Everyone in my house needs some summer sandals.  flip-flopsFor my teenage daughter, the footwear of choice is flip-flops.  If she could, she'd have a pair in every color, and I wouldn't put it past her to "mix and match" them.

Flip-flops are fun for summer.  Basic flip-flops can be dressed up with accessories like flowers or with printed bases.  When I was a teen, the fad in flip-flops was the rainbow-striped base.  Now, you can find flip-flops with just about anything on them:  flowers, skull-and-crossbones, jewels or beads, hearts, American flags, and plaids.  They're made of rubber, plastic, and even terry-cloth.

I let my daughter have her flip-flops.  If she's comfortable wearing shoes that hang on between her toes, she can wear them.  I never much liked them; I always preferred "slides."  My favorites were the Dr. Scholl sandals in the '70s.  Those were awesome:  with their wooden base, nailed sides and adjustable buckle, they looked fabulous--but you couldn't walk very far without driving yourself crazy.  Those things were the noisiest shoes ever.  Unless you were on sand or grass, people would hear you coming from three blocks away.

I'll probably stick to slides and Crocs this summer, as usual.  There's nothing like a shoe that you can take back outside and hose down if it gets full of sand or mud.  As long as I stay away from escalators, I'll be OK.

COUPON TIME

Searching for the perfect summer shoe?  Try these deals:

10% off online orders at Chinese Laundry
Use coupon code CL10P.
Valid through: Unknown

Free Shipping on your order when you buy Famous FitFlops
Valid online only. Use this link to activate the promotion code. Standard shipping only. If necessary, enter promotion code WBFITFLP.
Valid through: June 30, 2009 11:59pm ET

Buy 1 pair of shoes, get 1 50% off at FamousFootwear.com
Plus, receive free shipping!
Valid through: September 19, 2009

5% off online orders over $100 at Heels.com
Use coupon code SPRING09 in Step 4 of checkout.
Valid through: June 30, 2009

10% off your order at Simple Shoes
Plus, receive FREE shipping!
Use promotional code ECODAD at checkout.
Valid through: June 21, 2009
Not valid on clearance items.

20% off when you buy 2 pairs of Women's Shoes
25% off when you buy 3 or more pairs of Women's Shoes at Macy's
Discount will appear in your shopping bag.
Valid through: June 18, 2009
Excludes COACH, clearance items, Everyday Values, Birkenstocks, Born, Crocs, Ed Hardy, FitFlop, Sofft, and Sperry.