Decidering, Part 6

Dawn wants to know if she should keep these recently purchased Sperry Topsiders:

I decide: Unless you own a boat, take 'em back. You know, I really wanted to tell you to keep them. Really, I did. I can understand that they are comfortable and practical, but they just really aren't that cute. I spent a lot of time searching the Internet for photographs of people pulling off the topsider look. My hours of research yielded one set of photographs of women pulling off topsiders, from Refinery 29:

Note: all the models are on a boat. Or on a dock, waiting for the boat to arrive. And, also, there is a man wearing a bow tie with shorts.

I'm thinking that unless you are accessorizing with your yacht and you are wearing them so that you don't fall off of your yacht into the great blue sea, you would probably be better off with a pair of ballet flats or sandals. Some things require a lot of money to pull off--poodles and topsiders among them.

(On a completely personal note, my husband talks a lot about having a pair of topsiders during his youth and I have seen photos of him during that era and, wow, there was a lot of Aquanet involved. And probably a hair dryer. Also, a bright teal suit and some shirts made of silk. Somehow, I associate topsiders with this and so I just can't get on board.)

However! Sperry Topsider does have these nauticalesque beach-to-street flats and wedges, which I think would be a good compromise between comfort and casual style.

Lots more decisions coming soon. In the meantime, please weigh in on the topic of topsiders.

Comments

[Janssen]

AMEN! Amen, Amen, Amen! Say no!

I think you can also wear them if you are an old man. But barring the boat or the old-manness, stay away.

[Rachael]

Unless, of course, you live in Charleston, South Carolina, in which it is imperative that you own all of the above Sperry Topsiders, or you will appear in the Town and Country magazine with that little black bar over your eyes... listed as a "fashion DON'T."

I mean, at least, that's what my Charlestonian sister tells me. She has an obscene number of Sperry's. OBSCENE.

[Kate @ Nautical by Nature]

I REALLY wanted these Anchor ones from Delia's but they just weren't worth $50. BUT if they go on sale I may consider getting them!

http://store.delias.com/item.do?categoryID=&itemID=48968&sizeFilter=&colorFilter=&brandFilter=

[Malia]

Definately exchange for the much cuter and practical.

malia

[Jamie]

TAKE THEM BACK.

If you must, the striped alternatives are cute. The first are really ugly to be honest.

[kathryn]

yeah i agree.

[alas]

Agreed, please say no to them.

I love the navy wedges- so cute and sailorish.

[Kerri Anner]

I love the bottom two topsiders. The first one is a bit too...1984?

[Jan]

STEP AWAY FROM THE TOPSIDERS!