Fashionista Friday: National Flip Flop Day

Bet you didn’t know that today is National Flip Flop Day.  No, I’m not kidding.  It really is, and I always celebrate with a blog post on flip flops.  They’ve been around for a long time.  Did you know that King Tut had a pair of flip flops in his tomb?  They were made of solid gold.  We don’t make flip flops out of gold now, but they’re gold anyway.  In 2010, the sale of flip flops generated $2 billion?  Yeah, there’s gold in flip flops, but that isn't what National Flip Flop Day is all about.  I snagged the following from their website.

On June 17th, Tropical Smoothie Café will celebrate the 5th anniversary of National Flip Flop Day! It all started back in 2007 as a celebration encouraging our customers to kick off summer, and their shoes, by wearing a pair of flip flops. As a simple thank you to our loyal customers, the first 500 people wearing flip flops at each location were given a FREE 24 oz. Jetty Punch smoothie. Soon after, we realized that National Flip Flop Day was also the perfect opportunity to spread some sunshine to those in need. In 2008, we proudly announced a national charity partnership with a magical place called Camp Sunshine. Today, we still spend National Flip Flop Day celebrating the kick off of summer by wearing flip flops and giving away free smoothies, but we also raise awareness and money for Camp Sunshine. This year, we decided to expand our charity efforts into six weeks of fundraising to help children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to make more magical memories.
Learn more about Camp Sunshine here. Make a donation at any local Tropical Smoothie Café, or right now by clicking here. And, don't forget to stop by your local Tropical Smoothie Café on June 17th for a FREE 24 oz. Jetty Punch smoothie*. Just remember to wear your flip flops, and to maybe bring along a dollar or two to help those in need. That's the spirit we started National Flip Flop Day with five years ago, and one we hope will continue for many years to come.
*Limit 500 smoothies per location

Flip flops come in all shapes and sizes.  I paid $2.98 for some plain, old-fashioned red ones that I used at the beach last year to walk on the sand.  (I’ve got to find some more to use this year.  The dog ate one of mine.)  But you can spend more on flip flops and get some fancy ones.  Let me show you a few of my favorites.  (Next week I promise we won’t do shoes.  I only did them today because it was National Flip Flop Day.  Next week we’re channeling the Duchess of Cambridge.)

$38.95 at http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-REACTION-Glam-Am/dp/B0046493MW/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_55http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-REACTION-Glam-Am/dp/B0046493MW/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_55   Comes in different colors.

$39.00 at http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-REACTION-Wood-Glam/dp/B004CJQCPW/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_1

 This Hale Bob is $36.00 at

http://www.us.halebobstore.com/c=EmcRWZ995H1DR4mH0UfjbmfDP/product/1VIT008YELLOW/Cabana-Yellow-Vibrant-Things-Flip-Flop.html

$60.00 at

http://www.teva.com/productdetails.aspx?g=w&productID=4080&model=Ultimate%20Thong%20SRhttp://www.teva.com/productdetails.aspx?g=w&productID=4080&model=Ultimate%20Thong%20SR

This one is a Born and comes in lots of colors.  $24.99 at http://www.amazon.com/Born-Womens-Tiger-Thong-Sandals/dp/B004PAQIHU/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_2http://www.amazon.com/Born-Womens-Tiger-Thong-Sandals/dp/B004PAQIHU/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_2

$29.00 at http://www.zappos.com/roxy-zena-black-leopardhttp://www.zappos.com/roxy-zena-black-leopard

See anything you like?  I’d pick the Born hands down.  If you don’t like these, there are lots more out there.

National Flip Flop Day

Today is National Flip Flop day. Okay, you never heard of that? I wrote about the history of flip flops last year, so if you missed that post go back to June of last year, and you can read about it.

This year let me share some numbers with you. The following quote is taken from www.pecheblu.com/history.php

To give perspective on the overall size of the flip-flop market: the US population is currently 296 million.9 If the bulk of flip-flop purchases are made by those between the ages of 5 and 50, this is roughly a consumer population of 200 million. Assuming that this group on average buys one pair of flip-flops every year (some own none; others purchase multiple pairs), this suggests a base annual US market of 200 million pairs. Since the US flip-flop market is estimated at $2 billion, this provides an average retail price of some $10 per pair, which seems reasonable and takes into account everything from $5 Wal-Mart specials to designer Gucci’s at over $200.

200 million pairs? $2 billion spent on flip flops? Wow, who knew?

Oh, the picture was taken when I went flip flop shopping with Kara (my granddaughter) and her friend Amber. Kara's on the left.

Got Flip Flops?

Hi, readers! Did you know that today is National Flip Flop Day? Yeah, neither did I. I've never even heard of National Flip Flop day until I accidently ran across it while I was surfing the internet.

I was only a small child when I got my first pair of flip flops. I remember we had gone to visit my cousin's family, and he had a pair. I wasn't sure I'd like that piece of rubber between my toes, but he promised it felt fine so the following weekend my mother bought me my first pair. They were red, and I loved them. I wore them everywhere. They wore out before too long, but hey, that's not a problem because they were CHEAP. For well under a dollar you could get a brand new pair that was clean and puffy on the bottom.

Of course back then the basic variety was all that could be found in the small town where I grew up-not like today when the selection is almost endless. I have a white pair with a pretty white flower on the top, and I recently bought a black pair decorated with faux turquoise stones. I also have a black patent leather pair with a big silver buckle and zebra skin trim. You outta see how good they look with my black pants and geometric print black and white blouse!

So where did flip flops come from? They've been around forever. Stone age rock paintings show people wearing flip flops, and see the picture on the left? Those are solid gold flip flops found in King Tut's tomb. I don't know how comfortable they'd be, but wow. Solid gold. The Egyptian's also had a hieroglyph for flip flops. It looks like a long oval with an inverted V.

Flip flops came to the United States at the end of World War II when American soldiers brought back Zori sandals as souvenirs of their stay in Japan. They really caught on and morphed into their fifties look after the Korean War. They started to symbolize an informal, casual lifestyle. Of cours it didn't hurt that Jackie Kennedy wore a pair of Jack Rogers Navajo flip flops when she went to Florida. Just so you know, I've ordered me a pair of those. I love them. They're the picture on the right.

Anyway, today you see flip flops everywhere. Models wear them on fashion runways, people wear them to their office on casual Fridays, they still go to the beach, and you can even buy sport flip flops now. Guess how much money Americans spend on flip flops per year? Are you ready? Two billion dollars! For flip flops! Wild isn't it?

Okay, enough writing. I'm going to buy some more flip flops.