Exposing the Man Foot. Guys and Sandals.

Ask A Woman: Mandals… Cool? (As in okay, not temp)

If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it. Beth is our source for the answers. From opinions on men’s style to decoding the sometimes mysterious ways of women, she’ll take on a different question every Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too. Click here to get to know Beth, then get in touch with her by sending your question to: askawoman@dappered.com
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Hey Beth:

It’s starting to warm up, and I’d love to hear what women think about mandals. You know, men wearing sandals. I was totally that guy in high school who wore his Birkenstocks almost all year round. Is it acceptable? Or are women just turned off by the sight of a man’s slightly hairy, very ugly feet?

Thanks for reading.

– Paul

Meanwhile… also in Beth’s inbox…

Hi Beth,

Summer seems a long way off, but since I grew up on a coast I’m looking forward to the warmer weather. And warm weather to me equals flip flops. Most of the “style gurus” from Esquire, GQ, etc… all seem to shun a man showing his toes. Even in the warmest of climates during the hottest part of the year. I’ve never heard a woman say she finds it unattractive. Are flip flops that serious of an infraction from a woman’s perspective?

– Dan

Hello Paul and Dan,

How fortuitous that two devoted readers should write me with the same question. Don’t know what fortuitous means? Shameful. Look it up and then write a letter to your state representative about the hideous condition of English education in your region.

First of all, I’m so glad that Paul has taken my cue from two weeks ago (manties) to reference mandals. What other words can we come up with? Mants? Mackets? Somehow these words don’t have the same melodious ring. Ah, well.

Second of all, how ridiculous that women and/or style gurus would tell men that they can’t wear sandals because their feet are ugly. Puh-lease. Yes, men have hairy feet, and are perhaps less likely to pay close attention to issues of aesthetics, like ragged toenails. But I suspect the public will survive an occasional chance sighting of the dreaded manfoot if it happens across their line of vision during the warmer months of the year. It’s a foot! Plus, there are plenty of women out there who aren’t getting regular pedicures and no one is forbidding them from wearing sandals. Men of the world–wear sandals! Feel the breeze through your unsightly toes! Take control of your foot destiny!

One caveat. Dan mentions flip flops specifically. Flip flops and sandals are different in my book. When I hear flip flops, I think plastic/foam cheapies you get from the drugstore. When I hear sandals, I think leather/cork shoes you get from the department store. Yes, some leather sandals might have the thong (not that kind) construction, but they’re a higher quality, more classic- and mature-looking shoe than your flippy-floppies (which are best reserved for the beach).

I leave you with a sampling of sandals for the spring. An auspicious way to begin April, yes? (Oh for God’s sake, you don’t know what auspicious means? See fortuitous above…geez.)

-Beth

Got a question for Beth? Send them to: askawoman@dappered.com

Hi James,

Well your email lit off an explosion of conversation, debate, and even math. You mention boxers, briefs, and tighty whiteys, but since tighty whiteys are briefs, I wondered if you meant boxer briefs. Our fearless Dappered leader tried to explain it to me by referencing the ACTs and making the analogy that all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares. I had a flashback to staying up late the night before all of my standardized testings and doing productive things like playing hacky sack (an unfortunate reference in a column about underwear, yes?) and eating a whole package of Oreos, instead of reviewing flashcards.

Yes, women care about men’s underwear. Because I’m tired of saying things like, “Women’s preferences in physical attributes/hair line/underwear are as diverse as women themselves,” I did a survey of all my best gals, so that I could bring you the most accurate, most authoritative information possible. Unfortunately, there was no such authoritative answer. My lovely ladies were split half and half, boxer brief and boxers. I regret to inform you that no one picked the humble brief. (Though not entirely relevant, I must report my favorite response, from S.R.: “Real answer: boxers; funny answer: neon cup.”)

This is why we like boxer briefs: they’re tight, so they shows off the goods, but they’re a bit of a graduation from the briefs. Plus, the boxer brief emphasizes the thighs in a way that boxers, with their free-wheelin’ and dealin’, neglect. It is a special joy of women everywhere to see a tight garment hugging the muscular quads and hamstrings of a man.

This is why we like boxers: they’re casual and manly. The sight of a man in boxers makes women think about seventh grade, when we noticed for the first time a guy’s boxers sticking out from the top of their jeans, and we thought to ourselves, Yessss, I like this development. Boxers are also forgiving if you have chicken legs or doughy thighs.

Finally, a word about briefs, since these are your preference, James. Nothing wrong with briefs, and they can be sexy; after all, they’re form fitting, which is part of what we like about boxer briefs. But they can also hearken back to childhood if you’re not careful. If you go with briefs, choose a flattering cut (nothing too high or too low on the thigh), and a solid color. Wearing tighty whiteys will make people wonder if your mother sent them to you in a care package.

To close, I’d like to leave you with this new vocabulary word: manties. As in, male panties. You’re welcome.

-Beth