When I was young, one of the more odd ways the genders differed was that men did not go without socks if they were wearing shoes. This was really hammered home for me when an actor on a TV show broke that stereotype, and people acted like he had taken up dancing in a pink tutu.
So deeply ingrained in me was this idea, along with a lack of confidence in my own lower parts, that even when I wore women's clothes, I always wore at least nylons with them. This continued even after I donated the last of my male clothes and had gone full time - socks or nylons were a must.
Then, this summer, something changed. Part of it maybe that after being stuck for years wearing thick socks and steel toed shoes for work I was ready for a change when I lost my job, but I think mostly it was that my displeasure in my toes and legs had gone down for reasons I don't understand.
The end result was that as soon as the weather permitted, I started going barefoot almost constantly. I'd put on my ballet flats to go out, but my socks and even my nylons stayed in the drawer.
Sadly, the weather is starting to turn again, and today I was cold enough that I included nylons in my outfit before I went out, and while there will be some barefoot days left, the end, at least for this year, is in sight.
I'm not entirely sure what the point I was trying to make with this blog, but ... there you go ...
Comments
Know it or not, ...
Know it or not, your points were made:
1. You have integrated with the stereotypes of your youth, and
2. The end of summer is nigh.
Hugs,
Sara
Between the wrinkles, the orthopedic shoes, and nine decades of gravity, it is really hard to be alluring. My icon, you ask? It is the last picture I allowed to escape the camera ... back before most BC authors were born.
I get your point
Heck if I'm not going barefoot or wearing thongs (aka flip flops) or very soft slippers, I wear shoes and socks even if I would like to just wear plain shoes. Unfortunately socks are a necessity due to how sensitive parts of my feet are, even thongs can only be worn for short periods of time.
Even when I was young if I was out and about I wore shoes and socks, it was simply the way it was. I also mean shoes not sneakers for the most part, these days I wear slip on Sketchers for the most part but I have a pair of leather shoes for weddings, funerals and other formal occasions.
Just remember rule 39
Rule 39:- It is a major foopah to wear white stilettos after the end of August :) :) :wink:
Socks
Having feet which heat up in socks in all but the coldest weather, the sock pile gets little wear most of the year. Sandals of some sort - even cycling - are the norm. The tan lines bear witness. So yes, it is getting to the time of year when more covering is coming up. Best see how you can make it an adornment, Dottie, until the tootsies show themselves again.
Teri Ann
"Reach for the sun."
Socks
Having feet which sweat and get yucky I wear sandals whenever there is no snow or salt on the ground. And if it's cold out I wear socks with my sandals.
I do this despite being told many times that it is a major faux pas to wear socks with sandals. For either gender. I want my comfort. Funny, but you and I seem to have had rules drilled into us that are practically the opposite to each other.
Not so unusual
My partner always wears tights, even in the heat of summer. Exceptionally when wearing trousers she'll wear footsies instead, but otherwise it is always tights. She claims that it is to stop the tops of her thighs sticking together and I kind of get the point. When wearing a summer dress or skirt without tights in hot weather I do get problems having sticky thighs (keep it clean at the back, there!).
Personally, in male mode I've always worn socks, even with sandals. The reason for wearing that layer is to protect my feet against rubbing on the footwear and encouraging blisters or callouses. It also helps wick sweat away. For many years I used to wear sandals to school eight months of the year, since my feet are such that they radiate quantities of heat all the time. I wear shoes when I have to but change as soon as I can according to circumstances. I never wear trainers (sneakers) as they are invariably padded which is the one thing my feet don't need.
The down side is that my feet get burned after maybe 15 seconds exposure to the summer sun, whereas the rest of my body rarely has any kind of problem with sunlight.
Penny
Totally different childhood
Growing up on an island where the average temperature was around 75 degrees in the winter the only time I was found in long pants and shoes was during school. Gym shorts, cut-offs and swimming trunks was the standard apparel flip flops were optional but bare feet were the norm.
I still hate wearing shoes and normally stick to crocs so that I can kick them off under my desk at work. With the secretary giving me an evil eye anytime she catches me walking around the office in my socks...LOL
We the willing, led by the unsure. Have been doing so much with so little for so long,
We are now qualified to do anything with nothing.
Sandals
Being considerably south of your location its the other way around here. There are 2 months of the year when its just a touch too cold to wear sandals. I'm not a big fan of closed shoes so it works well for me(although I do love cute boots!). With closed shoes... mostly I'll wear a pair of ankle socks or nylon footies so my feet don't stink them up or cause excessive spot-wear. Most of the year you'll find me wearing some version of flat gladiator or cage sandals(Yes I've got plenty of heels but I'm already 6' tall and seriously into comfort). Oddly enough all my boots have heels...
Pretransition I either wore tennis shoes(Trainers), steel-toed work boots(For some reason a size or even 2 too large) or went barefoot indoors. Freeing my self apparently included freeing my feet as well!
Just remember one thing Dot... there should be some awesome sales on sandals for next year!
Abby