Espadrilles. Awful? Boat shoes?

[ShowOfHands]

I of course know nothing about fashion. Helen will be along in a minute to move this thread into the 'WTF was she thinking' topic.

I've seen some I like (usually how these things start with me tbh). They were tie dye. That doesn't help does it? In fact I'm probably making things worse. They look homemade don't they? I think that's why I like them. Like they should be worn with a sack. Peasant chic.

Come on you lot. I know it's January and you're all shopped out from the Next sale (snort) but am I allowed to wear espadrilles?

Espadrilles are awful. They look mishappne and slovelnly after approximately ONE wear

Boat shoes are different- do you mean the leather ones with the lace that goes all the way round?

I meant do they look like something that you should only wear on a boat? I didn't mean they're like boat shoes iyswim. I have a friend who has a boat and he wears them all the time. With shorts and a polo shirt.

I'm really answering my own question.

Linky please.

Are you going on a boat?

This is turning into Style and Beauty by Stealth

Will I ever go on a boat? Maybe. Perhaps a ferry.

I just want a general consensus on espadrilles. I have no clue and don't want to be laughed out of the playground.

Have to confess that I quite like espadrilles in the summer. (Mainly because I hate the way my feet look in sandals or - heaven forbid - flip-flops.)

DW is prone to make 80s-based sarky comments at me when I wear them, however.

Espadrilles get smelly fast, because of the rope soles which absorb everything and then emit a ropey/feety odour.
The colour runs in the rain, dyeing your feet dramatically.

You thus need to choose your climate carefully.

I quite like them as they are cheap and easy to slip on/off, but round where I live old men wear them in summer, with shorts and straw hats/berets to play boules.

Tie dye sounds a bit odd, though, TBH. We need a link...

I wear them - plain black or navy or red - in the summer. Or I did until last year when every other muppet decided to join in. Before that I though I was special cos I got mine in French supermarkets .

Good for pottering round on dry days. They don't last, I chuck them when they get wet or smelly. I think they look better than cheap plastic-y ballet pumps.

Tie dye? Not while I still have breath.

Oh I'm 89% tie dye, 11% patchouli. No link, local independent hippy type place. They're like these sort of.

Do they itch? I live in Dr Marten's all year round but would like a summer option. Can't do flip flops at all.

Oh, I see, do you mean pseudo-chic stripy boho tie dye?
Like this?

Might be OK, infinitely better than <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.fr/imgres?q=tie+dye&um=1&hl=fr&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=567&tbm=isch&tbnid=YsSaAr_hFtBQ9M:&imgrefurl=www.howtotiedye.org/tie-dye-t-shirt/&docid=oPf-LlH9F5IZtM&imgurl=www.howtotiedye.org/wp-content/uploads/tie-dye.jpg&w=425&h=360&ei=QjgMT-W9DYiE8gPSs6DFBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=543&vpy=194&dur=1748&hovh=207&hovw=244&tx=105&ty=92&sig=109504073565658107403&page=1&tbnh=165&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this in shoe form, anyway, which is what I was imagining.

They don't itch. IME.

Yes, precisely.

Go for it.

If you live in DMs already, why not have a look at DM sandals as an option?

Or even, dare I say it, Birkies.

I do have some DM sandals. Two pairs in fact. I just fancy a change from them.

How adventurous

Ohh Showy I love you, you know that, but it's a rather forceful no from me.

I see you more in leather flip-flop style with beaded ankle decoration thingy. I know what I mean. HTH.

I think a birkie is right up your street.

An espidrille is a marvellous thing for parading across a Spanish or French beach but will disintegrate on the damp streets of Britain.

Pinot, I agree with the beady thing too

Espadrilles are bloody ugly, sad to say.

How about gladiator sandals? They normally look pretty good.