Foot for Thought.

I originally meant for this to be posted later in the week, but seeing as how our Special Features Contributor created a post about flip-flops, I knew this had to come sooner. Yes, it’s summertime. Yes, it’s time for flip-flops. NO, you cannot go out with raunchy feet.

Whether you’d like to admit it or not, people are conscious of how others dress and look. The harsh reality is that they DO judge based on people’s appearance. If you are rockin’ some really cool flip-flops, they won’t be the first thing that girl 4 tables down will look at. She won’t be able to see past the dry, flaky and unappealing things stuck in the flip-flops. YOU MUST CARE FOR YOUR FEET!! [I hope I didn’t yell….] Hydrate! Clean! Trim! Exfoliate! Moisturize!!!! [I can’t stress the last one enough]

I’ve prepared somewhat of a “tutorial” to help you out with basic foot-care:

1] The very first thing you need to do is CLEAN your feet. The easiest way I’ve found is to just get in the shower, and scrub ‘em down! You can just use bar soap and a foot brush or a foot scrub (which would incorporate Step 3: exfoliation). This is important as a first step because in order for you to know what needs to be fixed, you must be able to see the problem clearly.

2] Next, after you dry off, of course, TRIM your toenails. Remember to go straight across!! If you cut your toenails on a curve, you could end up with painful, very unattractive ingrown toenails. Once you’ve trimmed the nails [straight across!!!], use a nail file to smooth them out. This is the time to round them out…but don’t get crazy with it! Move the file from side to side across the tip of the nail. Make sure not to go in an up/down motion because you’ll end up with chipped toenails. When you’re done, be sure that you have no jagged edges sticking out that may scratch up your girlfriend’s legs. Consider this, self-maintenance is not so much a service to yourself, but a courtesy to others.

3] This is the part where we make your feet as soft as a baby’s bottom through the art of EXFOLIATION. Yes, your feet will be that soft. Now, it’s up to you on the method here but I’m going to list a few options depending on the roughness of your feet.

- Light - got a face scrub? Use a little on slightly rough feet…saves you a trip to the drugstore! Whatever scrub you’ve got, it’ll be a nice pick-me-up for slightly tired feet.

- Medium - For feet that are a bit flaky, try Kiehl’s Ultra Moisturizing Buffing Cream. It has exfoliating particles to gently get rid of rough spots.

- Crazy Rough - For feet that are a bit too caveman, you might have to reach for the Ped-Egg. It’s kind of like a cheese grater, but for your feet. This is sure to get rid of any flakiness on your feet.

- Oh Dear God!! - If you’re feet are just SO funky that none of the above has worked for you, go to a professional. Just suck it up and go to a spa! It’s definitely worth it because it feels good!!!

4] Now that you’ve got your feet flip-flop ready, don’t forget to moisturize! This is probably the most critical step. Try this little experiment: only moisturize one foot, and then, look at the difference between the two. Does one look like it was lopped off of a corpse? Yeah, I thought so. Now do you see what I mean about proper moisturizing? It can make a WORLD of difference. The cream that does exactly what its name says is the Miracle Foot Repair Cream. It covers everything regarding your feet. Stink? Check. Dryness? Check. Cracks and itchiness? Check and check! And it makes your feet feel damn nice, too!

So there you have it, the [almost] foolproof guide to summer feet. It really only takes about 20 minutes to get your feet in flip-flop shape. And if you don’t have 20 minutes [liar!], just make sure your toenails are trimmed and your feet are moisturized. Trust me, it does make a difference.

Summer of Flip Flops

Flip-flops are something that should be part of every guys wardrobe. The right flip-flop can be worn to a variety casual occasions. First, a few ground rules before we get started on my recommendations for summer. Do not wear socks with sandals, and make sure your feet look some what in good condition. [SCROLL UP for a how-to guide to get your feet into flip-flop shape.] Sometimes, you just need to be comfortable with who you are and man up to get a pedicure. I've found a few flip-flops for every price range.

With an MSRP of $128.00, the most expensive flip flop that I tested out was the Coach Murph Flip-Flop. This flip-flop is perfect to be worn to special casual events like a roof top BBQ or a casual dinner outside. The colors available are green, blue, and red, so make sure it matches your attire. With the steep price of $128.00, it is an investment, and in my opinion worth it. The flip flop is comfortable and would look great with a pair of khaki or plaid shorts.

Next up is a great flip-flop from Diesel. This flip-flop is not only fashionable, but will go with almost anything you have. The Seaside Denim Flip-Flop (MSRP $60), is the choice for guys who wear jeans in summertime. The cotton denim actually makes the flip-flop breathable for your feet and easy to care for. Toss them in the wash with your jeans!

Next on my list is a pair of Lacoste Tirage Flip-Flops (MSRP $ 58.95). This flip-flop is perfect for an outdoor BBQ, going to a local fair, or going to a downtown pub. Again, the price is steep for a flip flop, but I promise not to steer you wrong direction. The quality of stitching and fabric on Lacoste products is well worth the money. This sandal might not be appropriate for pool/beach side parties. Again, this flip flop can be worn with Plaid or Khaki shorts, and even a pair of jeans.

Lastly, if you’re saying to yourself, I’m still not going to spend $54 on a pair of F*ing flip flops, go to Old Navy and buy a pair of classic flip flops. Price ranges from $3.50-$15. These flip-flop are actually pretty durable, and if you lose them? Who cares, with the prices at $3.50, you might as well stock up!

There you go guys, the top 4 flip-flopping picks for summer. Enjoy!

-Joey DePierro, Special Features Editor

joey@themensfashionblog.com