WHITE HOUSE FLIP FLOPS
By Peter Fredson
July 19, 2005
Amidst the world news reports yesterday was a minor item regarding White House flip flops. This is not the usual political flip-flopping of George Bush, as that is no longer newsworthy.
No, this is about nine women of the Northwestern Wildcats Lacrosse sports team who were invited to a photo-op with President Bush. It was a formal occasion. They were beautifully dressed in colorful skirts, dresses and pearls but they wore flip-flops, or heeled sandals, on their feet.
One newspaper headline reported:
Flip-flops to White House appalls some
CHICAGO | July 16, 2005 1:11:52 AM IST
Evidently some people feel that social decorum, etiquette, was violated by the choice of footwear.
"Many people are confused nowadays about when an occasion calls for dressing more formally. I'd say meeting a world leader is one of those occasions," said Charles Purdy, who writes the "Dear Social Grace" column in the San Francisco Weekly.
Lesley Carlin, co-author of "Things You Need to be Told," said wearing flip-flops to the White House is a "huge no-no."
Other people remarked that flip-flops are not just for beach wear anymore. Some of them cost a lot of money, and come with rhinestones and flowers, with expensive straps. They may be flat soled, or come with wedgie heels. They seem to have a very wide acceptance for office and home wear.
It was reported that Ann Stock, who was Hillary Clinton's social secretary, said that while there was no written dress code for White House guests, "people who visit the White House know they're going to a very special place and that one should dress appropriately. And people do."
Tom Darmody's sister was in the photo and he remarked by e-mail: "I was a little taken aback, to say the least," said Darmody, an attorney, who admitted he might be jealous as his feet sweated in socks and leather shoes. "You are two people away from the leader of the most powerful country in the free world and you're wearing flip flops?"
This fashion faux-pas had a positive side effect.
During an appearance on N-B-C's "Today Show" the flip-floppers said that they plan to auction off their flip-flops to the White House. Proceeds are to go toward for a ten-year-old girl with a brain tumor.
Of course we might comment that it really doesn't matter what you might wear to see George Bush. For him it's a photo-op and a welcome distraction from his failure as president. It is fully in keeping with his flip-flops on reasons for lying to go to war, or recently for his flip-flops on what is necessary for him to fire Karl Rove.
We might also mention, in passing, that Bush criticized Clinton for not setting a timetable to leave Kosovo, but yet he does not seem to realize that we feel that same way about Iraq. Yes, some flip-flops are serious breaches of etiquette. But, it doesn't matter what you wear, including codpieces on flight decks. It's what's inside that counts.