Should You Wear Flip-Flops To An Interview?

This guest post is the first of many over the next 8 weeks as part of "Blog Swap". Please welcome a post from the "Canadian Headhunter" who runs a blog called the Recruiting Animal:

"An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer."

More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were their single-most "must have" item for business attire.

The Canadian Headhunter celebrates their choice but many companies seem to frown on beachwear. And style gurus warn that they could be harmful to your career. They make you seem too relaxed.

Here's the great Manolo: "Unless you are working as the waitress at the beach cafe, or are the Jimmy Buffet, you should not be wearing the flip-flops to your place of professional employment."

Doctors warn against flip-flops, too but they don't seem to like anything. Apparently, it's causing heel-pain in young people. But, as the Funny Banker says "Boo [expletive deleted] hoo!". If you want to be comfortable and look sexy what do you care about your heels?

Here are some arguments in support of flip-flops.

1) They're multi-cultural, having been developed from traditional Japanese sandals. And, as we all know, diversity is good.

2) People in every country and every social class wear them. Just like underwear. And, how can you complain about that?

3) In developing countries, they are the only footwear available. A regular people's shoe.

4) These days, they can cost $140 a pair. It's a bit like radical chic. You can be populist and conspicuously "consumptive" at the same time.

Finally, would you believe that there is a Committee of Color and Trends? They claim that the popularity of flip-flops has peaked. I say not likely.

I remember when girls started wearing tennis shoes to work with their summer skirts. At first, it was only sharp-looking, stylish girls who wore them and it was interesting. Then it was everyone. And it was horrid. And, it was a long time before it peaked.

Sources: Belinda Goldsmith. Manolo

Written by the "Canadian Headhunter" - Recruiting Animal.com

Comments

[Chris Taylor]

I thought the logic behind skirts + running shoes was that they were comfortable, easier to pursue a fleeing bus/subway in, and ditched for dressier fare as soon as one arrived at the office. I'm sorry to hear that people actually wear them around all day without substituting dressier footwear once at the destination.

The notion of flip-flops as office wear is hilarious. I look forward to the first ghastly pairing of suit, tie, pocket square, capris and flip-flops.

[/pd]

The point of contention would be what type of company is doing the interview.. nothing wrong woth "flip flops" for an interview at a beachbar. But certainly would be frowned on for an interview as showroom exec !!

Personally, I always look a their feet first .. tells a lot of imho :)-

[sponng]

I recall when a company i used to work for in Silicon Valley sent an official memo out that said Pajamas and slippers were no longer acceptable attire. And people had some super cool slippers.... Ah well.

Personally, around our office, bare feet in summer is not uncommon. Flip flops are also common.

Personally... I am a barefoot guy and prefer chinese cloth bottom slippers.

[David Perry]

PLEASE has anyone given due consideration to polish color? Does it contrast or blend? With sparkles or without? What does nothing on your nails say about your personality? Your originality? You? Obviously to Pradda or not is the real issue here.