(From DCist Contributor Colleen Egan)
With temperatures surging in D.C., it just seems wrong to commute in shoes and socks. But without the proper grooming or sandal choice, you could end up with enough blisters and dirty looks to wish you had never abandoned your Chucks. Let’s review the four stages of summer footwear:
- Preparation, or a pedicure;
- Optimism, or high-heeled strappy sandals;
- Defeat, or Band-Aids; and,
- Acceptance, or flip-flops.
Arguably the two most enjoyable stages are one and four, but remember that the pedicure is mandatory, as it’s even worse to display feet that haven’t been groomed since last summer…or ever. So if you choose to bare your soles (sorry, couldn’t resist), support your local nail salon and get a pedicure (we’re talking to you, too, gentlemen). Nail salons abound in this area, ranging in price and level of luxe, but this DCist hasn’t found a better deal than the $25 manicure and pedicure combo deal on Saturdays at Crystal Beauty in Crystal City. It’s a no-frills experience, but at that price, we can forgo the hot towel treatments and espresso.
So, preparation, check. Once you’ve suffered through the next two stages, or if you’ve wisely chosen to skip them altogether, you should be ready to embrace the flip flop phase.
