Ok, I admit it. No, that’s the wrong tone. I proclaim it. Yes, that’s better.
I wear house slippers. On a daily basis. Every day.
And I enjoy wearing them; they’re comfortable. And they’re practical; they keep my feet warm and prolong the life of socks. As exciting as new socks are, I don’t want to go through them unnecessarily quickly.
And I am secure in my masculinity when wearing my slippers; they don’t make me effeninate in any way (and so what if they did, anyway!) But as an émigré to the UK, I am acutely aware that the wearing of house slippers seems to be a measure of class on this island, in some weird sort of way. How the wearing of indoor shoes can cause class confrontation is beyond me.
House slippers are simply a practical solution to a daily problem: how to keep the carpet or flooring clean? Well, for starters, don’t wear muddy shoes into the house. Duh! Seems a no-brainer, but so many people scorn this wise, time-honoured solution. Certainly the lesson isn’t wasted on the Japanese (and perhaps other cultures too), but to the West, the wearing of house slippers is openly ridiculed by the general public.
So, who’s with me for claiming house slippers as acceptable and pride-worthy accommodation for feet in indoor environments? Send us a photo of your slippers so we can put this wrong to right!
This is new to me. I have lived here in the UK as an immigré for many years.
This is how it works in India where I come from. In most South Indian homes, people do not wear any footwear inside the house, perhaps because they sit and eat on the floor a lot. In houses where people use dining and work tables a lot more, indoor footwear is separate from outdoor wear but is definitely worn. In some houses, there are separate slippers outside bathrooms which should just stay there and not go around the house esp the kitchen (hygiene reasons in the tropics are of course very different).
I recall however, how the Swiss ex-husband of an American friend used to get pissed off as we (friend and I) walked barefeet in their apartment which had heated floor tiles. Not walking barefeet would be a waste of those tiles, I think and besides in a Swiss-German house, one can eat off the floor so it is not that we were walking on dirty surfaces…
As for me, I wear slippers on the wooden and tile floors downstairs, but all carpeted areas are slipper free downstairs and upstairs. Simple really.
@ Shefaly –
For starters, welcome and thanks for visiting.
For clarification, is the house slipper as a class issue not something you’ve come across?
In re-reading my post, I might have overstated the magnitude of the class struggles surrounding house slippers. (Over-emphasis for comedic effect has failed me once again.) But certainly the mention of house slippers brings derisive comments from locals. Yes?
Oh, yes, heated tiles. Those are wonderful. Of course you have to walk barefoot – or with socks at the most!
As for me, I am a house slipper or Crock wearer inside, on carpets, in the loo and in the kitchen. Never just socks and practically never barefoot. (I used to go barefoot a lot but for some reason no longer do. Not sure why …)
There is just something comfortable about slippers. While I am a fan and user of house slippers, I find that my usage tends to curtail during the warmer months.
I also have a pair of office slippers that I tend to use after hours when I am stuck working late. It brings a little more comfort to my long day and is more suitable than plain socks around the office (hygiene reasons included).
Must be something about Dempsey boys…Tim is a frequent wearer as well.
@ Mark
I love the work slippers! That’s awesome. Have your colleagues seem them or do you keep your feet firmly under the desk when you’ve them on?
When I am going on a long car journey, I’ll often wear the house slippers whilst driving. More comfortable than regular shoes.
And I have been known to bring my slippers when going to known ‘no outdoor shoes’ homes.
@ Liam
I openly wear the work slippers. I usually do not put them on until at least 5:00, but after that they are out and about. Just about any slipper will work, but I think it should be the type with a hard, non-permeable sole, for all the obvious reasons.
I too will bring slippers when visiting others, even if they allow outside shoes. Just more comfortable. Let’s me have a little home comfort where ever I am visiting.
Yes, Liam. That is what I meant – the class connotations. I have never come across them but then I suppose the locals deride immigrants for reasons enough not to discuss our slipper habits too 🙂
Did you know that some recent research shows that badly designed shoes (esp vertiginously heeled ones) may be doing so much damage, now that we have forgotten that feet evolved for shoeless use? Yes, some people do this sort of work and get funding too. What can I say?
PS: My pleasure to be here. Thanks for your comment on the Primark issue the other day. I am soon getting to responding (so I keep telling myself). Sorry about the delay.
I’m with Noel. I know of no one other than the Dempsey boys who wears house slippers.
I wear moccasins, and prefer not to refer to them as house slippers. I agree they need to have a non-permeable sole, but I prefer the soft, not hard sole. I also do not find myself limited to wearing them just around the house.
@ Shefaly – Looking at some of the shoes that people wear, especially the ones with very long, pointed heels, I am amazed at what people wear. They just look painful!
@ Meg + Noël – Um, not sure how to respond. Certainly more than just my kin wear slippers.
@ Niall – Moccasins! Well, that’s pretty cool. I am not sure how easily I could find those over here.
@ Liam
Then it won’t surprise you to know that some women had their little toes lopped off surgically so that their feet could fit into shoes that assume that women’s feet somehow taper in the front to a pointy-ness 🙂
@ Shefaly
No, I wouldn’t be surprised. Frightened and concerned, yes; surprised, no.
hey there.What wrong with slippers?My wife is absolutely obsessed with them, but i think that most women are.We are both professionals and wear slippers.She is the one who buys them for me.She only gets me leather ones and last pair cost £80.She is the boss and if she comes home and finds me barefoot(oh yeh,no shoes in the house.White carpets!!Her idea)she fetches my slippers.She hasnt caught on yet(its only been 15 years)that i go barefoot just for the thrill of having her fetch my slippers for me.Thats every mans dream.
@ Mark –
£80 for a pair of slippers! Yikes! They must be fancy. Did they last long? My current pair of slippers were a gift as well, but I doubt that they are as nice as yours.
Thanks for visiting and thanks for the comment.
[…] yes, I know that some folks out there wear slippers every day. Others even wear slippers at work. But that’s not the life for me. I am a […]