I think the professionalism rules are quite outdated and that women should be able to wear dress sandals in the office if they choose. I am so over all the fuss around women’s attire when men at this point can get away with wearing comfortable stretchy golf pants to work in many settings. I would likely choose a muted pedicure color, or well groomed, clear or unpolished toenails instead of a wild color, but I also wouldn’t do a wild manicure color for an office setting either because I don’t like to do things to draw any attention to my hands or feet when I’m working. I will do a fun bright color occasionally when traveling, though now I’m rarely in an office as I’ve been a SAHM for a few years, so maybe my opinions are also outmoded .

One question I have though for everyone who does wear sandals in office - aren’t you freezing? I find office building air conditioning to be miserably chilly and usually end up in close toed shoes with sandals for when I left the building because otherwise I’d need a blanket for my feet!

Why are you wearing open toed shoes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 50 and don’t show toes in the office. But we’re talking about the streets of NYC in the summer so it seems fine. Also if OP is an executive, I’ll gently suggest as long as her feet are clean etc, no one will look or care.

Feet won't be clean for long wearing sandals on the streets of NYC!

What? I genuinely don’t understand this comment. What is touching your feet in sandals? How do you move through the world?

Many people don't like wearing sandals while walking around NYC. I get it -- unpredictable splashes and so on. I've lived and worked in NYC for the past 20 years and personally walk around with painted toes and birkenstocks to get to my office and then change into closed toed shoes or fisherman style mules that show some of my toes if you really look through the webbing. But I'm in open toed shoes for most of the rest of my life (including entering and exiting my office building) so I keep my toes painted.

You will be in good company in a pair of nice looking low profile sneakers or flats, but most people won't bat an eye on open toed shoes either. Really depends on your workplace.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me of the menopausal office lady look—sleeveless maxi type dresses and frumpy sandals.

It’s glorious. You will one day appreciate the freedom and remember smirking at this. It will sting.

Hah no. Thank you HRT and weight lifting!

Anonymous wrote:Is it unprofessional to have colored toenail polish if you are in executive management?

Is this a real question? It's so dumb I can't even believe it. NO ONE would be looking at your toes. Also, you don't need to be wearing open toe shoes. Maybe, maybe a slingback.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, because I would never wear work shoes that showed my nail polish.

Agree 100%.

+2

I’m sorry, I just can’t wear open toed shoes at work.

Anonymous wrote:As someone who used to go by the rules, I now wear sandals to work because I have a foot problem where most closed-toe shoes are excruciatingly painful to wear. My options are pretty sandals with a nice pedi or Uggs/crocs/or brooks extra wide sneakers. What would you have me do? My toes need to be able to spread out or I am in serious pain.

Surely you can find shoes to contain your toes. Do you ever see a man wearing sandals to the office with his hairy toes on display?

As someone who used to go by the rules, I now wear sandals to work because I have a foot problem where most closed-toe shoes are excruciatingly painful to wear. My options are pretty sandals with a nice pedi or Uggs/crocs/or brooks extra wide sneakers. What would you have me do? My toes need to be able to spread out or I am in serious pain.

Anonymous wrote:Reminds me of the menopausal office lady look—sleeveless maxi type dresses and frumpy sandals.

It’s glorious. You will one day appreciate the freedom and remember smirking at this. It will sting.

Reds are ok.
French tip are ok.
Closed shoes for the rest.

Anonymous wrote:I am definitely professional and I wear sandals all the time. I stick with traditional nail colors but in the summer usually have a hot pink or silver. It is weird not to have polish on nails if you are wearing sandals. Don't listen to any of these weirdos who don't wear sandals.

Plenty of people wear sandals, it's just weird and unprofessional to wear them to the office.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s very unprofessional to wear open toe shoes.

DP. I've gotten along fine, with a career path through multiple countries. I wear only Birkenstocks. My "unprofessional" footwear doesn't seem to have held me back at all.

Probably industry dependent. Non profit? Arts? No way you're a BigLaw Partner, Investment Banker, in Aerospace/Defense and wearing Birkenstocks as a senior executive.

I am definitely professional and I wear sandals all the time. I stick with traditional nail colors but in the summer usually have a hot pink or silver. It is weird not to have polish on nails if you are wearing sandals. Don't listen to any of these weirdos who don't wear sandals.

No one should see your toes at work.

Anonymous wrote:No, because I would never wear work shoes that showed my nail polish.

+1