# Men: do you notice a woman's nail polish and/or shoes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-notice-a-womans-nail-polish-and-or-shoes/573101>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 1, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-notice-a-womans-nail-polish-and-or-shoes/573101 "2011-03-01T20:29:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-notice-a-womans-nail-polish-and-or-shoes/573101/101 "2011-03-07T14:07:12Z")

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> [@Dinaroozie](#):
>
> So while I somewhat agree with the ‘guys notice makeup, they just don’t notice that they notice’ sentiment, I don’t really think that’s true for the shoes, at least.\*

I may notice the effect of the shoes, but I won’t generally notice the shoes themselves. In other words, I can say she was wearing heels, but I won’t know what color, or whether they’re open-toed or eyespot or whatever.

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**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-notice-a-womans-nail-polish-and-or-shoes/573101/102 "2011-03-07T14:31:44Z")

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> [@Giles](#):
>
> If I notice nails, it’s because they are highly decorated, e.g, with pictures of flowers or hearts. If I notice make-up, it’s because it’s overdone. Noticing the shoes may not be such a bad thing, but I might wonder, “How can she walk in those heels?” or “How does she manage to put those boots on?” But usually I don’t notice – there doesn’t seem to be an option for that.

You said it better than I could.

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-notice-a-womans-nail-polish-and-or-shoes/573101/103 "2011-03-08T15:46:34Z")

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> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> I “notice” them all. I just dislike them, in most instances.
> 
> I prefer short nails (in fact I find long nails to be repulsive).  
> I prefer little to no make-up.  
> I prefer casual shoes or sandals (flats).
> 
> It’s not that I don’t care, it’s that I have a specific dislike of the most popular way women tend to apply their fashion.

This. It’s that whole “gilding gold and painting the lily” thing. Also anything that looks doofy and undignified\*, crippling, motion-impeding etc causes a response in me that gets in the way of any positive aesthetic reaction.

- Hard to define, but for example… swimwear, danskins, panties and etc that adopted that ultra high leg openings style a couple decades ago… I know it was designed to show more skin in a new and different way but the effect for me is to think Wedgies-R-Us.

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