Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sandals and crusty feet at work

462 replies

Offherrockingchair · 28/06/2026 19:47

AIBU to think that walking sandals and flip flops are not professional workwear? Yes, it’s been ridiculously hot, but I don’t want to see brittle yellow toenails, crusty dry skin and, in one case, flakes and chunks of skin hanging off the manky trotters of my colleagues 🤮 At the very least, if we are going to be subjected to your toe cleavage, have a pedicure first. And don’t get me started on the smelly ones!

OP posts:
Pistachiocake · 29/06/2026 19:04

slughater · 28/06/2026 21:29

OMG another thing for women to torture themselves about
grey hair
upper arms
shoulders
armpits
hair anywhere other than on the head
faces that are as nature intended
bodies that are too fat/too thin/too muscular/not muscular enough
teeth a shade away from brilliant white
skin more aged than a 16 year olds

are the men worrying about this or is it sufficient for them to be clean and tidy?
their clothing, comfortable and unremarkable?

we do not have to collude in our own oppression! be grateful if you have a body that works and is pain free! we are not put on this earth to measure up to some arbitrary and oppressive set of rules for our appearance!

People tend to object to men's bare feet more!
I only realised when I saw a podiatrist (for an unrelated matter) that the skin I thought was crusty/dry was a form of athlete's foot, and he said it's really common and most people don't realise their dry feet skin is this. No wonder the younger ones think visible toes is a crime.

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:59

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 17:30

What about missing toenails? Do you find those offensive? It’s a genuine question.

Also why the actual fuck are you all looking at other people in that much detail? It’s creepy.

If people want to be well presented then crack on but to judge others for their feet suggests that some people have nothing better to think about. Close your eyes if you are that delicate.

Yes. Why are they falling off?! If they've weakened maybe consider a gel pedicure. You can buy self adhesive acrylic toe nails in Boots.

Melarus · 29/06/2026 18:59

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:51

Maybe don't wear sandals then.

Still wearing 'em 👌

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 29/06/2026 18:55

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:51

Maybe don't wear sandals then.

Or just don’t look at other people’s feet?

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:54

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

100% if you want to get them out make sure they're presentable and fungi-free!

Any1ForTennis · 29/06/2026 18:52

I hate feet so just try my best not too look. No one should turn up to work with smelly feet though unless they have a very long commute and genuinely can't help it after suffering the rush hour tube.

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:51

cluckinell2 · 28/06/2026 21:38

Don’t look then. You sound like the type of person I’d hate to work with. Not everyone has time for fucking weekly pedicures.

Maybe don't wear sandals then.

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:47

Ceramiq · 29/06/2026 18:44

No one wants to see anyone else's unkempt body parts so please don't display them! If you want to bare your feet, your armpits, your midriff: make sure they are impeccable.

Are you the anatomy police?

I'm sure many women don't have impeccable midriffs. Should they wear potato sacks and walk in shame?

Ceramiq · 29/06/2026 18:44

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 18:42

But to see someone’s feet and register that they are grim involves quite the detailed examination. I don’t have toenails most of the time and my feet are a horrible shape so according to the MN standards I should probably wear winter boots all year round.

Stop looking at the feet of randomers, people - it’s creepy as fuck

No one wants to see anyone else's unkempt body parts so please don't display them! If you want to bare your feet, your armpits, your midriff: make sure they are impeccable.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 18:42

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/06/2026 17:46

You don’t have to look in detail - I don’t purposely look at anyone’s feet. It’s more that sometimes you just can’t help seeing.

But to see someone’s feet and register that they are grim involves quite the detailed examination. I don’t have toenails most of the time and my feet are a horrible shape so according to the MN standards I should probably wear winter boots all year round.

Stop looking at the feet of randomers, people - it’s creepy as fuck

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 18:38

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

‘Manksville’ - really? Oh dear

Ceramiq · 29/06/2026 18:35

slughater · 29/06/2026 18:08

...and this is exactly the point!
men are happily going around without sparing a thought for what other people think of their feet
imagine the brain space freed up
then imagine the spending power, energy, time and brain space freed up by NGAF what other people think about your whole appearance and what you could do with all that ! we could change the world, sisters 💪

My DH goes for a pedicure regularly and has a go himself in between times.

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:34

topcat2014 · 29/06/2026 18:32

The horror!

It's perfectly fine if you have a foot fetish dear.

topcat2014 · 29/06/2026 18:32

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:08

Your gaze must be firmly fixed to the ground if other males feet make you jealous and insecure.

Sounds like a fetish to me.

The horror!

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:22

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

Avert your gaze. They're not your feet to be concerned with.

slughater · 29/06/2026 18:08

LeedsLoiner · 29/06/2026 09:40

The thing is though men (in general) DGAF what you think about their feet.

...and this is exactly the point!
men are happily going around without sparing a thought for what other people think of their feet
imagine the brain space freed up
then imagine the spending power, energy, time and brain space freed up by NGAF what other people think about your whole appearance and what you could do with all that ! we could change the world, sisters 💪

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:08

topcat2014 · 29/06/2026 17:39

I've never liked my own (male) feet, and am jealous of guys who can look ok in flip flops.

Even so, I would hate to see them at work.

Your gaze must be firmly fixed to the ground if other males feet make you jealous and insecure.

Sounds like a fetish to me.

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 18:06

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 17:40

So do you all walk round with your eyes on the floor?

They must do!

DappledThings · 29/06/2026 17:54

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

I don't get my feet done, or do anything to them other than keep them clean. Nor are they yellow or cracked. It's really not essential to beautify your feet. Nor is it offensive not to do do anymore than it's offensive not to wear make-up.

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 14:08

What about those of us who are overweight, or ugly, or don’t have perfectly manicured nails etc etc? Should we stay in so as not to offend you?

What is missing from your life that you would notice or in fact care?

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/06/2026 17:46

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 17:30

What about missing toenails? Do you find those offensive? It’s a genuine question.

Also why the actual fuck are you all looking at other people in that much detail? It’s creepy.

If people want to be well presented then crack on but to judge others for their feet suggests that some people have nothing better to think about. Close your eyes if you are that delicate.

You don’t have to look in detail - I don’t purposely look at anyone’s feet. It’s more that sometimes you just can’t help seeing.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 17:40

topcat2014 · 29/06/2026 17:39

I've never liked my own (male) feet, and am jealous of guys who can look ok in flip flops.

Even so, I would hate to see them at work.

So do you all walk round with your eyes on the floor?

topcat2014 · 29/06/2026 17:39

I've never liked my own (male) feet, and am jealous of guys who can look ok in flip flops.

Even so, I would hate to see them at work.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 17:38

Overtheatlantic · 29/06/2026 17:32

Ok well for me hygiene is getting dead skin off my feet. But if you enjoy your crust who am I to say.

Using words like ‘crust’ is to provoke a reaction, just like ‘trotters’. It’s immature and sneery.

I would sooner have dry heels than be shallow and judgemental about others’ choices that affect nobody else.

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 29/06/2026 17:36

Overtheatlantic · 29/06/2026 17:32

Ok well for me hygiene is getting dead skin off my feet. But if you enjoy your crust who am I to say.

Any “crust” comes off in the shower. Showering / washing your feet is enough to keep them clean.

Swipe left for the next trending thread