I knew it wasn't just a figment of my imagination when my husband started talking about his toes. I am partly to blame. Last year someone gave both of us certificates to spend all day at a spa, which included pedicures. He was going to pass on his, but I said, "Do it. You'll love it." He did it. He loved it.

With his freshly manicured toes that didn't look as ugly as they used to, he now wanted to wear sandals. But not just on weekends. He wanted to accessorize them with slacks that he was wearing to business meetings where he'd be sitting across from people with his bare toes exposed. I begged him not to. He wouldn't listen.

Instead, he came home with three different pair of sandals. We spent a half hour on his sandal dilemma--him parading around and me helping troubleshoot the plight of the sandal. Should he keep the black ones with the stitching that show his entire toe or the black ones without the stitching that only show the ends of his toes-even though they make flapping noises? I suggested he go with the non-flapping ones since he wouldn't want people hearing him come down the hall.

Now I know we are in real trouble. I saw an article in Fortune about the Mandal--"a foot-showing shoe of pretentiously high quality and expense" calling it the "SUV of footwear: bold, paradigm-shifting, slightly disingenuous, dangerously popular." The article also says one manufacturer, Skechers, has seen its dress casual sandal business rise 34% this year, with men wearing them to restaurants, the theater, even work.

I love my husband, but not his toes. In fact, I can't think of any man's toes I would want to sit around and look at while I'm trying to work no matter how well manicured.

He is quick to say that many women don't exactly have the most beautiful feet, yet they wear shoes displaying their toes all the time. He has a point. Toes, in general do not necessarily make for pleasant viewing. So just where do you draw the line?

Showing unsightly toes and other skin may be the fashion trend, but when it comes to work, leave the provocative clothing and exposed toes for more suitable occasions. Call me old-fashioned. But in my book, some things aren't meant to change. And not exposing unnecessary parts of your body while others around you are trying to work is one of them.

© by Andrea Kay