Ah… yes. Finally, summer is here! And since the Memorial Day holiday is the ‘unofficial’ start of the lovely warm months to come I think many of us realize it’s that time of year again. You know – ‘flip flop sandals assessment’ time.
Now, whether I wanted to be or not, I am a ‘flip flop connoisseur’ of sorts. It’s in my nature having been born and raised in Southern California. As a native Los Angelino, flip flops are as much a staple in everyday life as Mexican food, traffic, smog, and of course the beach. So I know what I’m talking about. Therefore, during this lovely three-day weekend, I will be inspecting my flip flop collection and adventuring on to the appropriate shoe sales and taking advantage of my holiday discounts in the process.
The funny thing about flip flops is how much they have evolved! According to the website, Pecheblu.com, the term ‘flip flop’ arrived sometime in the 1960’s, as a term for those sandals with their unique design that had been around since at least 4000 B.C. Wow! I guess some things really do never go out of style!
Today’s flip flops I’m sure couldn’t hold a candle to the one’s Ancient Egyptians probably wore, since they were probably used for hunting, fishing, gathering and the like. So I’m glad that I can just concentrate on the fashionable side of things. That brings me to this point: Where can one the best flip flops? I’m talking style, design, variety, and of course price. I offer up the following flip flop sandal stores:
An old staple! I eagerly anticipate the spring when Old Navy starts changing their inventory from winter to spring complete with linen shirts, sundresses, and typically an entire section of the store dedicated to flip flop sandals. The best part is they do this for both the women and men’s sections, which is great because I have been known to purchase from both! They typically roll out the same design each year, however lately they have been a bit exploratory with the women’s designs, including some with zebra print, hibiscus flower, and paisley print. Though the soles can feel a bit thin sometime, they are still a great value with the average price of $5 with a two-for-five sale just about every other week.
Victoria’s Secret Catalog
Known for just about everything sexy, the last place one might think to find a cool pair of flip flops would be Victoria’s Secret. Well, think again! V.S. sells good quality flip flops with a wide variety of styles. Their flips flops may have rhinestones or glitter adorn the straps and some even have wedges that are 3 to 4 inches high. Talk about finding another way to showcase the platform craze! Prices for a pair of plastic flip flops can be a bit lofty, though. The average price for a pair is about $25. The good news is their styles are very unique, in addition to carrying that sexiness factor that V.S. has down to a science.
Havaianas
I’m a believer now! I will admit when they first hit the scene I was a bit skeptical about these flip flops. Their advertising came across as too ‘chichi’ and flashy for me. I mean the last thing on earth I think anyone should be bourgeoisie about is a pair of flip flops! But since I’m such a self-professed flip flop guru I had to check them out and I sure am glad I did! Havaianas are the standard in flip flops. They are comfortable, made of good quality (so they’ll last longer than many others), and of course stylish. Yes, they do come at a price. Expect to pay anywhere from $18-$40 a pair but who wouldn’t want to pay that for the option of make your own flip flops! That’s right! You can make your own custom design on the website and in some stores so depending on how creative you are it pretty much guarantees you won’t be walking down the street with someone else wearing your flips!
Kohl’s
I like Kohls for a variety of reasons, most notably quality cute clothes at an affordable price. With designers like J.Lo, Vera Wang, and now Rock and Republic all setting up shop there, I figure you really can’t go wrong. Both the Kohl’s walk in department store and their website feature a variety of sandals and flip flops for men and women, some as cheap as $2.50. So if you’re looking to pick up a pair for an on-the-fly beach outing or event, I highly recommend Kohl’s.
Crocs
The first time I tried on a pair of Crocs it felt like the soles of my feet had landed on a bed of pillows! Of course, these were those dreaded clogs that I have to admit I can’t stand. So when Crocs decided to unveil a line of flip flops I was eager to get a pair! Croc flip flops are very comfortable since the styles are somewhat athletic in design. Expect to pay around $19 to $39, so their pretty affordable but they do lack variety in design so you won’t find too much glitter and zebra print here. But if you’re looking for flip flops that soothe the feet, these are the ones.
Which store do you like when buying your summer flip flops? Are there any I’ve left out? Please share in the comments section! Take note… I’m reading!
