Hah! That heading got all you non-Australians in didn’t it. You have visions of people with calloused arses from their thongs, but that’s not what I mean at all.
Australians call flip flops thongs. Australians calls thongs g-strings or g-bangers. So for the purpose of this post thongs are footwear not underwear. We’re speaking Australian, OK.
So this is what is happening. People, finding that their thongs once worn only to the beach, are now so comfortable and fashionable that they become everyday footwear. This I can attest to as the only footwear I wear in summer are Haviana thongs, the deluxe Rolls Royce of the thong. I have some in blue, pink, khaki and a new addition of dressy silvery black. Those ones I keep for going out.
Most Australians wear thongs. We’ve just evolved in our thong-wearing from the old faithful double bungers to the now socially accepted, course you can wear them to a bar, Haviana. Never mind the ugly heeled ugg boot–if they want real Aussie footwear just call into City Beach.
Now my podiatrist has a thing about my thongs. In fact he hates them and told me I am stuffing up my feet. Don’t believe him, but he has evidence on his side. Other killjoys (sorry podiatrists) say flip-flops force people to change the way they walk so that when taking a stride they put pressure on the outside of their foot, rather than their heel, causing long-term damage. No, this not a medical condition it’s just how very relaxed people walk.
But the biggest problem of all is from falls, but I must point out that these statistics are British. People falling over in their thongs. Amateurs. How is that even possible? But fall over they do, breaking their arms and wrists and all manner of embarrassing thong-caused incidents. Some even get…blisters.
So I’ve compiled a list of the most common complaints caused by excessive thong wearing according to podiatrists and other over zealous health professionals.
- Falls can twist or break ankles due to unstable walking motion, with feet rolling from outside inwards
- Big toe, second toe can get blisters
- Weakened foot tendons leading to shin splints or muscle pain
Pain to toes from scrunching up when walking - Little toe stubbing leading to break or dislocation
After spending a month in Italy where a good pair of walking shoes was recommended I’ll just put in a plug for the good old thong. Yep, wore them for a month, went hiking, shopping and hill climbing without incident. Have a tan line to prove it.
However now I get it why the American woman looked at me so weirdly when she asked should she wear good walking shoes in Positano. Nuh, I said, I just wore my thongs. God only knows what she thought I was wearing. Image
Loaded Web Australia