What? I haven’t blogged about shoes yet?

I must be slacking. It’s been a week and a half and I haven’t commented on footwear in Beijing.

Ok, so if there is a theme shoe, it’s sneakers. In particular, converse-style canvas low tops, both name-brand and knockoff. The daily commute is definitely dominated by all-things-sneakered (plus loafers for the guys), from bland & boring to 80stastic neon. But I am commuting to a station in the heart of university-land, so my sample size does not involve the CBD proper.

Noticibly absent are flip flops (only one pair of havaianas, on a white girl); sandals in general are rare unless they’re the high-heeled-fashionista kind (see below). People here seem to like their feet covered, which is not surprising considering the widespread penchant for spitting. Eugh.

Crocs (and their knockoffs) are still omnipresent, and wow have I seen some crocs-related fashion choices that would make your eyes go all Tex Avery.  But the most common shoe-related fashion faux-pas that’s basically everywhere: sandals with “flesh-colored” ankle-stockings. Even with skirts. I am certainly very far from an actual fashion maven, but come on —  that’s how my grandma used to wear ’em. Again, I think it’s the whole keeping-your-feet-covered-in-the-face-of-gross that’s doing it…still, I am going to go ahead and be judgemental and culturalist: TACKY.

Another fun theme is “girls wearing ridiculous heels to shop in malls.” The heels aren’t as ankle-breakingly high as in Sydney — and are definitely not seen on the weekday commute — but they are thin and wobbly and make the girls take teeeeny steps. It’s like self-inflicted foot binding. Siiigh.