Dressed up but bare feet?

[Flowerslamp]

When we visit BF's parents. I've met them a handful of times they're definitely BF's parents, not ILs iyswim. If it makes a difference, I'm middleaged, they're 70s.

On the odd occasion that I've been to their house, I've taken the lead from BF and gone reasonably smartly dressed, in the same way as we would have gone "visiting" when I was a child.

The difference is no one from my childhood had a shoes off home.

I made the right choice re what to wear, his mother was beautifully turned out, as she always is. She was wearing gold block heel shoes with her outfit, which (possibly) are only worn indoors.

BF removed his shoes at the door, so I did the same. Mother didn't say don't worry about it, as I would, so I assume shoes off are a requirement. Father was wearing smart leather slippers.

This left BF in his socks and me in tights, feeling partially dressed. Should I have taken slippers co ordinate with my outfit ?! Or is there another way.

Fwiw, they were perfectly lovely and we have a fun afternoon. It's not the biggest deal in the world, I'm just wondering what to wear on Boxing Day.

As an aside they have under floor heating, which is lovely at forst but by the end of the day I felt horribly overheated, you can't move away from it as you might a radiator and without shoes you have this direct heat on your feet all day!

@JamesWebbSpaceTelescope in the summer I'd be in bare feet (and go into the garden in my bare feet) but in the winter it depends because if the floors are cold so it's nicer to have shoes on. It's about what is comfortable. If we have visitors I always have shoes on because I don't want them taking their shoes off.

So you put shoes on before they arrive? That seems bizarre to me.

Bare feet, socks or slippers (fluffy crocs) if cold. I can’t image wearing shoes in my own house.

Yes, I dress up for visitors (shocking I know!).

Putting shoes on is different from dressing up. So do you put your shoes on when you get dressed or just before the guests arrive? I would dress up but still be in my stocking feet, but then I’m not fussed about shoes and don’t feel they are needed to “complete the outfit.”

Speaking for myself, I sometimes keep mine on till bedtime. Depends what I’m doing. It’s a non-issue for me.

While I don't wear uncomfortable shoes, I can't wait to kick them off when I get in the house. I guess it's the equivalent of taking your bra off for many women.

I wear slippers indoors - much more comfortable than shoes.

Always bare feet for me, even in winter. Much healthier for your feet too. People on here talk about fear of sweaty, manky feet but that only really happens if they’re cooped up in shoes and socks all day. Go barefoot at home and look after them and you have no issues.

My feet would be far too cold at this time of year without socks and arch support slippers.

I love shoes and most of my outfits the shoes are the main thing. I think you are over thinking it though, there's no routine to when I have shoes on or shoes off, I can wear shoes inside and be barefoot outside depending on various factors. I'm not worried about taking dirt in (because floors can be cleaned), so I don't have a blue line marking a shoes off zone.

I have to say I'd feel incredibly weird working in an office (apart from my home office) in slippers!

This ⬆️

Everyone I know has a ‘shoes off’ house (and yes, I know that doesn’t mean ‘everyone in the UK’, but it’s fairly representative of many households!)

Why would anyone deliberately tread outdoor shit all over their house?

The ‘virtue signalling’ poster…what are you actually on about?? It’s not virtue signalling to want your carpets/flooring free of grime! 🤯

Regarding the class thing - I think it derives from the priority on making guests feel comfortable and also they wouldn't actually be cleaning their floors etc so it didn't matter if people wore shoes.

Roll up velvet ballet style slippers. They come in a pouch and can go in your bag. If I remember where to get the will share the link.

If you think pavements are dirty now, you should have been around in the 70s (or think back to them if you were around at the time) when there was quite a bit of actual shit on them… just saying.

And yet most of us managed not to walk it into people’s houses. Actually this thread is making me wonder if doormats aren’t a thing any more?

Its the custom with everyone I've met in the UK? Tradesmen generally bring shoe coverings, but socially I've never seen anyone try to keep their shoes on indoors. The weather's generally far too wet for shoes on to have become a cultural norm.

I loathe the virtue-signalling no-shoes brigade

I don't think you understand what the term virtue signalling means @MossAndLeaves

Canadian here... we are always shoes off! What's a party without a pile of shoes at the door, haha. Just pack some ballet flats or soft soled low heels.

I'm off to a gathering later this afternoon, and it's snowy out, so will bring some flats with me. I have black patent and satin flats that I've had for years just for this purpose.

What on earth is virtue-signalling about it? And what is this "brigade"? I wear shoes as little as possible simply because I am more comfortable that way. Other people can do what they want.

And in the ones like my mother's where you wore your outdoor shoes to protect your feet from whatever the hell was ingrained in the bits of carpet.

What do you think it means? 🤔 not wanting dirt trodden through the house isnt remotely virtue signalling, its a completely logical rule.

I agree with you. I think I must have been at cross purposes with you.