaded clutch will always help you reach new levels of chic. Flat sandals, alternatively, can pare back a dressy combo of tailored trousers and a satin blouse.
For fitting men's sandals, it's vital to consider where your foot rests on the sole. There should be a little space between your heel and the sandal's back strap. If you're opting for men's mules or flip-flops, make sure your toes don't hang over the edge of the sole.
Trousers can be quite dressy, so a casual sandal provides the perfect contrast. Pair with walking shoes like Birkenstocks or Teva-style sandals. Also, flat, strappy sandals (think lace-up or flip-flop) work as long as the pants don't excessively drag.
A basic T-shirt and shorts are ideal for a 70°F day at the beach. You can also try sailboat-ready polo shirts, loose tank dresses, or a short-sleeve T-shirt with loose pants.
It's best to not set your thermostat lower than 70 to 72 degrees. Most units are not designed to cool a house below that point, and you risk the system freezing up. I recommend trying to keep your house below 80 degrees at all times during the summer.
Choose light colors: Wearing light colors that reflect the sun's rays rather than absorb them (as dark colors can) helps keep you cool. Look for shirts, shorts, pants and hats in white, tan or khaki.
How often to clean your shoes is a personal preference, but if you want them to look brand-new at all times, it's a good idea to clean your shoes at least once a month. Shoes you wear only on occasion can be cleaned on an as-needed basis.
Keeping all the joints, muscles and ligaments working as they should maintains strength, stability and range of movement in the foot and ankle. Proper foot function can also benefit the knees, hips and back because all of them are part of a chain of movement. Less chance of developing problems from ill-fitting feet.
People have been wearing socks and sandals together since ancient Egyptian and Roman times. In modern times, it is not only acceptable but encouraged in places such as India and China. In these places, where sandals are more acceptable in professional settings, the socks and sandals combination is actually encouraged.
We advise against ordering sandals that are too small, as they can cause a lot of discomfort and posture issues. The most important thing is that sandals fit you correctly and that they are comfortable. If you're still not sure what size to go for, the best thing to do is order multiple sizes and try them on.
Black sandals with jeans is a true classic and will look chic until the end of time. The Salt-Water Sandal black Retro Slide and a simple grey T make this a laidback but dressed up look that you can wear on repeat. Skinny jeans and sandals are the perfect pairing.
Since sandals are intrinsically a bit more casual, you can wear them with jeans and a slouchy tee or a flowy tank. Try different outfit combinations to see what fits your style best. If you're interested in rocking this casual style during the sunny seasons we've got you covered.
Well, black is probably the most versatile colour when it comes to sandals. A black pair of sandals will go with nearly any outfit, so it's no surprise that black is the most popular color for sandals. And, black isn't just a good choice for the office; it's also a great choice for every other occasion!
Length — Your toes and heels should sit inside the sandal with no overhang. If your heel extends past the sandal's sole in the back, the straps will likely dig into your foot as you walk.
If you wear flip-flops for extended periods, you increase the risk of foot injuries, discomfort and other bodily sorenesses. Several adverse effects of wearing flip-flops include blisters, foot fungus, balance issues, strained or overextended tendons, shooting pains, plantar fasciitis, foot swelling and more.
As with any shoe, your sandals should support your feet and provide them with a stable, comfortable sole that feels good with every step. No part of your feet or toes should be hanging over the edges of the sandal, as this means they're probably too small and will cause you a lot of problems.
People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them comfort in warm weather, economy (sandals tend to require less material than shoes and are usually easier to construct), and as a fashion choice.
When people wash themselves in the shower using soap and water, potentially infectious organisms can be sloughed off their skin and collect into biofilms. Not wearing shower flip flops makes them likely to be transmitted to your feet; from there, they can migrate to other parts of the body.
We wouldn't recommend wearing them on high alpine trails or very technical paths, especially while carrying any weight (when good ankle support and stability is important), but in good conditions, quality sandals with toe protection and decent soles, are fine for walking across all sorts of surfaces.
Sneakers and athletic shoes have become the norm in the summer, but if you're looking for a similar shoe with a more classic style, you should definitely consider a canvas shoe. You can wear them with or without socks, and they come in all sorts of colors.
Place a cold, damp bath towel over your feet for a cooling, soothing sensation. Take advantage of reinvigorating evening breezes by sitting outside, uncovering your feet and elevating them on a footstool. They'll soon be cooler and less swollen.
If you are going to be standing on your feet all day, it is ideal to wear a shoe with a wide sole that makes full ground contact. The wider and broader the outsole, greater the surface area to distribute your body weight, reducing pressure on your feet.
Rubberized pedals are usually quite grippy, while plain metal ones can be slick. Driving barefoot can be safer than driving with flip-flops, high heels, or even shoes with long laces.
Flip flops and toe-post sandals give off unequivocally beachy vibes, but that doesn't mean they're the only shoes you can wear on the beach. If you prefer slides, ankle-strap designs, hook-and-loop sandals, or wide straps with toe loops, these are all great options.
One option is jeans or chinos combined with slip-on shoes and a light shirt or knitted sweater. If you go for a T-shirt, then your outfit might work better with a simple jacket or a blazer. Ties can be left safely hanging in the wardrobe.
If you're someone who dislikes heels, here's some good news. Your skin-hugging jeans go very well with sandals. Gladiator flats and heels are other popular options which you can choose from. Click here to see some great sandal options to compliment your skinny jeans.
In a business casual office, athletic shoes and sneakers, loafers, clogs, leather boat shoes, and dress heels or flats are acceptable and may be worn with or without tights or stockings as the weather dictates. Avoid wearing flip-flops, sandals, slippers, open-toed shoes, or eye-catching, blingy footwear to the office.
Are My Sandals Too Big? If your feet are slipping back and forth or sliding out the sides of the sandal, they may be too big. Not only is this dangerous because you could trip but it could also lead to scuffs and scrapes on your feet.
A snug fit at the back is optimum; you don't want your heel to be hanging over the back of the sole. Salt-Water Sandals are designed to fit close at the heel. Remember to take your toes all the way to the stitch mark to create any extra space needed at the heel.
Going up a size (or half a size) with sandals will provide you with adequate wiggle room for the perfect shoe fit. Of course, you don't want too much wiggle room, but that extra third or fifth of an inch will go a long way.
Men's sandals are any type of open-concept shoe crafted for a foot between 8 to 18 inches in length. This may fit a male foot, or not. A male foot may also fit into women's sandals and you may also not ascribe to any of these categories and still wear men's sandals. There are no rules here.
I can confidently say that sandals/slides are very much on trend in 2021 and they look like they are here to stay. All I recommend to the men out there is that you take good care of your feet! Below I have compiled a list of the best luxury summer sandals/slides for men this summer.
Absolutely! Even though it may sound strange, a pair of sandals can take a winter outfit to the next level. If you wear them right, winter sandals will keep you looking stylish across the seasons, and you'll never have to put your favorite shoes in storage.
While only wearing sandals every once in a while poses little issues to your feet, wearing them too often may cause issues that will require you to seek treatment from a professional. Overuse of this type of footwear can leave you vulnerable to any of the below complications: Plantar fasciitis. Tendonitis.
Sure, most of the time when you're wearing sandals, you'll be in shorts. But if you're feeling daring, a pair of jeans or chinos will look great with a pair of nice sandals. Just be sure to cuff your trousers so your hem doesn't drag.
You'll want to use ball-of-foot cushions so that your feet don't slide down or move forward. Double up if you have to. If your feet still slip out, place inserts where the back of your heels touches the shoes, or if you're wearing sandals, place inserts on the heels as well.
You can walk in sandals for long distances as long as they have the right features. Kuizinas says walking sandals should have straps to hold your feet in place and should be flat, but also flexible enough to bend with your foot.
Sandals have been put on your feet affirming sonship and all of its benefits, including but not limited to healing, loving kindness, tender mercies and every good thing (Psalm 103).
Many of the people who are on board with socks and sandals do it for the comfort. Wearing sandals without socks allow their feet rub against the sandal and can create blisters for some. Socks also provide sandal-wearers with extra cushion and comfort.
If you wear flip-flops for extended periods, you increase the risk of foot injuries, discomfort and other bodily sorenesses. Several adverse effects of wearing flip-flops include blisters, foot fungus, balance issues, strained or overextended tendons, shooting pains, plantar fasciitis, foot swelling and more.
Before we get started, let's briefly touch on why keeping your sandals clean is crucial. Washing them regularly will make them look better, of course, but the reasons go beyond aesthetics. Viruses and bacteria can spread through surfaces.
Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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