Are sandals for men always naff?

[tobee]

I have a teen boy who just spends summer in socks and trainers. It seems hot and a massive fag to wear socks all the time. So I look for sandals every year for him but they always seem kind of awful selection wise.

I've tried giving espadrilles type shoes to wear without socks but "they rub". I think flip flops would be a similar no go because of toe posts even if they were the coolest ever pair.

Am I just looking in the wrong places?

Get some of these babies!

What about something like this? It really depends on what his friends are wearing though.

Thanks for the suggestions!

My ds is the kind who can't articulate what he likes in fashion; although he can fulsomely express what he doesn't like.

Difficult to advise without knowing how he spends his summer, but would something like this do, if he’s an outdoors type!
www.wiggle.co.uk/keen-newport-h2/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&utm_source=google&utm_term=DC&utm_campaign=UK_Manufacturer_DC_Keen&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=mckv%7Cs441d0KyV_dm%7Cmcrid%7C260863351629%7Cmkw%7Ckeen%20newport%20h2%7Cmmt%7Ce%7Cmrd%7C%7Cmslid%7C%7C&mkwid=s441d0KyV_dm&pcrid=260863351629&pkw=keen%20newport%20h2&pmt=e&slid=&pgrid=54025262616&ptaid=kwd-320308827314

My husband lives in his converse trainers or toms during the summer. Usually with ankle socks on. Would something like this work? Get your son to look at Pinterest for inspiration if he needs help articulating what he likes.

I will show your suggestions to ds.

Blimey, DevonLulu, those are a bit pricey!

I quite like the Doc Martens sandals. Tad expensive, but you get what you pay for sometimes

My teens wear Havaianas. Dh wears Birkenstocks.

I loathe those Adidas sliders and dread the teens buying them. We are going to the states in a couple of weeks and I fear it's inevitable. Please God, they won't do the American thing and wear them with shin length socks.

You seen the new nike fanny pack sliders. Jeez.

Sports sandals make me feel queasy.

I think trainers it is for teens. Or flip flops on holiday.

Sandals? Just no.

DP wears Tevas or birkenstocks. DS wears timberland ‘sports’ sandals or Tevas. I cannot imagine wearing trainers all summer. Grim, sweaty, uncomfortable feet. Why is it so different for men to wear sandals Rosetipwhite? Or don’t you like sandals generally?

Sorry got your name completely wrong RoseWhiteTips.

Yeah I don't get the sandal hatred either.

I don’t like sandals. Ugh

Get some Keens They're closed toe, great for walking, waterproof, and look really good.

My husband always has nice sandals, leather either slider style or toe post. Latest pair are I think Uggs. BUT massive caveat - he has nice feet and would never go near a sports sandal unless he was about to hike a mountain.

I see a lot of women with not great feet in sandals, maybe we need to cut the men some more slack.

If you google images of men's sandals and toddler boy sandals you will see virtually the same designs, just a lot bigger, for the men.

Another thing I find offputting is the way they go out of their way to suggest rugged manliness - the exaggerated sportiness, leather strappiness, functional buckleyness, thick soles, etc. Men's dress shoes look much less He-Man, imo. It's as if the perception is that wearing sandals is for cissies so the sandals themselves have to make up for the ground lost.

I suggest the sliders for your DS. They can be worn with socks (at least they are around here).

Yes they are naff for men when not worn on a beach.

I decided this the other day in town looking at the very few men in sandals and they all looked hideous.

Surely sliders with socks just scream German tourist?

Sliders for men

DH is from the south of France and many men wear Birkenstocks and espadrilles (obvious not the wedge heel version) in summer. DH has loads of espadrilles and they also have the advantage of being inexpensive too.

I think birkies on boys/men look really cool and are pretty acceptable fashion wise now. Nothing as comfy either.

Sports sandals are absolutely awful except when worn for summer hiking and even then we can't bring ourselves to wear them.

See I wonder if we all put our collective brains (or separate) together we still wouldn't be able to come up with a truly acceptable sandal design for men. I think it's the connotations as much as anything; dreadful grey/khaki socks and Jesus creepers

Also I'm still shocked by the prices.