Thongs have reached high-fashion status, with celebrities and models sporting the style over the northern hemisphere summer.
From Miu Miu to Copenhagen street style, the humble thong has had a makeover, while quiet luxury brand The Row has taken the trend to the extreme with a pair of $1600 flip-flops. In September, German sandal-makers Birkenstock hopped on the bandwagon, releasing its own foot care range.
Yes, feet are back in a big way. But before you take to the streets, there’s a bit of toe upkeep you might want to attend to. Here’s what the experts recommend.
Thongs in the wild: Alexa Chung backstage at Proenza Schouler earlier this year, street style at Copenhagen Fashion Week 2024, and Miu Miu’s Spring Summer 2025 show.Credit: Getty Images
How to prepare your feet for summer
There’s no shortage of products promising baby-smooth feet, from foot peels to masks and scrubs. But which of them actually get the job done?
Director of Sole Podiatry Jessica O’Neil says that feet can be dry and cracked as we emerge from winter, exposing them to the risk of infection with open shoes or bare feet.
She recommends finding a cream specifically formulated for feet. One ingredient to look out for is urea, a humectant that helps break down dead skin cells. “The higher the concentration, the stronger it is.”
“For people who get really cracked heels, we tend to advise a stronger concentration of about 30 per cent,” says O’Neil, adding that daily application is needed to see results.
Moisturising gel socks can also be helpful for locking in moisture, she says.
Pumice stones and foot paddles can be helpful, but typically only for maintenance, according to O’Neil, since the exfoliation is minimal. Those with particularly calloused feet will need to visit a podiatrist.
Don’t rush a pedicure.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
December and January can be the busiest months for nail salons, but Dr Rudo Makunaya, a podiatrist and founder of The Foot Hub, warns this means the risk of injury is also high.
“Don’t try to squeeze in a pedicure. It isn’t a thing that can be rushed, especially when tools are involved.”
But this doesn’t mean you should forgo pedicures entirely. Things to look out for in a salon with high health and safety standards, according to Makunaya, include qualified nail technicians with proper certifications, a booking system with scheduled appointments “rather than walk-ins only”, and technicians who focus on one client at a time. And avoid places with long queues, she says.
Nail polish
If you’ve found a favourite nail polish, it may be tempting to leave it on all summer, but this can be damaging to nails and mask things like fungal infections.
“If your nails are brittle or damaged, just go for regular polish,” says Makunaya. “That’s a bit less harsh on your nails compared to something like a gel polish.”
For regular nail polish, she recommends a wear time of no longer than four weeks. If you do go for gel, Makunaya says you should “carefully examine nail health after each gel polish removal, take a two-week break after every second gel pedicure, and consider even longer breaks during winter months.”
She recommends avoiding acrylic products if you have particularly brittle or damaged nails. “This is party season and people might stomp on your feet. Products like acrylic can cause further damage when this happens.”
How to pick the right thongs
Some of this season’s more “stylish” thong styles are very flat, offering virtually no support. They’re perfectly fine for a dinner out, says Makunaya, but she advises wearing “the right shoes for the right activity”.
“I’ve seen people go on hikes with thongs on. So let’s be … smart about what we’re actually doing here.”
If you’re looking for a thong for everyday wear, one with arch support or a thick cushioned sole is key, says Makunaya.
Adjustable straps, although difficult to find on thong styles, are another bonus. While people often focus on shoe size, Makunaya says foot volume is just as important, particularly because feet can swell in summer. Some thongs – she gives the example of those from the brand Archies – have straps that will feel tight at first but will eventually loosen up with wear.
Don’t forget sunscreen
Avoid the dreaded thong tan: be sure to extend your sunscreen application to the tops of your feet, says Makunaya, and reapply after swimming and every couple of hours.
As with skin checks on any other part of the body, O’Neil says to “keep an eye out for changes to any moles or marks on the feet”, as well as nails, and don’t forget to check your soles (a mirror can be handy for this). When in doubt, check with a podiatrist or GP.
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