Beach Wear: Flip Flops

If you only buy one fashion accessory for your swimsuit, make it flip flops. Flip flops are inexpensive and practical, taking you from the beach to the locker room without dirtying your feet.

About Flip Flops

Some people call them flip flops, others refer to them as thongs or simply as sandals. No matter what you call them, flip flops are an important part of your swimwear ensemble.

Thongs are easy to put on and take off, making them perfect for the beach or pool. This footwear is characterized by a simple strap that begins between the big, and second toe, and branches off to either side of the foot in a V shape. The soles are usually made of rubber or neoprene, but may be made more fashionable with the addition of other materials such as fabric, leather and bamboo.

Shopping for Flip Flops

For Women

Women can find cute flip flops from a variety of stores and shoe vendors. You don't have to limit yourself to plain or uncomfortable sandals - you can find options with flowers, beading and bright colors to match your bathing suit

Piperlime: Piperlime offers a wide variety of flip flops from a broad range of shoe manufacturers
Zappos: Zappos also provides a great variety from various manufacturers
Victoria's Secret: VS provides cute and sexy flip flop options perfect for a beach vacation

For Men

Men can take advantage of the benefits of flip flops just as easily as women, the only difference is that men's flip flops tend to be bigger, thicker and more masculine. Men can search for sandals at the following locations:

Old Navy: Offers inexpensive options and a good selection for guys
Adidas: Provides options for guys that transition easily from the gym to the pool or beach
Teva: Teva offers comfortable options that can double as walking shoes in a pinch

For Children

Children's thongs are available in a wide array of designs, usually including popular cartoon characters such as Spiderman and Dora the Explorer. The materials of choice are rubber and plastic, and these thongs are usually quite inexpensive as well. You can pick up cute options for kids from:

Havaiana's: Lots of options for boys and girls of all ages
Sanuk: Cute shoes made out of recycled and eco-friendly materials

Protecting Your Feet

Flip flops are functional as well as fashionable, protecting your feet from a number of hazards you may encounter at the pool, beach, and anywhere else that you may be tempted to go barefoot.

Burns

Burns can be a major concern during the summer season as the sun bakes down on you all day long. Of course, we all think about protecting our skin with sunscreen, and coverups, but neither of these items are useful for protecting our feet. Sand, asphalt, and cement pavement can all become dangerously hot surfaces when the weather turns toasty, and walking on them barefoot can actually result in some uncomfortable burns. Flip flops provide protection for your soles while still letting the rest of your feet breathe.

Cuts

Nothing can cut short a day of swim fun faster than a nasty cut on your feet. The foot is a tough place to keep a bandage on, and it's not a good idea to go in the water with an open cut either. Flip flops can protect your feet from sharp shell edges, and any other debris you may not be able to see hidden just under the sand.

Fungus

Many pools and beaches offer facilities to change, shower, and use the restroom, and though they are convenient, these places are great harbingers for bacteria and fungus. Walking into one of these areas barefoot is like walking into a mine field - you have no idea of what your feet might be encountering.

Athlete's foot is the most common fungus found in shower areas, and it is highly transferable, easily surviving on damp surfaces until the next host comes along. Once you contract this fungus, it's difficult to get rid of, and the itching, burning, and peeling can drive a person crazy. You can avoid this nuisance by wearing your flip flops any time you enter pool/beachside facilities, especially while you're showering. Your sandals will quickly dry in the open air and sunshine, and you won't have to worry about the health of your feet.

Fun Flip Flop Crafts

A quick look in retail stores, and on the internet will reveal that there is no shortage of fun and fashionable summer footwear, but there are other alternatives for defining your own style.

One of the hottest current fads is to buy inexpensive thongs and decorate them yourself. If you want to give it a try, here are a few suggestions.

Rag ties are fun and easy to add to the straps of your flops. Choose some cotton material in different shades and patterns and cut it into seven-by-one inch strips with a pair of pinking shears, then tie them around the sandal straps with a square knot until the straps are completely full. You can trim the ends uniformly to the length you desire, and now you have a great looking set of flops that are extra comfy as well.

Beads are another great way to decorate your thongs. You'll need a needle and strong cord, as well as beads with a hole big enough for the cord to pass through. Begin at one end of the straps, tie the cord on with a square knot, and begin adding beads to the cord, wrapping it snuggly around the strap as you go. Be sure to use smooth beads in the areas that rub against your feet, and add flashier shaped beads only at the outside strap areas. When you reach the far end of the strap, tie it off with a square knot and you're finished.

Silk flowers, and sea shells also make great add-ons for your flip flops. Simply hot glue them to the straps any way you think they look good, and you have your own exclusive designer footwear.

Choosing Your Sandals

When choosing your sandals, make sure that you pick a color or style that you will feel comfortable wearing with your swimsuit, but will also work well with other clothing items. During the summer, flip flops can be your go-to footwear for almost any occasion, and you want ot make sure you have a pair that will work as well at a restaurant as it does at the pool.