Shoes are one of the most discussed aspects of men’s fashion and fashion in general. It’s kind of clear that shoes are such an important aspect of life because there are basically very few moments of the week we spend shoeless.
And while most magazines and blogs always focus on formal or sports shoes, we decided to turn our sight to the area of houseshoes.
It’s pretty clear what a slipper should be: comfortable, natural and elegant. And while many people know this, some find it hard to maintain those standards for themselves.
Functionality
Mens Tan sheepskin scuff by Ruby+Ed
First of all, we need to talk about the functionality of houseshoes. In order to find the best pair for you, you need to know pretty much what is out there. A shoe you wear around the house should be comfortable and natural as we said. For example, Ruby+Ed, a UK brand specialized in luxury fashion offers different types of slippers for men. They are made out of amazing fabrics, such as sheepskin and come in different models, from the classic slipper to moccasins.
Why this is important to know is because the type of shoe you want to wear around the house is a shoe that will be in tandem to your lifestyle and the temperature you live in.
For example, for someone living in a warm environment, where they always get in and out of the houseshoes, a slipper type would be preferred, while someone who does a lot of work around the house or needs to stay in them a longer while, a moccasin type would be what they should consider.
Shoes need to be comfortable and natural because it is best for your feet to breathe and feel well. In some cases, houseshoes can improve your health, for example people with diabetes are recommended to wear shoes around the house in order to keep their feet warm and encourage the blood flow.
Etiquette
Mens Chocolate suede moccasin
If we are talking about houseshoes, we should also discuss the etiquette surrounding the aspect of taking your shoes off when you enter someone’s house.
While in some parts of the world, such as Japan or other countries, it’s implied that you need to take your shoes off before entering someone’s house, in Western or westernized cultures the rules are not fixed and sometimes people can find themselves in uncomfortable situations
Should you ask people to take their shoes off, should they take them off without being asked, what is the proper etiquette?
Because it’s your house, you can ask someone to take their shoes off, but you should give them a pair of houseshoes to wear, as, in case your guest has a hole in his or her sock or a feet odor issue, you might put them in an uncomfortable situation.
Some claim that if you have guests you can ask them to bring their slippers from home, but that’s not very nice in our opinion, given that you condition the people who come to carry their own shoes.
Basically, you either can give them shoes or you don’t ask them to take them off. Of course, with people you know the rules can change, but this goes as a general rule.
Mens Taupe suede moccasin by Ruby+Ed
On the other side, when it comes to asking somebody if you should take your shoes off, we can respond that if they don’t imply it, you should probably not ask, but, depending on the person and the context you can ask the question.
Also, many people wonder if it’s OK to meet somebody in your house wearing slippers. We think it’s fine, but sometimes you want to still look your best, so a pair such as the Ruby+Ed moccasins is what we would recommend.
Generally, at formal events people keep their shoes on, at semi-formal it depends on the situation and at very casual, everyone can be in slippers, socks or bare feet.
In short, everyone makes their own rules, and while some find it natural to take their shoes off when they enter somebody’s house, others tend to think it’s natural to keep your shoes on. What we learn is that houseshoes are important and not only to those who live in a house, but to those who visit it as well.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. What do you wear around the house? What is the etiquette regarding houseshoes where you live? Leave your contribution in the comments space!
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