Flip Flop Frenzy

The term flip flops brings up mixed feelings. Some people view the casual shoes as beach only attire, and many offices have banned flip flops on casual Friday. But long gone are the days of simple rubber and foam flip flops. Sure, you can still buy a cheap pair at the drug store for a few bucks, but the truth of the matter is, flip flops are a major part of street style, especially in warmer climate states like Hawaii, Florida and California.

Flip flops are one of the oldest forms of footwear, which actually date back thousands of years to the time of the Romans and Egyptians. During post WWII, soldiers started bringing back rubber sandals as souvenirs. Americans embraced the new trend and bright colors of these casual shoes, and started adapting the designs to their liking. Eventually, flip flops came known to represent surfer style. Today, flip flops still have a laid back vibe that is reminiscent of summer days, however, they are worn much more frequently.

The flip flop has become as much a part of pop culture as blue jeans and sneakers. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see them year round. But although the mentality is still there, don’t expect the same mod styles that were made trendy in the 50s and 60s. In fact today, bejeweled flip flops adorned with crystals, sequins and studs are the norm, giving you a comfortable alternative to other sandals. Classic brands like Anne Klein shoes and Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes have upped the style ante, introducing durable yet fashion forward styles that can easily be worn with dresses, shorts and linen pants.

Big trends for flip flops this season include metallic designs and elevated platforms. Rocket dog shoes makes a great line of affordable platform flip flops called “Crush”, and has really been a consumer pleaser, with sequined, braided and studded styles in high demand. Rocket dog shoes are often sold alongside skate shoes in local surf shops and have come to be a staple of beach-chic style.

Flip flops are now so versatile, that you shouldn’t be surprised to see them show up on the red carpet. Halle Barry has rocked them at events, and when worn with maxi dresses or white jeans, a great pair of flip flops can be a fashionably fun and playful accessory. As casual every day wear continues to evolve and grow more popular, you can count on seeing more and more flip flops in the future.