Thong slippers are a type of soft, indoor-only thong sandals that originated in Japan and have become popular worldwide. They can be made from a variety of materials and are sometimes considered dress shoes. They are often differentiated from regular thongs or flip-flops, which are more casual and meant for outdoor wear.
Thong slippers are a specific set of thong sandals, a footwear item widely used as a casual alternative to more constrictive items. Thong slippers are generally differentiated from regular thongs by their softer feel and the fact that they are meant to be worn exclusively indoors. However, in some cases, thong slippers can refer to any type of thong, as they are sometimes referred to simply as slippers.
There are many different terms for the footwear items known as thong sandals, including flip-flops, cleats, and slippers. Flip flops generally refer to thongs that are extremely casual and flexible, and are intended for beach wear. Pluggers is a term not generally seen outside of Australia, with slippers referring to the fact that they can be easily slipped on and off, much like the indoor slipper variety. The use of the word thong itself comes from the often plastic thong that goes between the toe and the big toe, acting to secure the shoe to the foot.
The use of thong slippers dates back some time, to Japan, where they were originally woven-soled sandals, also commonly called Japanese sandals. Known as zori, these slippers arrived in New Zealand in the 1930s as beach footwear, arriving with servicemen returning from the war in Japan. From there they spread throughout the world, including the United States and Europe. In recent decades, thong slippers have become very popular and a wide variety of styles have emerged, some far removed from the common plastic variety.
One of the main distinctions that has emerged in thong slippers in recent years is whether they should be worn as casual footwear for the beach or worn as dressier loungewear for shoeless houses. . Some of the latest types of thong slippers are made from luxury materials, and it’s not uncommon to find leather or silk slippers for sale at high-end shoe and clothing stores. These shoes are meant to really be a type of dress shoe, although this has not been accepted by all sections of society.
In fact, in 2005 a minor scandal arose when the national champion women’s lacrosse champions from the Northwest visited the White House to meet with President George W. Bush. A photo was taken of all the women and the president, and many people immediately criticized several of them for wearing flip-flops to meet the president. Those who defended them pointed out that what they were wearing was actually much more expensive formal versions of thongs, and not beachwear.
Since they are designed to be worn indoors only, thong slippers can generally be much softer than other flip flops. Without the limitations of having to face the outdoors, thong slippers can be made from a material like towel or silk that wouldn’t be appropriate for other flip flops. Often seen are thong slippers that are also fuzzy, sometimes embellished like faux jewelry.
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