Sandal-ous behavior

Are flip-flops fine for the office?

By Kristen Hanejko

Special to Philly EDGE

When you are in college, certain things become acceptable that normally wouldn’t go over very well in the “real world.” 

For instance: pizza for every meal, drinking large amounts of alcohol in the middle of the afternoon and an extremely casual wardrobe.

So what happens when you do finally land your first real job?  After four years of sweatpants and T-shirts, what the hell are you supposed to wear to the office?

“No flip-flops,” Linda Cohen, Assistant Vice President of the Marketing Department for Toll Brothers Inc., the Horsham-based homebuilder, said, adding she just doesn’t believe any type of flip-flop sandal is appropriate to wear in an office environment.

Toll Brothers, however, does not have this policy in writing; Cohen said it is up to each individual department manager to decide whether or not to say anything if he or she feels an employee is dressed inappropriately.

Employers may run into this situation more frequently in the warm-weather months of years to come.

Over the past few years, flip-flops have become a summer staple for younger women, and men.  No longer just rubber shoes you wear to the beach, the sandals are now a part of the super causal “beach chic” look popularized by clothing retailers like Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister. They have also become a very fashionable, yet comfortable, shoe option that even high-end designers sell in their collections.  From leather to jeweled to high-heeled, flip-flops come in so many variations that it is tempting to wear them everywhere with anything.

But they may not be suitable for every occasion.

Ask the Northwestern University women’s lacrosse team, who sparked a national discussion of proper footwear when the members of the NCAA championship team wore flip-flops to a photo opportunity at the White House in the summer of 2005. The squad was heavily criticized in the press and by peers. Its members eventually auctioned the fateful flip-flops and donated the proceeds to a fund which aided a sick child.

There can be a bit of a generation gap, however, when it comes to this discussion. 

Many members of the younger generation, to whom Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister seem to market their goods, see nothing wrong with jeans and sandals for work, whereas older generations may equate casual dressing with laziness and unprofessional behavior. 

Either way, in most workplaces, it is the responsibility of a newly-hired employee to abide by the rules and read the dress code policy carefully prior to reporting. Just because something is not stated, it may be implied, and the dress code may also vary widely by department.

“I notice that the designers dress much more casually than the business people,” Alena Donio, a graphic designer for the Star Group in Cherry Hill, said.  “It’s probably because they may have to see people in meetings and stuff, but the art people kind of keep to themselves.”

Donio admitted that she wears flip-flops to work, but: “Dressy ones, not the $3 rubber ones from Old Navy.”  

She also commented that she has seen people dressed sloppily for work, though not necessarily because of flip-flops (i.e., wrinkled and ill-fitting clothes). She said as long as workers look nice and pulled together, flip-flops are fine.

Cohen disagrees.  She believes that putting flip-flops with any outfit automatically dresses down the entire look and makes it inappropriate.

“Why would someone be all dressed and wearing flip-flops?” Cohen said.  “They don’t go together.”

One way for new workers to gauge the dress code at a new/prospective employer is during the interview.  A quick look around at what everyone else in the office is wearing, and more specifically what the people you’ll be working most closely with are wearing, should be a clue as to what is acceptable and what isn’t.

Cohen said that she would talk to any employee who she felt was dressed improperly for work, whether they were wearing flip-flops, or just appeared to be dressed too casually for the office. 

Though flip-flops seem to be a more and more popular choice of footwear, Cohen doesn’t think they will ever really break through in the workplace because, she said, just like any other trend they are bound to become less popular over time.

“I think the style will go out before it is allowed in the workforce,” Cohen said.

It is important to remember, though, that just because you may be able to get away with wearing flip-flops or jeans to the office, it may not be something you want to make a habit of doing. As much as it probably doesn’t reflect on your abilities, employers may feel that dressing up shows that you care a little bit more and would be a good fit to move up in the company.

And, do you really want to be that person who dresses so badly that you inspire a new set of rules in the dress code policy?

SIDEBAR

Flip-Flop fetishes

Some Web sites that love these sandals more than you do (and maybe more than anyone should).

www.infanity.org/flipflops

A fanlisting site titled “Comfy,” dedicated to the love of unique and different flip-flops. Wallpaper galore.

www.flipflopshops.com

The online home of a Phoenix retailer which carries top-of-the-line flip-flops as well as more economical brands.

www.geocities.com/eitan37/THONGS

A page with links to pictures of stars, celebrities and supermodels like Gisele Bundchen, Laetitia Casta and others wearing flip-flops and sandals.

www.flipfloperotic.blogspot.com

A photo-heavy blog about men and their feet, mostly in flip-flops or sandals. It touts more than 1000 guys per day as visitors and claims to be “an authority on worldwide flip-flop culture, a foot lover's comment board and flip-flop fashion report with a healthy dose of naked, flip-flop wearing men thrown in for good measure.”

www.havaianas.com

The Mecca of all flip-flop sites, it’s available in several languages and will give sandal aficionados hours of time-killing joy. They even use a flip-flop as your icon guide.

SIDEBAR

Not the same old thong

There are flip-flops for practically every occasion (except maybe fire-walking).

Just Married Wedding Flip-Flops: It’s not unusual to know a couple who wants to get married on a beach; they should dress the part too, eh? These rubber-soled sandals with plastic straps are available for $12 per pair at Wedowed.com

Team Flip-Flops: Just in case you can get to a football game of your alma mater while the weather is still warm, Tylersaustin.com makes college sandals so that your feet can suit up in style. They run $24.99 a pair.

Seagrass Flip-Flop Travel Mirror: By checking Flipflopstyle.com, shoppers can find all things flip-flop: bags, key chains, notepads, jewelry boxes, bath gels (!) and even travel mirrors. These trendy accessories are available for $7.95 apiece.