Don’t Make a Flip-Flop Faux Pas

With two rubber straps and a squishy sole, the flip-flop is a quintessentially casual sandal. Easy to slide on and off in any color of the rainbow, they are also pretty easy to color match any ensemble. But for a sandal this easygoing, it’s tricky to know when you can and can’t wear them.

You won’t take a style misstep and make a flip-flop faux pas when you follow our guide for when you can wear your flip-flops.

Do wear them to the beach.

Not all beaches are the soft white sandy shores you see on postcards—some beaches have their fair share of broken sea shells scattered in the sand. Protect your feet when you are walking along the water in a pair of sandals that won’t get ruined by the breaking waves.

Don’t wear them to a wedding.

Even if the wedding is on the beach, wearing flip-flops is a faux pas. A casual outdoor wedding requires a sandal a little more sophisticated than a basic rubber flip-flop, so opt for a strappy flat that can stand up to an elegant dress.

Do wear them to the gym.

We’re not suggesting that you try them on the treadmill, but wearing flip flops to and from the gym will save your sneakers and your feet. Slip them on when you’re headed to work out to keep your gym shoes from getting dirty. Then, let your flip-flops save your feet from returning to your sweat-soaked sneakers after your post-workout shower.

Don’t wear them to work.

Not every job has a strict corporate dress code or requires a company-controlled uniform. But whether you are a barista at a local cafe or a graphic designer at a hip young start-up, flip-flops are a no-no.

Do wear them on a sweltering hot weekend.

When it’s hot and humid outside, it’s hardly desirable to wear stuffy shoes or fussy lace up sandals, so don’t bother. Instead, look to your flip-flops for easy-to-wear shoes that will keep your feet cool. Pair them with a breathable maxi dress, and no one will even see your feet.

Don’t wear them while you cook.

Wearing a basic flip-flop around the house may seem like a safe bet, but the problem with these barely-sandals is that they leave your feet vulnerable. Don’t risk spilling boiling water or dripping hot oil on your toes and go for closed toed slippers or socks instead.

Flip-flops may not be the statement sandals that get your heart racing, but they are a low-maintenance sandal that deserves a place in your collection. Just steer clear of wearing them to the wrong occasion and embrace them for what they are—a casual sandal.

Fun flip-flops you’ll flip over.