I just bought a pair of Mephisto Sharks seen below because I love the way they look and feel. I will wear them in the summer with shorts and no socks. My concern is that my toenails are pretty ugly and this is the first shoe I have ever owned which exposes my toes so I feel a little awkward. Also, my feet are noticeably pale compared to the rest of my legs. Do you wear anything similar and how do you like the style?
Sandals: to expose the toes or not...
- Thread starter Kouros
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Personally, I'm not a fan of the Jesus sandals as pictured, but I do wear flip flops or thongs, depending where you're from. I wear Rainbows. It's just a popular brand name. To me, they're well built and comfortable.
I too had ugly toenails. But, I buffed them and made them pretty. The 4-way buffers the Dead Sea people sell at the kiosks in the malls work great. They're little buffer deals with 4 sides that make your nails shiny. I used it for my toenails and it made a huge difference.
I too had ugly toenails. But, I buffed them and made them pretty. The 4-way buffers the Dead Sea people sell at the kiosks in the malls work great. They're little buffer deals with 4 sides that make your nails shiny. I used it for my toenails and it made a huge difference.
My toes are a mangled looking mess (through no lack of maintenance mind you) and I've never been a fan of men in sandals. There are several sandal-like variations with a closed toe that I would find workable for me.
If you're going to wear those, start doing some toe maintenance.
I don't get it myself, but a lot of women seem to like a man in sandals and shorts.
If you're going to wear those, start doing some toe maintenance.
I don't get it myself, but a lot of women seem to like a man in sandals and shorts.
No one will be looking at your toenails. Seriously. Just enjoy the freedom of sandals.
+1 on that. I wear sandals most all of the time if it is warm and I'm not at work. I wear Teva sandals in a similar style. I've found them to be more comfortable than most shoes.
If you're going to wear open-toed sandals...please do not wear socks underneath!!!
If you are worried about the state of your toes feel free to use it as an excuse for some pampering and get a pedicure!
It's pretty good for your feet to get some air circulation in any case.
Your lower legs will quickly catch up to the rest of your legs.
If you are worried about the state of your toes feel free to use it as an excuse for some pampering and get a pedicure!
It's pretty good for your feet to get some air circulation in any case.
Your lower legs will quickly catch up to the rest of your legs.
As far as your ugly toenails are concerned, they might be medically treatable. Some, but definitely not all, toenail problems are due to fungus. If the nails are assymetrically involved, for example you see skipping of the nails, ie first and fourth are bad, second is normal etc, or if youhave had a history of athlete's foot, that makes it even more likely that your nail problems are caused by fungus.
There is a good treatment for nail fungus called lamisil. It's an oral med you would need to take for three months. After that it would take around a year for all your nails to grow out normal. Something they don't mention in the commercials is that there is a 50% 5year recurrence rate of toenail infection after youfinish taking this med. This can be lessened somewhat by using athletes foot meds on you feet and nails such as clotrmazole cream regularly as a preventative measure. Keeping your nails trimmed and polished as mentioned above also helps.
I will just mention that while lamisil is generally well tolerated with few or no side effects, it can very occasionally cause liver irritation so if you have hepatitis or if you drink much alcohol, this med is not for you. If you do go to the doctor for this make sure she(he) does a scraping of your nails to verify the presence of nail fungus. Either visualization of the fungus right there in the office by KOH exam or sending the fungus out for culture (which takes3-4 weeks) is acceptable.
Some doctors, especially general practice docs, but even dermatologists sometimes prescribe oral lamisil without confirming the presence of fungus by scraping the toenails. This is very bad form in my opinion and if your doc tries to do this, you should insist on a scraping of your nails to prove you have the fungus before starting this med. If the tests are negative for the fungus you should begin thinking of other non-infectious causes There are many of these but psoriasis or repetitivetrauma are the two most common non infectious causes.
Frankly I was a bit hesitant to post anything at first due to the way dermatologists are getting trashed in some of the other threads here, but anyway good luck and I hope this is helpful information to you and other folks here. Sorry for the typos- I'm on my iPhone
Pete
There is a good treatment for nail fungus called lamisil. It's an oral med you would need to take for three months. After that it would take around a year for all your nails to grow out normal. Something they don't mention in the commercials is that there is a 50% 5year recurrence rate of toenail infection after youfinish taking this med. This can be lessened somewhat by using athletes foot meds on you feet and nails such as clotrmazole cream regularly as a preventative measure. Keeping your nails trimmed and polished as mentioned above also helps.
I will just mention that while lamisil is generally well tolerated with few or no side effects, it can very occasionally cause liver irritation so if you have hepatitis or if you drink much alcohol, this med is not for you. If you do go to the doctor for this make sure she(he) does a scraping of your nails to verify the presence of nail fungus. Either visualization of the fungus right there in the office by KOH exam or sending the fungus out for culture (which takes3-4 weeks) is acceptable.
Some doctors, especially general practice docs, but even dermatologists sometimes prescribe oral lamisil without confirming the presence of fungus by scraping the toenails. This is very bad form in my opinion and if your doc tries to do this, you should insist on a scraping of your nails to prove you have the fungus before starting this med. If the tests are negative for the fungus you should begin thinking of other non-infectious causes There are many of these but psoriasis or repetitivetrauma are the two most common non infectious causes.
Frankly I was a bit hesitant to post anything at first due to the way dermatologists are getting trashed in some of the other threads here, but anyway good luck and I hope this is helpful information to you and other folks here. Sorry for the typos- I'm on my iPhone
Pete
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Frankly I was a bit hesitant to post anything at first due to the way dermatologists are getting trashed in some of the other threads here, but anyway good luck and I hope this is helpful information to you and other folks here. Sorry for the typos- I'm on my iPhone
Pete
Folks in these parts get a little touchy when someone tells them to shave in a manner contrary to what they feel is correct. Sometimes all it takes is a poorly related story about unspecific advice from a female dermatologist.
If you like 'em, go for 'em. As long as you don't have black crud under your toenails, don't worry about what they look like. Your toes are nobody else's business. And definitely skip the socks. Nothing's tackier looking than sandals and socks...
On the other hand, if you're really worried that your toes might offend, Keene makes a really nice pair of closed toe sandals...
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/trailhead/newport/bison
On the other hand, if you're really worried that your toes might offend, Keene makes a really nice pair of closed toe sandals...
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/trailhead/newport/bison
+1 to your +1. I hate shoes in general, so I wear sandals (no socks) most of the year except for when I'm at work or I have to dress up for something.
If I'm not at work, I'm usually wearing sandals sans socks. My favorites are Chacos:
I used to like Tevas, but they've gotten too fussy and complicated over the years.
My toes are no objects of beauty, but I don't think many people are looking at them. I've never had a comment from anyone either way in probably 15 years of sandal wearing.
For me, open toe sandals are the entire point of wearing sandals. They let me feet dry out after being trapped in shoes for 12-15 hours on workdays. It's the closest I can practically be to barefoot, which I also try to do as much as possible.
I used to like Tevas, but they've gotten too fussy and complicated over the years.
My toes are no objects of beauty, but I don't think many people are looking at them. I've never had a comment from anyone either way in probably 15 years of sandal wearing.
For me, open toe sandals are the entire point of wearing sandals. They let me feet dry out after being trapped in shoes for 12-15 hours on workdays. It's the closest I can practically be to barefoot, which I also try to do as much as possible.
I personally don't care for sandals.
Anywhere I could go wearing sandals, I'd rather just go barefoot. (beach etc.)
Anywhere I can't go barefoot, I wear shoes.
For me, it's just one of those half-way things that doesn't work - like a tie with a short sleeved shirt.
Anywhere I could go wearing sandals, I'd rather just go barefoot. (beach etc.)
Anywhere I can't go barefoot, I wear shoes.
For me, it's just one of those half-way things that doesn't work - like a tie with a short sleeved shirt.
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Folks in these parts get a little touchy when someone tells them to shave in a manner contrary to what they feel is correct. Sometimes all it takes is a poorly related story about unspecific advice from a female dermatologist.
yes I commented briefly in that thread. Poor woman dermatologist probably had something in mind when she made the recommendation but the hostility it unleashed was striking.
Personally, I have this thing about no socks. I wear sandals in the summer on and off but won't wear them without socks. Everyone makes fun off me but that's their problem. I wear what is comfortable to me. I wear MTS Sandals. They are great.
I've always been partial to Birkenstocks myself but those sandals look great. I say wear socks if its cold or no socks if it's warm.
I'm not a fan of this particular style of sandal. I usually wear flip flops during the summer if the occasion calls for it, but then again, I don't have nasty gargoyle feet like most men
. I work with a guy who wears these types of sandals with socks and they're quite possibly the most atrocious combination i've ever laid eyes on.
I live in a pair of Keen Newport sandals during the summer. Great support, protection, and waterproof 
Sandals are required footwear in Texas between March and November, aka "Summer". 
I like mine in between on the toe exposure meter. My current favorites are these Casual Fishermans from Ecco...
I like mine in between on the toe exposure meter. My current favorites are these Casual Fishermans from Ecco...
My own feeling is that sandals and leather just don't mix. I feel that sandals ought to be of a material that you won't think twice about wading into the surf or across a stream or what have you ... they are as close as your feet get to summertime ATVs, so plan accordingly. And yes, that pretty much takes socks out of the equation, too.
Now, some guys like socks with sandals. Hey, whatever floats your boat. I'm not going to point and giggle if I see you walking down the street, I'm not going to accuse you of undermining western civilisation, and hey, at least you are not wearing crocs, so you get some significant style points for that, at any rate. It's your personal preference ...
... and that is cool. You are aware that the no-socks rule is a pretty widely accepted style rule, and that you are breaking the rule, which can be hard to pull off with aplomb, but I wish you all the best in pulling it off. In any event, enjoy your choice!
Apart from that, though, if you are going to wear sandals, do it sock-less. Get a pedicure, get a prescription from your Doctor for toe nail fungus if need be, and then lose the socks.
Now, some guys like socks with sandals. Hey, whatever floats your boat. I'm not going to point and giggle if I see you walking down the street, I'm not going to accuse you of undermining western civilisation, and hey, at least you are not wearing crocs, so you get some significant style points for that, at any rate. It's your personal preference ...
... and that is cool. You are aware that the no-socks rule is a pretty widely accepted style rule, and that you are breaking the rule, which can be hard to pull off with aplomb, but I wish you all the best in pulling it off. In any event, enjoy your choice!
Apart from that, though, if you are going to wear sandals, do it sock-less. Get a pedicure, get a prescription from your Doctor for toe nail fungus if need be, and then lose the socks.
No socks for me, ever.
