NOW CLOSED: Toes out? Sandals on? How do you prepare? Share tips and experiences with Clarks and you could win one of ten pairs of their gorgeous summer sandals!

[AnnMumsnet]

Hello

We've been asked by the team at Clarks to get you talking about the (sometimes) dreaded first time you get your sandals on for spring/ summer....if it's not here yet - it is coming!

Share your thoughts on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where ten lucky winners will get a free pair of shoes.

So, have you got your feet out for summer yet? Is it a 2 stage process for you (tops of feet and then toes) or do you go for the full sandal straight away? Or do you NEVER bare all?

What's your favourite type of sandal? Flat and relaxed, a height-boosting wedge or maybe a strappy number?

What date or occasion did you you/ will you do it? Does it need to be a special occasion?

Do you have a pamper ritual before getting your feet out? What it is? Full scrub, pedicure or a quick slick of a nude varnish? Share your tips (please!)

If your feet never see the UK sun, why not?

And if they're out all year round and look ok how do you manage it?

<br />
Clarks have a bigger promotion running at the moment and there are chances to win some lovely prizes by checking out their comps on <a class="break-all" href="http://instagram.com/clarksshoes/" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">instagram</a> and <a class="break-all" href="http://bit.ly/14SjJH7" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank"> Facebook</a>. On Instagram they want you to tweet a picture of your sandals with the hashtag #FreeYourFeet and you could win £500 worth of Mr & Mrs Smith vouchers and £150 worth of Clarks shoes, whilst on FB you could win one of five pairs of shoes simply by answering their sandal survey. Check out the links for full details and T&Cs.<br />
<br />
In the meantime please do share your experiences on this thread.<br />
<br />
Thanks and good luck.<br />
<br />
MNHQ

[CarrieDon]

Gabor Jollys and FitFlops for me.

I need to work hard at softening my heels - the Soap and Glory foot file is good, plus some heavy duty cream at night. flexitol is even better but I really cannot stand the urea smell in it. Wish they would include a strong perfume to disguise it.

Can't stand being cold so it has to really hot to flash my toes.

[keely79]

Love a bit of colourful polish - normally treat myself to a pedicure from the local nail bar - always a bit shocking the amount of skin that comes off during the first one...

[Wolfiefan]

I love sandals. Flat for days out with the kids. Wedges for work.
Horrid hard skin is a no no. Scrub and moisturise. ( Not just for summer!)
I love bright colours on my toes. Last year I switched mostly between red and fushia. Always makes me feel summery!

[StrangeGlue]

I love sandals! It's sandals of boots for me generally - cant find many shoes on between which are both comfy and nice.

I tend to always have my toe nails painted and I use nails inc polish as its my favourite and frequently cheap in tk maxx. This always surprises people as I rarely have my finger nails painted or wear makeup.

I like a flat but supportive sandal. I really liked the Clarks ones which had ankle and cross toe straps with large rectangular beads on. I currently have a lovely white and neon pink office pair.

Never flip flops! I cannot abide shoes which don't stay on or things between my toes! Flip flops give you chimp toes!

[lottietiger]

Best thing about hot weather is wearing sandals &/or flip flops! My legs are rubbish so crop trousers and flats are more my style. i keep my toenails painted all year long but make a special weekly effort in the sandal wearing months. I love high heeled sandals too but dont get so much chance to wear them these days as i was pregnant throughout last summer and ill be walking with a papoose this year :)

[Princessdivaaa]

I try to look after my feet all year long..

I aim to scrub dead skin once a week (more likely monthly) and give feet a good moisturise each day after the shower (more likely weekly).

I try to do a home pedi once a month consisting of; cut and file nails, cuticles and polish.

I treat myself to a professional pedicure about twice a year; before summer holidays and before Christmas.

[ftm42]

Painted my toenails dark pink and added sparkly flowery stickers on top. Put my sandals on, and it rained!

[TeaAddict235]

Hurrah for summers! freedom for my toes!
I prepare my feet all year round really by doing a weekly scrub with an amazing vulcanic stone. I do this mainly on sunday evenings in the shower as it actually helps me to sleep better. Then by spring I step up the work and try to scrub my feet at least twice a week. I also use a thick cream like cocoa butter or shea butter on the skin of my feet before going to bed to get rid of rubbing marks and scratches.

Okay, so where I let my feet down is on the polish front. In winter, I don't really care about the polish chipping off. But in by spring I take off all old polish and let my nails breath before the summer attack!!! Then (to my husbands annoyance) I apply polish on either a thursday or friday evening for the weekend (making sure to clip nicely), and do an extra and quick pumice scrub on saturday.

I know, I sound a bit like a freak, but, I have to look after my feet as when we were little we used to make fun of my mum's feet. And, bless her, now I know how much hard work it takes to look after the feet of a commuter. Nowadays I get her a Clarkes voucher for her summer birthday, and always put a little joke into the card about wearing nice shoes.

I don't get sandals every summer, but the ones that I do get tend to be medium wedges with straps. I have some just like that (an investment) that I got from Clarks before I got married, and I apply a small amount of olive oil to the leather to take care of the straps. They are the bees knees, and I always get complimented on them. I think that they ecentuate my calves and ankles. For everyday running around I wear flat Birkenstock copies with silver straps that are rusting. The soles on them are really comfortable and my calves look okay in them.

[serendipity1980]

My feet are in pretty good condiiton - I do use pumice stone and I love painting my nails in the summer. I've painted them once this year but it's turned so cold again! It feels like a long time before I'll get them out again! For sandels, birkenstocks are really comfortable, but I do like pretty simple flip flop style too.

[Tinkerisdead]

Oh god my feet are like trotters at the moment. If i'm doing my feet i rely on a bath first to soak them for ages, because i've been having quick showers they are dry cracked and revolting.

That said it takes no time to get them tip top again and i wear sandals/flopflops as soon as a dry day arrives. I soak my feet either in the bath or in a bowl. I use a foot file to get all the dead skin off my heels. I moisturise with a urea based cream and always always have polished toes otherwise they really do look like trotters! If i'm treating myself i do gel polish with my uv lamp so it lasts longer.

Off to fill a bowl!

[sixp]

Wish it were hot enough for sandals! I like comfy ones and once I find the right pair, I wear them with everything, regardless of whether they match or not.

[Punkatheart]

Have you got your feet out for summer yet? Is it a 2 stage process for you (tops of feet and then toes) or do you go for the full sandal straight away? Or do you NEVER bare all?

No feet out yet. Too cold and of course socks and sandals a screaming no-no!

What's your favourite type of sandal? Flat and relaxed, a height-boosting wedge or maybe a strappy number?

flat and relaxed


What date or occasion did you you/ will you do it? Does it need to be a special occasion?

Never worn sandals for a special occasion


Do you have a pamper ritual before getting your feet out? What it is? Full scrub, pedicure or a quick slick of a nude varnish? Share your tips (please!)

Never worn nail varnish on my feet! Have chickens who would peck it!

[shellandkai]

I don't get my feet out very often at all for a few reasons number 1 I can never find a comfy pair of sandals they all rub or are just plain uncomfortable and 2 I have such ugly feet long toes and the ugliest ever scar on my foot from where I dropped a mirror on my bed years ago when I was drunk :(

[Substandard]

Sun out - flipflops on. No time for faffing around getting feet ready, the sun will have gone back in!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

think curryeater should win

[HannahLI]

I have got my feet out already and I did nothing to them in preparation. In an ideal world I would paint my toenails but I didn't have time this year. I like flat sandals with a toe bar.

[YoniMatopoeia]

@ curryeater

I don't own any sandals at the moment.

I am trying to treat my nails as they probably have fungal infection.

Then I will go for a pedicure and buy some sandals before going to Bali later in the year.

[lorisparkle]

So, have you got your feet out for summer yet? Is it a 2 stage process for you (tops of feet and then toes) or do you go for the full sandal straight away? Or do you NEVER bare all?

I had a new summer dress and went to a naming ceremony and wore it. Wore a new pair of sandals and just went for it!

What's your favourite type of sandal? Flat and relaxed, a height-boosting wedge or maybe a strappy number?

I do a long walk to school everyday so need a fairly flat, comfortable sandal that looks good. I prefer fatter straps

What date or occasion did you you/ will you do it? Does it need to be a special occasion?

This time it was an occasion

Do you have a pamper ritual before getting your feet out? What it is? Full scrub, pedicure or a quick slick of a nude varnish? Share your tips (please!)

In the days before children then it used to be a good soak in the bath, a rub with the pumice stone, lots of time with the nails. Now it is a coat of varnish if I am lucky

If your feet never see the UK sun, why not?

N/A

And if they're out all year round and look ok how do you manage it?

They don't and I have not got the time to worry about it!

[WafflyVersatile]

In April I despair that my hobbit feet will ever be summer-ready so I get a pedicure to start me off then lavish them in flexitol before bed (wee for the win!) When summer peeps round the corner I'm into cropped jeans, a hint of fake tan to take down the glare of white and some bright red polish for my toenails. When I remember I trim the hair on my toes! I like wedge-heeled sandals for comfort and height. I like the liberty print wedge from Clarks last year. You never know with shoes which will end up being comfortable or not so I usually end up buying two or three pairs of sandals. Those ones won out in the end even though the buckles are a bit fiddly.

[QueenofWhispers]

I spend the year moisturising myself, and every night I make DH give me a foot massage with lubriderm. I also pedicure every two weeks--sometimes at home, sometimes at the local spa. Toenails are always polished and filed a seasonably justifiable red. Red-orange in the summer (monsooner or later by opi) followed by opi on collins avenue, then red my fortune cookie during the summer, deeper reds for fall and winter. I wear all types of sandals, but make sure my feet look as good as they possibly can. Also, I do a light exfoliation to my whole body every time I shower/bathe and oil right out of the shower.

This summer sandal lineup is fit flops, flat flip flops by havaianas, juicy couture gold gladiator sandals, blowfish pewter and bronze gladiator sandals, juicy couture wedged flip flops with studs and for dressy evenings a pair of dior peep toe mules. Not to mention a few daringly high pairs of wooden wedges. I wish I could dress my hands up as much as my feet.

[madamegourmand]

I only consider putting on my summer shoes once I've fully removed all hard skin, shaped and polished my toes and applied a moisturising cream. I prefer a flat sandal and really like a flip flop.

[Dancealot]

Foot file, flexitol and nail varnish! I love wearing sandals- usually low heel, brown leather- as they are so easy and go with everything. I tend to buy alot of Clarks footwear as i need my feet to be comfortable!

[hotbot]

File, scrub, moisturise, every day post shower, makes me feel summery. I still have feet like a troll. Also treat myself to new summer polish. I like Birkenstock styles, tho I hate my feet.

[DontMeanToBeRudeBut]

I don't have any special ritual, although I did get a full pedicure when I knew I was going to bump into my horrible ex boyfriend :o

I wear fancy flip-flops and open-toe wedges, although it's canvas pumps at the moment due to having two small children to run after. Tripping over a flip flop and landing flat on my face would not be a good look...