Loafing About

Don’t get me wrong, I love a great pair of socks, but there is something liberating about the first days of sockless summer. Yesterday was one of those days, and I have a feeling today will be as well, with the weather here hovering somewhere between 78 and 82 degrees, with a bit of a breeze and tons of sun – perfect for the beginning of summer. It does feel somewhat cruel to have finals at a time like this, when playing croquet on the lawn or reading in the sunshine seem so appealing.

As soon as the temperatures creep to this level though, the socks are the first thing to go. I slip on my burgundy tassel loafers, and enjoy the breeze on my ankles; it is taking all the self-control I have to keep the driving loafers in their box for just a little bit longer. Shedding one’s hose may seem like a small thing, but I am always amazed at just how much cooler it feels to be free of them.

The one constant problem I find is that my feet sweat and quickly my shoes smell more like a swamp than an oasis. To solve the problem, two summers ago I found a tiny foam insert, covered in the thinnest layer of terrycloth, which keeps my feet dry and my shoes smelling fresh. Available at Aldo, which is a fairly common mall store, they cost only ten dollars, and are washing machine safe. A washing every two weeks or so, and you can have cool, odor-free feet all summer long.