Namibian Sun

After years of tossing and turning in their grave, the fashion gods and ancestors have finally defeated the powers of death and risen once again. This happened shortly after the ungodly trend of men wearing flip-flops to every occasion. Clearly, this did not sit well with the gods, so they decided to speak out against this abomination through women.

Remember when that one wise person everybody loves to quote once said: “If you want something done fast, ask a woman to do it”? I can testify that there are no lies detected in that statement. Oh boy, did Namibian women of all ages, races and “Twirra fingers” not rise to the occasion? Sis, the girls came for every cheese-kop in the country, they dragged every trouser in the mud for wearing flip-flops and dropped the mic.

This call-out left some men questioning and others defending their fashion choices. One thing is certain, 99.9% of them were definitely left insecure. Chile, you love to see it, it was hectic in caps.

“Why are men so obsessed with flip-flops?” is a question I started asking myself when one baby boy showed up to our dinner date in that pits of shoewear. I will narrate the details of that particular day when I am older. The fact that men in this country will show up to anything and anywhere in flip-flops is very disturbing; it's something the state needs to address.

The only time flip-flops should be worn is when you take a shower, hang around the house, chill at your next-door neighbour's bar and have backyard braai get-together. You can't possibly want to wear the same shoe style everywhere, that's why the creators gave you options to enjoy. Personally, I feel like men who thrive on this trend take life lightly, they don't have a solid plan or goal. Tell me, how will you run to a very important meeting? You will slip out of track. Your shoe choices definitely say a lot about your perspective.

Flip-flops or any type of shoe you would wear to the beach is never a good match with official wear or to work. No Timo, you can't wear flip-flops with a suit, no matter how comfortable you may feel. There should be a fine for that, it should be declared illegal. Though that would be total fascism, nobody deserves to look like a socially inept billionaire who cuts their own hair.

There are certain fashion items that can be matched with flip-flops, but unfortunately, there are only a few of them. I don't mind you wearing flip-flops with a potjie short and vest but I definitely mind when they are paired with a smart casual outfit. The issue is not the shoe style, it's the abuse of it. You can wear flip-flops, just not to every occasion. And when you wear them, at least make sure you get a pedicure because walking the streets with ashy feet is not it.

Look, I understand that it's hot and flip-flops provide a solution. They solve problems of sweaty feet but they also expose you to crowds of other problems like gawkers and bugs. I honestly understand why the fashion gods put their foot down. Flip-flops represent everything that is wrong in the world of fashion. They represent a generation of offspring who believe a series of temporary fixes makes the problem go away. If you can't wear them right, get rid of them.



*Aina Raiza Kweyo is a media personality and independent content producer. She is the founder of REbottle, which sells luxurious detox water bottles.