# When and wear is not wearing shoes unacceptable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2020, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831 "2020-04-15T07:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/21 "2020-04-16T12:27:27Z")
I’m barefoot indoors 9 months per year - the other 3 are too cold. Then I wear Crocks with socks. One thing I can never, ever do is walk around with just socks on. The house I grew up in had faux-marble tiles, and socks meant slipping and hitting your head and dying. Even now, when I have parquet, I can’t let my socks touch the floor. It’s a stylistic thing, too - either you’re wearing shoes, or you aren’t. Don’t half-ass it by walking around in socks. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/22 "2020-04-16T13:27:28Z")
To answer OP’s question, I’ll guess that if the invitation specifies ‘white tie’ then shoes are also expected. (Or do they then write ‘white tie and shoes’?) In my early decades I almost always wore shoes except in bed. These days it’s the opposite: I’m always barefoot in the house. (So now I stub my toe(s) a lot, but no permanent damage yet.) The last time I remember wearing shoes other than sandals was on a long jitney ride up the Cambodian coast in rainy season. A few times we all had to get out and help push the jitney through deep mud. At some point the shoes were so wasted I just threw them away. I don’t even remember if I have a pair of non-sandal shoes now or not. > [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > My toes are long and dexterous; I pick things up with them, and otherwise use them for various tasks. I view wearing shoes as equivalent to going about wearing boxing gloves all day long. Uh oh. A Thai slur is to call such feet usage มือฝรั่ง, “Westerner’s hands.” (There were no chuckles when I presented this little joke to my Westerner relatives. :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/23 "2020-04-16T14:40:23Z")
I hate being barefoot. If I leave the bedroom before getting showered and dressed, I’m wearing slippers. Once I’ve donned shoes and socks, they stay on till I go to bed. If I’m going to be doing muddy work outside, I’ll change to my grubby shoes in the garage, then change back before coming into the house. I don’t like sandals, and I’ll only wear flipflops when I’ll be going in and out of a swimming pool or other body of water. It appears I’m in the minority here… ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/24 "2020-04-16T23:40:50Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > OP, what a great username/post combo. > > I hate wearing shoes and would go barefoot everywhere if I could (I’m a 38-year-old guy), but my floor is pretty grody so I don’t. Always barefoot, keep flip flops in my car just in case I need them. There is no surface too grody for my feet… they are easily washed. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/25 "2020-04-17T15:50:47Z")
I take off my shoes the second I walk in the door and leave them off until the moment I leave. If I was at my parent’s house, it was a warm day and I needed something outside, I’d just go out barefoot (gotta watch out for the spindly plants though!) I’m living in an apartment currently though, and no way is that happening. Too worried I’d step in glass on the drive. I’m not embarrassed about my feet at all. They look perfectly normal. No oddly-shaped toes or nails. Ironically though, I do have a club thumb (also known as a toe-thumb). ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/26 "2020-04-17T22:58:53Z")
I assume in the thread title you mean “where”, not “wear” A wedding in a building A funeral Most, if not, all restaurants (usually a shirt is required as well) In most factories, usually steel toed are preferred or required In a hospital as a visitor ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/27 "2020-04-17T23:24:44Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I don’t like sandals, and I’ll only wear flipflops when I’ll be going in and out of a swimming pool or other body of water. It appears I’m in the minority here… I’ll join you in the flip-flop avoidance. Can’t wear the things. Any footwear I put on myself has to be fully connected to all parts of the foot - no flip flops, no crocs, no mules, 'cos if it CAN slip off, it undoubtedly will ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/28 "2020-04-19T19:39:17Z")
I grew up on a farm, no shoes for me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/29 "2020-04-20T21:56:46Z")
I never wear shoes around the house. I always wear _something_ when going out; I don’t like driving barefoot, and it’s a matter of protection the rest of the time. If I’m in someone else’s house I’ll base my actions on whether there’s a pile of shoes by the door :D. I’m clumsy - to the point of being a danger to myself. I’ve rolled my ankles so many times it’s a wonder I have any tendon / muscle / ligament strength left in them at all. And this is _ **always** _ when walking around wearing shoes. Barefoot, there’s no problem. But as noted, going without, outdoors, isn’t terribly healthy. So yeah, with being on shutdown, the only times I wear shoes now are when I’m doing the weekly trip to the local shop for my CSA box. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/30 "2020-04-21T19:26:02Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > the weekly trip to the local shop for my **CSA** box. Confederate States of America box? Is that like one of those shopping boxes filled with things _they_ think you’ll like? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/31 "2020-04-21T19:39:58Z")
Presumably what was meant was a [community-supported agriculture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture) box. (It may be a surprise to you to learn that a given acronym could mean two or more different things.) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/32 "2020-04-21T21:23:11Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The last time I remember wearing shoes other than sandals was on a long jitney ride up the Cambodian coast in rainy season. A few times we all had to get out and help push the jitney through deep mud. At some point the shoes were so wasted I just threw them away. I don’t even remember if I have a pair of non-sandal shoes now or not. Reminds me of when I went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the 80s. My boots got so thrashed from the grungy streets that my friends were calling them swamp boots. I ended up throwing them away when I got home. So sad. I really liked those boots. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/33 "2020-05-09T22:13:18Z")
I assume this somehow got bumped by a deleted spammer. This conversation is hilarious, and it keeps circulating in various incarnations here. Canadians never wear shoes in the house: anyone’s house. It would be like sparking up a smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/34 "2020-05-09T23:05:03Z")
I’m the opposite of the OP for the most part. I don’t like shoes. Mind, I _wear_ shoes a lot of the time because I hate foot injuries even more, but inside my own home I’m barefoot. It has to be _very_ cold before I will wear something on my feet indoors (below 0 F my floors do get very cold). Even down to about 35 degrees if I have to run down to the laundry room (requires brief trip outdoors) or out to my car on the lot I’m likely to just wear sandals. If it’s above 45 degrees I often won’t bother to put anything on my feet to step out on the concrete balcony/walkway to get my mail. No, my feet are not prone to being cold, in fact, one reason I don’t like shoes much, or slippers, is that my feet are quite warm on their own, thank you very much, and get overheated and sweaty when covered with typical slippers. Summertime I will wear sandals if I have a choice. Work does require me to wear closed-toe shoes (which I agree with, particularly when I’m in the back of the store), and I do own a very heavy pair of leather boots that are awesome foot armor for circumstances where that would be a good idea, but again, I don’t wear those because I like them, I wear them because I hate foot injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/35 "2020-05-09T23:20:43Z")
In winter I wear thick wool socks in my house, summer barefoot. No shoes in the house. That’s why we have a mudroom, to hang coats and take off shoes. It’s a farm, so believe me those boots better come off. Outdoors I go barefoot on the lawn in summer, but otherwhere it is too dangerous or unpleasant – gravel road, barn with livestock, etc. I feel rude wearing shoes inside other people’s houses so I always take them off. ---
**Author:** ![alison1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@alison1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alison1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/36 "2020-05-09T23:28:25Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > In winter I wear thick wool socks in my house, summer barefoot. No shoes in the house. That’s why we have a mudroom, to hang coats and take off shoes. It’s a farm, so believe me those boots better come off. > > Outdoors I go barefoot on the lawn in summer, but otherwhere it is too dangerous or unpleasant – gravel road, barn with livestock, etc. > > I feel rude wearing shoes inside other people’s houses so I always take them off. very good to entertain you in this time of quarantine [123movies](http://keypoint.s201.xrea.com/?p=253#comment-113553) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/37 "2020-05-09T23:47:38Z")
I almost never wear shoes inside my home, except when I’m getting ready to go out. The only exception that comes to mind is - I want to do certain exercises, my mat is in the car and I can’t find my gripper socks. Then I’ll put on a pair of lightweight running shoes. But I ALWAYS wear socks, I find a good pair of snuggly slightly supportive socks very comfortable, more so than bare feet. I always hated most bedroom slippers because they left my ankles exposed but I sometimes wear boot style bedroom slippers in winter if the house is cold. The “no shoes in the house” thing is second nature to me because when I was working, most days I was working with clients in their expensive homes and “no shoes allowed” was the standard. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/38 "2020-05-10T00:31:26Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > I grew up on a farm, no shoes for me 🙂 I have to challenge this. The second statement does not logically follow the first. _I_ grew up on a farm (first a working dairy, then just cattle and various crops) and got to spend summer vacations away from the farm…on a sheep ranch is the hills of Northern California. Going barefoot on a working ranch is insane. Forget stepping on glass, there are various shards of metal discarded from quick repairs, boards with rusty nails sticking up laying in the grass (there is some rule of nature that rusty nails will always stick up out of a board, never down), sharp rocks and gravel (off the main highway, all roads are dirt and gravel), and a wide variety of poop (the biggest product, by volume, of a dairy farm is not milk). Even the swimming hole in summer had a rocky, not sandy beach, so you wore flip flops or came home bloody. We had Keds (replaced at the start of each summer) and work boots for the rainy parts of winter (and for working the ranch during summer - Keds won’t stop a rattlesnake bite). Growing up on a farm socializes you to the notion that barefoot is only for indoors. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/39 "2020-05-10T19:48:17Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > In Paris I was berated for wearing swim shoes to the entry hallway to the pool. Apparently one needs to be naked foot to cross a small moat to get to the pool. Is it possible that that moat is filled with an antifungal. I remember pools that required that. When I was growing up, I got in the habit of taking my shows off when I got home. I did the same at my mother-in-law’s house but she was quite put out by my behavior. She had grown up in Louisville and I gather that wearing shoes was a class thing. Now living in Montreal, it is unheard of to wear shoes indoors and I never do. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831/40 "2020-05-11T00:23:57Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Is it possible that that moat is filled with an antifungal. I remember pools that required that. > > When I was growing up, I got in the habit of taking my shows off when I got home. I did the same at my mother-in-law’s house but she was quite put out by my behavior. She had grown up in Louisville and I gather that wearing shoes was a class thing. Now living in Montreal, it is unheard of to wear shoes indoors and I never do. Yes, most people in Montreal take their shoes off inside, and I’m glad of it. I’ve met a few who don’t, and don’t quite understand it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-wear-is-not-wearing-shoes-unacceptable/851831.md?page=3)