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.
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 circumstances 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.
It’s very obvious you don’t live in California! While there is a time and place for style, tradition, and class – there is also a time and place for comfort and practicality – and in unless you think sweaty feet are stylish, it often makes sense to wear sandels here for non-business, non-formal dress.
Robert, these are just suggestions and options. What you wear is of course entirely up to you.
I too live in Southern California. I don’t agree with Robert above. Sandals are for private surroundings only. Men’s feet are usually gnarly. If a man chooses to wear sales he should get a pedicure first! I hate going into a restaurant and having to see a man in sandals near me. As recommended buy a pair of fisherman’s sandals or huaraches.
Flip flops: At the pool or beach..
Tevas: Jumping in and out of a canoe or inner tube on a river.
Espadrilles: To or From le plage on the Cote d’azur, maybe Italy only..
Huraches: Outdoor music festival on the lawn..Preferably Garibaldi Square listening to Mariachis
Fisherman: I bought a pair of crocodile ones from Bragano.. they can dress up for casual night..
Sound advice. As an airline pilot, I watch in disgust as men walk on the airplane with their moldy feet on proud display. I used to give women a pass on this one, until I watched a young lady in flip-flops kick the metal-framed roller bag of the passenger boarding in front of her. She lost the nail of her big toe, and quite a considerable amount of blood.
Save the sandals for the pool, and dress like a respectable person.
Ouch!
I fully agree.. When I see men in flip flo or older men in boat shoes with dress socks I want to throw up.
I disagree, especially regarding Tevas. I first bought them for Afghanistan. They are rugged, waterproof, and I’ve hiked for miles in them. I love to dress up since retiring from the Navy and sometimes Tevas and cargo shorts are my choice in the heat. Sorry 8)
I travel a lot and you need a pair of shower shoes for shared bathrooms and for when you need to walk a bit to use the bathroom.
Good use scenario. I would not hike in sandals, but each to his own!
The Japanese have been wearing
sandals for hundreds of years, if it is good enough for them, its good enough for me. I wear sandals not flip flops from LLBean with socks. Thats all i wear now! If people don’t like it so what? It’s my feet not their’s
Sandals – No & Never. For a Gentleman it’s a disgusting form of suicide.
Just say no to sandals in North America. On the beach itself is one thing. And I wish women would stop the flip flop obsession.
Your conclusion somewhat undermines much of the argument, which is largely repetitious and arbitrary–the kind of overstated argument that often turns people off to the rules and guidelines of fashion and style. I’m sure you can find celebrities making pseudo-bold statements wearing sandals with suits, or to some highly hyped awards ceremony. But for most of us, it’s not about five-star restaurants, the office or church. It’s a hot-weather choice worn not only with a swimsuit but also–as you acknowledge–shorts, polos, t-shirts, etc. The idea that no one wants to look at unattractive feet can be made regarding many exposed body parts, and starts to sound cruel when applied as a principal. Do we say the same thing for large noses and ears? For receding hairlines? Do receding hairlines require a hat at all times? Should crepey necks always wear turtlenecks? Should wrinkled hands wear gloves at all times? And sometimes when it’s really hot, sandals are necessary to protect feet from hot sand, concrete or asphalt.
There are many restaurants, including country clubs, that welcome casual wear except at formal affairs. And there are many sandals–particularly sports sandals that cost far less than Church’s–that are supportive as well as comfortable. In hot weather, I wear sandals–usually Rockport or Bass or Teva (suede) to run errands, and sometimes to cycle (specific models, made by Shimano). Obviously it’s on me to keep them clean and odor-free.
Second all of the above comments.
It’s one thing to have ugly feet that are well-groomed but another to have feet that are ugly because they are not taken care of. Nobody should be judged for things they cannot change. At the end of the day you can wear your Teva’s all day long. Personally, I think there are better options but each to his own.
Excellent points. Articles of apparel are more for for function, comfort & practicality than what other people think you should wear; otherwise we would be like Islamic countries.
The beach. Where we go in Mexico, the beach is perfect for sandals, not as a fashion statement, rather as a necessity. The sand is very hot and the walkways leading to the beach are also very hot. Unless you have a high tolerance for pain or have tough feet, some kind of footwear is necessary to enjoy your day.
I have a paid of Birkenstocks that fit the bill perfectly.
Off the beach at the restaurant, they fall short. Loafers would just be too hot, and I like your suggestions about Fisherman Sandals and huaraches.
So, I plan to find a reasonably priced pair of one or the other based upon your recommendations. Thanks.
In New Zealand we make a stronger distinction between sandals and “flip-flops”, which we call Jandals. Jandals are very popular in summer for everyone, but especially among Polynesian New Zealanders. Leather sandals are not worn as much now as when I was young in the sixties and seventies, but some schools still allow them as part of their school uniform. The practice of wearing socks with sandals (and walk-shorts!) has almost disappeared entirely, thank goodness. NZ has a warmer climate than northern Europe. At work in summer I have found that dress shoes perforated with small holes are a good comprise.
In wonderful,boring,and similar SoCal I get noticed for wearing a pair of Cobbler Union drivers
Well, with climate change being a reality rather than a myth these days, I can see the tide turning when it comes to wearing sandals.
But I do agree whole-heartedly that there are sandals and sandals and while they all have their place in the world, there are quite too many people out there wearing them where they shouldn’t be worn.
Tevas are a great option for the great outdoors – unless you live in an area where ticks and Lyme disease could become a problem, but please do let’s remember: Tevas are the summer option to walking boots.
Would you wear a pair of Lowa hiking boots for a date with a lady? Only if you were picknicing and sure she was into the great outdoors as well. So – let us call them outdoor, youth hostel and mountain hut footwear.
Birkenstocks – don’t even get me started… well, they sure are an upgrade from flip-flops which gives you a little more freedom as to the occasion where they look OK, but once again, they were not designed for streetwear. They were shoes to be worn around the house and homestead, especially for those people with feet problems, and also for hospitals, nursing homes and such.
As for the flip-flop brigade – have you ever thought about it this way? Some people in the world can’t afford anything better than flip-flops, so they are in their best gear when they meet you. And you, well, you could buy ten pairs usually and still you would hardly feel the strain on your credit card. So you are ‘showing your respect’ for people you might meet on holiday wearing flip-flops by wearing them, too? Well, we all show respect in different ways.. but cheap plastic footwear isn’t mine for sure.
Fishermen sandals, t-bar (for kids only!) and similar patterns, thumbs up. A real upgrade. Sorry, Sven I’m a tad more tolerant there than you are… as I would sure appreciate people going for those instead of the flip-flop range, and no matter what trendy label and steep price tag you stick on them, they are and always will remain cheaply made plastic footwear which will be worn and ditched as it isn’t worth keeping it in shape, nor is it really possibly. If there is anything more disgusting than a pair of flip-flops on uncared-for feet it is a pair of flip-flop on uncared-for feet that is superglued to hold it in shape… And that brings me to another point: The oceans are full of plastic already. No need to add any more by buying a pair of flip-flops every season and ditching it in fall as it is falling apart. Buy one pair if you have to for the pool and the beach and wear them there.
Finally, Teva used to make a nice pair of fishermen sandals and Doc Martens has several interesting – and sometimes off-the-wall – models that will not require you to remortgage your house. So the options are out there… albeit not of the quality of your Church sandals, but still decent enough to be worn by a gentleman who cares for his style within his means.
Sorry Gents,
No dude feet in public!!
No one wants to see your claws.
Save open toes for the beach or home.
I don’t care to sit in a restaurant and view the feet of the diners next to me no more than I enjoy seeing other diners’ “plumber crack”! save those displays for the beach gents! For hot weather, and casual dress I prefer Quoddy camp shoes or woven loafers worn with no socks. Flip flops? save them for the shared showers at the gym please.
I like fisherman sandals with shorts. I think they look much better than loafers without socks, but then I do admit to having a “hang-up” about this no sock idea. Just a bit too Frat boy for my taste. I do not like flip flops or “slides” at all, but I do think the closed toe sandals are another thing entirely. I also would not generally wear any sandals with long trousers.
It’s interesting to know that sandals for men look best when worn in shorts. My husband and I are going to the Caribbean for our vacations, and I’m looking for fashion tips for him. I will make sure to get him the perfect outfit for our Caribbean trip.
Glad you found it useful, maybe you can even get him to care about his appearance so you won’t have to do it for him…
Sven,
Thanks for the great post, and I’m glad to see that most people are taking the same stance on men who wear sandals. It’s not a good look. What’s even worse is when a guy wears flip-flops that are way too big on his feet, and I see this a lot. I call this “the banana flip flop” look. I know why this happens, but there’s no excuse for it. Like Sven said, it’s just lazy all the way around. And I get it especially for the summer, you just want to be cool and comfortable. But there’s no place for flip-flops or sandals on a guy’s feet. Most guy’s feet are not pretty, and no one wants to see them. It’s hard to pull off the look and call it fashionable. They’re more functional than anything else. They need to stay at home, at the pool, the beach, or the shared showers at the gym as Old Guy says. That’s a topic for another day, but if you’re showering at the gym, you MUST wear flip-flops while showering. It’s gross if you don’t.
It all depends on the gym I guess ;)
Love the way you approach every topic! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
It’s interesting to know that there are circumstances when men can use sandals. My husband and I will be going to an island in our vacation, and we are looking for advice about what kind of footwear to pack. I believe that since we will not be attending any fancy event, we are allowed to wear sandals during our entire vacation.
Another intolerant and stereotyped fashion post against men in flip flops. Why do all anti-flip floppers out there have this idea so stuck in their mind that men’s feet are ugly and uncared for, is it because you are straight? Coz certainly you wouldn’t have the same opinion about women’s feet and think that only because they are women, you would assume ALL of them take good care of their feet? While it is certainly nasty for anyone (BOTH men and women) to show their feet in public with any kind of disease in them, what is so wrong about wearing flip flops out to the street on a hot day after having them nicely pedicured? They are way much sexier than those old men fishermnan’s sandals. Young, well-groomed men casually look way much better in shorts and flip flops on a summer day than if they chose to wear old mens’ sandals. So if being stylish means wearing those grandpa sandals, I’d rather stay with my Havaianas, which are not as cheap as they think they are!