Unpainted toe-nails like going out in your underwear?

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous. Do whatever you want, polish or not. I don't give a crap if other people don't like my feet. I sometimes wear polish with sandals and sometimes I don't. Who really gives a $(%&??!!! Have we really come to criticizing people b/c of their toenails????? PUH-LEASE!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't care about other people's feet but I personally prefer mine polished-I just feel more comfortable that way-I think that is what many of us are saying on here.

[Anonymous]

What's gross is when women have painted toe nails but the nails are really long. I think of all the bacteria and vermin accumulated under the toenail. Blaah. Disgusting.

As for the office, I don't wear open toed shoes to the office, so it's a non-issue.

I suppose it may be more aesthetically pleasing to paint toe nails, but as long as they are short/trimmed and clean, I don't see a problem.

[Anonymous]

Ewww yeah...the long painted toenails are really gross too. Why do people let their toenails get that long? All the crap under there. Gag. My pedicure lady is also surprised i keep mine so short. Yes, I'm a total germ freak!

[Anonymous]

Interesting question... I personally like well-pedicured feet with or without polish. For me, the polish itself is the *least* important part of the pedicure. I think some young women look lovely unpolished or with clear polish. The goofy proportions (short, wide toes) of my own feet make me feel like I need deep-colored polish draw attention away from the fleshiness, but I've always envied women who come by lovely feet naturally.

But I find pedicuring a bother, too, and am surprised by the poster who can get away with once a month. Ideally, I would do it every ten days, and can usually only squeeze two-week intervals. Changing polish would do the minimal job, but I think trimming, reshaping, de-cuticling really needs to happen more often. I walk a lot and don't believe in comfortable shoes, so this may make my feet more labor-intensive. But regular maintenance is time-consuming and / or expensive.

[Anonymous]

I'll probably get flamed for this but I think this is a class issue. Just as upper class women are much less likely to have painted nails, instead going natural or with sheer polish, upper class women are less like to have painted toenails. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just the way it is today.

As for the male friend who didn't like it, I wouldn't want to be friends with, date, or marry a man who thought a woman couldn't look clean and put together without polish and make-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have feet issues for sure. What I think is gross are the overgrown, thick, yellowed toenails often seen on middle-aged women. I often see women on the Metro heading to work at the library of congress or someplace in the hippie sandals with these natural toenails, carrying a canvas bag advertising the local public television station. I think to myselves -- she's a really great person, I'm sure -- probably recycles, spays and neuters, composts, supports WETA but man, get a pedicure already or cover up those hoofs!

I used to work with these people (pre-babies) at the Smithsonian! Thanks for the laugh - you made my day!!! I think I was the only person there who ever got pedicures. And I was probably the last person who needed them (I was in my twenties).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll probably get flamed for this but I think this is a class issue. Just as upper class women are much less likely to have painted nails, instead going natural or with sheer polish, upper class women are less like to have painted toenails. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just the way it is today.

As for the male friend who didn't like it, I wouldn't want to be friends with, date, or marry a man who thought a woman couldn't look clean and put together without polish and make-up.

I would perhaps agree that "upper class women" dont as frequently have painted fingernails, but I think its the opposite with toe nails.

[Anonymous]

You are ridiculous! find someting to do or someone who needs help. Be productive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll probably get flamed for this but I think this is a class issue. Just as upper class women are much less likely to have painted nails, instead going natural or with sheer polish, upper class women are less like to have painted toenails. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just the way it is today.

As for the male friend who didn't like it, I wouldn't want to be friends with, date, or marry a man who thought a woman couldn't look clean and put together without polish and make-up.

What does "upper class" mean? Is this in reference to education, type of profession, blue blood/non-blue blood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll probably get flamed for this but I think this is a class issue. Just as upper class women are much less likely to have painted nails, instead going natural or with sheer polish, upper class women are less like to have painted toenails. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just the way it is today.

As for the male friend who didn't like it, I wouldn't want to be friends with, date, or marry a man who thought a woman couldn't look clean and put together without polish and make-up.

What does "upper class" mean? Is this in reference to education, type of profession, blue blood/non-blue blood?

This is the PP who wrote this. I don't think it's easy to define "classes" in the U.S., which is a good thing. People who come from modest childhoods end up in the "upper" based on any measure you want, but there remains a cultural style to that group. It's also regional, I think. West coast, east coast differences plus northern and southern. Like any group of people there are still trends and styles. Highly educated, professional, East coast women are less likely to wear polish. That's kind of a "so what?" but my point was just that no one should make you feel dirty or unkempt for not wearing polish.

[Anonymous]

Interesting point about class. I think it extends beyond toenails, to flashy apparel of any sort.

That said, my blood is as blue as can be, though my generation is diluting it just as fast as we can! :wink. In our family, it appears to be an age thing. Our mothers and aunts and grandmother would never dream of wearing nail polish. But all the female cousins get regular manicures and pedicures, as is affordable and/or convenient. Our idea of tacky is those acrylic nails, or gaudy colors, or god forbid, tiny rhinestones. Makes me wonder if our daughters will think mauve toenails are perfectly acceptable.

[Anonymous]

We don't have room in our budget for frilly things like pedi and manicures (I don't even want to bother doing it at home)- I'd rather spend the money on groceries or put it towards gas.

Would I be a dork if I admitted that I wear my socks and sandals out in public a lot? My DH says I look really geeky. Would that be better or worse than painting my nails?

[Anonymous]

I pretty much never wear toe nail polish and I wear flip-flops almost every day. My toe nails are clean and short. I've never even thought about it twice and quite frankly I don't intend to.

[Anonymous]

13:53, I say, be yourself and be comfortable in the knowledge that the only people who matter to you won't care about your feet. While I love a good pedicure, and probably get three or four each spring/summer, I refuse to dye my hair and I'm sure lots of people look at all my grey and think "dear god, why doesn't that woman take care of herself?"