barefoot fashion

[boingo]

hey ive decided that iv had enough of footwear and am going to spend the rest of the summer barefoot.

im fed up with having to wear uncomfortable shoes and i keep getting blisters especially on the inside near my big toe. so i would like some help to know what looks best when barefoot. whats the currrent barefoot fashion?

im 21, 5 ft 4 and slim if that helps. i was thinking about short cropped jeans and ankle bracelet. whats your opinion? should i go barefoot at all?

Yeah. I'm gonna do the same thing with pants. I'm sick of wearing them so I'm not gonna wear them any more!
Seriously though, people wouldn't give a crap in Australia. Half the country goes around with out shoes in the summer. I barely wore shoes at any time of the year as I was growing up. The soles of my feet were like leather. On the hottest day on record for Perth, it was 47deg cel. in the city and over 50 degrees celcius where we were. My friend and I did what any kids with do on a hot day; we dared each other to see how long we could stand bare-footed in some hot sand. (Our thermometer went up to about 45degrees, but the red stuff instide went right up to the top which was higher than where the 50 degrees mark would be.

[Mark in Oxford]

Hey Julia, Zoe and everyone, I know this is Femalefirst and I am a man but I found this thread whilst looking for info about barefoot groups in the UK. Hope you don't mind me chipping in.

I think it's so cool that you have decided to go barefoot. I've always enjoyed walking barefoot myself but have been pretty shy about it until last week when I decided to just go for it. I've probably picked the wrong time of year to start but I haven't worn shoes for four days now and I'm loving it. I've had a few funny looks from people and some of my friends seem a bit confused by it but overall it's been brilliant. I'm finding that my feet are already beginning to tolerate more difficult surfaces such as gravel or very rough pavements yet at the same time they seem to be becoming more sensitive. Are you finding that too?

I think most people don't realize how great it is to be able to feel all these different sensattions as you're walking. They think that it must be painful walking on concrete. If you were to suddenly do that after never before having walked barefoot then I think it would be uncomfortable. But if you build up to it then it's fine. I get excited now about going for a walk whereas I used to be quite lazy. I've walked more in the last few days than I have in months! All because it's such a pleasure in bare feet.

Also... I've been to a couple of quite swanky places this weekend (a cafe and a wine bar) and was worried that I'd not be allowed in. No one in either place gave me any trouble. They definitely saw that I was barefoot as I saw them glancing at my feet periodically but they didn't say anything. I live in Oxford. I think it's a very easy-going place. I was on a crowded bus going into town and felt a bit self-conscious but again, apart from a couple of people giving me funny looks, no one said anything. In fact so far I've found people who I do have contact with (strangers I mean) are more friendly.

Mark

[Guestina]

they say wearing Earth shoes is same feeling as going bare footed

[Julia K-S]

Hey Julia, Zoe and everyone, I know this is Femalefirst and I am a man but I found this thread whilst looking for info about barefoot groups in the UK. Hope you don't mind me chipping in.

I think it's so cool that you have decided to go barefoot. I've always enjoyed walking barefoot myself but have been pretty shy about it until last week when I decided to just go for it. I've probably picked the wrong time of year to start but I haven't worn shoes for four days now and I'm loving it. I've had a few funny looks from people and some of my friends seem a bit confused by it but overall it's been brilliant. I'm finding that my feet are already beginning to tolerate more difficult surfaces such as gravel or very rough pavements yet at the same time they seem to be becoming more sensitive. Are you finding that too?

I think most people don't realize how great it is to be able to feel all these different sensattions as you're walking. They think that it must be painful walking on concrete. If you were to suddenly do that after never before having walked barefoot then I think it would be uncomfortable. But if you build up to it then it's fine. I get excited now about going for a walk whereas I used to be quite lazy. I've walked more in the last few days than I have in months! All because it's such a pleasure in bare feet.

Also... I've been to a couple of quite swanky places this weekend (a cafe and a wine bar) and was worried that I'd not be allowed in. No one in either place gave me any trouble. They definitely saw that I was barefoot as I saw them glancing at my feet periodically but they didn't say anything. I live in Oxford. I think it's a very easy-going place. I was on a crowded bus going into town and felt a bit self-conscious but again, apart from a couple of people giving me funny looks, no one said anything. In fact so far I've found people who I do have contact with (strangers I mean) are more friendly.

Mark

Yes my soles have toughened up quite a lot and surfaces which caused me problems recently (like newly gravelled roads) are much easier to walk on now. I think people generally will tolerate bare feet if the rest of you is reasonably smart and tidy.

Julia

[Julia K-S]

This weekend I'm one of the bridesmaids at my best friends wedding.
It wasn't until my friend brought my dress and shoes round last night that the penny dropped, I was going to have to wear shoes for the day.
Anyway, when I tried the shoes on they were crippling. Weeks of going barefoot has caused my feet to spread. There was no way I was going to be able to wear those shoes.
After a bit of thought my friend said why didn't I go barefoot for the wedding and of course I quickly agreed. We had a couple of drinks and she then decided that she would join me and be a barefoot bride. Fortunately the other bridesmaid has also agreed to go barefoot so on Saturday there will be a barefoot wedding.

[Guest]

Hi Julia,

Sorry I have'nt posted for a while. Firstly, thanks for your experiences about going to a reaturant barefoot. After hearing that you had done this, I did the same thing the other evening, - went to a returant with some friends wearing a dress and just my barefeet and had no problems or comments at all. I think what you say about it being acctable to go barefoot if you take care of the rest of your appearence is right.

Glad you solved he problem about the wedding, - were the bride and the other bridesmaid OK about going barefoot? I think the forcast is good, so that hould help you!! But to be honest, although i have been going barefoot outdoors for a far shorter period than you I have been a little worried about the same thing as you experinced. What I mean is will it feel weird or just be difficult to start wearing shoes again after being barefoot, and if so what to do about it when the weather gets bad? Have you thought about what you are going to wear on your feet when the weather detoriates, eapecially if your feet have spread and / or you don't want to go back to wearing shoes? As I may have mentioned before I am considering buying some of the pattened wellies that are about, and just wearing them to and from work and taking them off all day in work
and continue going barefoot. Thay shoud fit fairly easily, - what do you think? I certainly don't want to go back to wearing court shoes!!

Hope to hear from you soon, and enjoy the wedding.

Zoe.

[sHEMERLINA]

Wear Earth shoes if ur feet are killing u

[Guest]

I am unsure about Julia, but i prefer not to bother with shoes at all, and just go barefoot.

Zoe.

[Julia K-S]

I am unsure about Julia, but i prefer not to bother with shoes at all, and just go barefoot.

Zoe.

Glad to hear that you got on OK at the restaurant.
I'm not sure what I will wear when it gets too cold for barefeet. Probably some sort of sandals initially and when they get too cold (or it snows) then I'll need some sort of soft slip-ons.
I'll worry about it when the time comes.
I've been summoned to see the managing director at work on Monday I just have a feeling that my feet may have something to do with it!

Julia

[Guest]

Hi Julia,

Why do you think your MD wants to talk to you about going barefoot, - surely if it was a problem someone would have said something before now? Anyway, I really hope you can continue to go barefoot to work.

I am lucky, as although it is a small branch I am the manager of the travel agency where I work, and as you probaly know have been going to work in my barefeet for a few weeks now, - I don't even take a pair of flip flops in my bag just go completely shoeless!! Although, I have only started going barefoot outside recently I always took my shoes off in work, - just don't like wearing shoes.

By the way one of the girls I work with has started to take her shoes off, not outside, but she walks around the branch in her tights feet all day and leaves her court shoes off.

[Julia K-S]

Hi Julia,

Why do you think your MD wants to talk to you about going barefoot, - surely if it was a problem someone would have said something before now? Anyway, I really hope you can continue to go barefoot to work.

I am lucky, as although it is a small branch I am the manager of the travel agency where I work, and as you probaly know have been going to work in my barefeet for a few weeks now, - I don't even take a pair of flip flops in my bag just go completely shoeless!! Although, I have only started going barefoot outside recently I always took my shoes off in work, - just don't like wearing shoes.

By the way one of the girls I work with has started to take her shoes off, not outside, but she walks around the branch in her <A HREF='http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/catalog/default.php/cPath/23_52' target='_blank'>tights</A> feet all day and leaves her court shoes off.

It's just that the MD was in the building one day last week and saw me barefoot and then I saw him talking to the manager and they were looking in my direction. I'll find out tomorrow.

What sort of reaction do you get from people you meet going too and from work barefoot?
I've had no really adverse reactions. The people on the train have got to know me by now. One man says 'still barefoot then' to me every morning.
Has anyone from 'Head Office' visited your branch while you have been barefoot?
The wedding went off fine although I don't think I was flavour of the month with the other bridesmaid. The path to the church was loose gravel. It didn't bother me and the bride didn't seems to notice but the other bridesmaid was 'ouching' all the way and saying 'I must have mad to agree to this'. It was lovely standing on the cool tiles of the church floor during the service and on the grass while the photos were taken. I suspect most people didn't relise the bride was barefoot as her dress covered her feet. The bridesmaids had knee length skirts though.

Julia

[Guest]

Hi Julia,

Glad the wedding went OK.

Sorry, I think I was a little confused, - I remeber you saying before that your boss had commented on you going barefoot but had'nt objected. However, I have looked back of the earlier posts and that was a woman, and you indicate your MD is a male, - so I am assuming they are different people!!

I can't really understand your going barefoot being a problem, especially as you have been doing it so long.

Do you deal with the public or customers in your job as I suppose this could be an issue? The only other thing that could arise I suppose is that I think you said you work part of the time in a warehouse, - so I guess there could be Health and Safety issues!!

However, if you think about it, what you wear on your way to and from work is up to you, so in a worse case situation you could still go barefoot to and from work!! And I can't really see it being a problem in work. Although I guess we are a little unusual in going barefoot all the time outdoors, - is is surprising how many people you see shoeless in work situations. Just as an example last week I was at the bank, and noticed two girls walking around shoeless behind the counter. I think as you said as long as you take care over the rest of your appearence it shoud'nt be a problem.

Anyway, I hope it goes well, and please do let me know how you get on. By the way have you gone to work barefoot today, and if so are you going to go into the meeting in your barefeet?

I have had one or two people comment on me not wearing shoes on my way to work, but nothing too bad, and no really rude remarks.

As I mentioned I am the manager of the small branch where I work, which I guess makes going shoeles easier, but I would have no problem if the girls I work with wanted to do the same thing. I don't think it really matters at all. I think I may have mentioned that one of the girls I work with has strarted leaving her shoes off in the branch, and in fact she did the same thing this AM!!

In terms of my Head Office, yes my area manager has seen me in the office several times since I started not bothering wearing shoes, and I have had no comments at all from her. I think she has got used, over the last couple of years to me always being sholess, either just in tights or socks in the winter that she has'nt realised that I have stopped even bothering to wear shoes to work.

Anyway, best of luck for today, and do let us know how you get on .

Lets hope you can carry on going barefoot.

Zoe.

[Julia K-S]

Hi Zoe,

MD was worried that if I stepped on something sharp or something fell on my foot I would sue the company.
I pointed out that a lot of the girls wear flip-flops which just misght protect them if they stepped on something but certainly wouldn't stop them getting hurt from anything falling on their feet.
I explained that I was more comfortable bare foot and would like to continue.
Eventually he asked if I would sign a statement that I went barefoot by choice, was aware of the possible dangers and absolved the company from any liability should my feet suffer an injury while at work.
After thinking about it I agreed and he is going to get something drafted for me to sign.

So all should be well!

Julia

[Guest]

Hi Julia,

Sorry about the daley in posting, - glad it all went OK with your MD. I suppose I can understand it from the company's point of view, but in your situation i would definately sign the dis-claimer and carry on going barefoot, - is this what you are going to do?

Can I ask you another thing, - do you find that you are buying shoes far less now, and saving money? Or do you still buy shoes?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Zoe.

[Julia K-S]

Hi Julia,

Sorry about the daley in posting, - glad it all went OK with your MD. I suppose I can understand it from the company's point of view, but in your situation i would definately sign the dis-claimer and carry on going barefoot, - is this what you are going to do?

Can I ask you another thing, - do you find that you are buying shoes far less now, and saving money? Or do you still buy shoes?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Zoe.

Yes, I signed the disclaimer today.
Well I certainly haven't bought any shoes since I started going barefoot.
I met another dedicated barefooter yesterday so we're not the only two around. I had an appointment at a piercing studio and the girl who did my piercing was barefoot so we had a long chat. She goes barefoot virtually all year round except in snow and other extreme conditions. I thought my soles were getting tough but hers are amazing, like a flexible leather but not at all hard or cracked. I wonder how long it will take to get mine to the same state.
Did you have any problems when it was decidedly chilly for a couiple of mornings recently?
How do you travel too and from work? Car, walk or public transport?
Do you wear skirts or trousers. I almost always wear a skirt.

Julia