"Don't make this ultimate summer airport style mistake!" warns magazine.
In a worldwide email blast several minutes ago, the arbiter of American style, GQ magazine, headlined Laird Hamilton thus: Don’t Make This Ultimate Airport Style Mistake.
Do you find this particularly cruel, given Mr Hamilton has never claimed to be anything but a robust big-wave stud whose body is best viewed naked?
The story begins…
Summer’s most beguiling fantasy is that when it’s this hot out, the sartorial rules we follow in cooler climes can go right out the window. In particularly oppressive heat, even the most stylish men can be tempted to throw caution to the wind (if they can find any wind, that is) and break every regulation that keeps guys looking reasonably good during the rest of the year.
The wave-chasing fashion designer was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday wearing a black shirt and dark jeans, items that would suggest he couldn’t have been feeling that warm. But his footwear, a pair of brown leather flip-flops, told a different story: that the man literally needed to cool his heels.
Never mind that he’s sending the fashion equivalent of a mixed metaphor; no matter what time of year it is, flip-flops are best used sparingly, like paprika. There’s even a handy list of places on GQ.com where you can wear them (you’re welcome), and spoiler alert: Airports aren’t on it.
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Hawaiians wear slippers because they either can’t afford shoes or their feet are too fat for them.
I hope there is a parallel universe where Laird Hamilton is writing an article about how he had to collect a rather pale looking Justin Fenner after observing him sitting out the back for three hours straight, dodging every wave that came his way. Apparently he looked quite stylish except for the brown stain seeping through his white gucci attire. Laird says people like Justin should be used sparingly, like paprika.
Haven’t heard that story, but Laird is a badass. I don’t understand why everyone talks so much crap about him . . . dudes a legend.
I will rock up anywhere in the world wearing my Tickle Me Elmo slippers, sayin “fuck tha world” like Pac. Do the clothes make the man? No. Do they give the public an idea of your desperation for attention? Sure can! If you like to play dress up I support you, as long as you support my dressing down. I’m naked right now
Anyone that can surf waves that big can wear whatever they want to. Period. End of story. This little cubicle hobbit probably can’t remember the names of the last 5 dicks he chugged and he’s bagging on Laird for wearing flip flops…give me a fucking break
Seeing as this is the height of Hawaiian wedding fashion, what other options do we have? Pray tell, GQ.
Feels like this issue warrants at least a 2 paragraph post from Chas.
My gosh the surf community is getting soft by even having this conversation. Where I’m from talking about another dudes footwear is plain queer.
I’m a huge fan of Laird (‘s mistakes) and this is disgusting. Could you even imagine the toe jam foot stank he’d puttiing out on this flight. Fucks sake Laird put some god damn shoes on you’re not Jesus.
Laird begs to differ on that last point.
Anyone wearing flip flops in the city should be ridiculed by all passers by. People should spit on their feet in disgust.
Laird though. He can do what he wants. I could study him for hours.
A woman can team jeans with strappy open toe footwear, even flipflops, and be considered quite stylish. A chap does it and he is deemed to lack panache. This is outrageous sexism!
If it is good enough for this fashion icon?
https://denimology.com/wp-c…
KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE!
Slippers (or barefoot) are the footwear of choice for Hawaiians, (most real) surfers, and other coastal cultures . . . these GQ idiots don’t know shit, and thank god they don’t, because if they did, they might flock to our coastal areas with their Luis Vuitton man purses and whatever else it those kooks waste away their lives with . . . stay in city GQ kook, stay in the city.
Aren’t SF, Los Angeles and New York coastal cities?
Hawaii gets a pass it’s different they wear some ugly shit but anywhere in the mainland sandals are terrible, they are one notch above wearing crocs, maybe. No one wants to see a man’s crusty toes and stankin ass feet outside of a beach. Especially next to him on a plane. Stylish? A man who wears sandals is announcing to the whole world he has no style. He is a Neanderthal in faded old jeans with torn up bottoms or worse baggy beige cargo shorts.
Woman’s sandals are divine however because a woman’s foot is soft to the touch, a small and delicate thing of natural beauty.
Britney was kicked off a plane for having stinky feet.
Clarification: when I said “coastal city,” I meant like Angourie or Lennox Head, or Haleiwa or Hilo, not nyc or LA; think quaint surf town, not American metropolis.
Also, don’t be so sure about people “wearing ugly” shit in Hawaii – (I agree that tourists wear all kinds of weird shit but not local people; well, in general). And remember: American missionaries almost wiped surfing off the face of the earth when they forced their perspective on the Hawaiians.
I get your point about sitting next to someone on the plane with stinky feet, but in my entire life, the only time I had an issue with a smelly person on a plane, was when a stinky, fat, mainlander sat in my row . . .
In Hawaii, we don’t give a shit about what mainland, French, London, or other fashion forward people think about our “style.” We live in Hawaii.
Last, I get your perspective; my gf told me people in the mainland “have a thing about slippers, they call them flip flops.” To each their own.
True, if I lived in Hawaii I’d probably wear sandals a lot more to be honest. And to be fair most of the ugly shit I’ve seen is probably mostly the mainland tourists. They are a national embarrassment.
And if I’m honest with myself, I’m more than a little defensive/protective when it comes to anything Hawaiian; but, I understand the different perspectives, and I try to reign myself in, and be objective. It’s hard sometimes, especially when it comes to something we practically identify with – slippers. Anyway, when you come Hawaii, bust out your slippas, and enjoy, and when I go nyc, I’ll ask Chas what to wear.
flip flops are best used sparingly?? Are they on crack? I’d wear them every fuckin day if I could. They are stylish as fuck. Idiots.
Yes they are! Surf wants em back!
I’m afraid I have to side with Gentlmen’s Quarterly on this matter. A utility at best, a pox at worst. What does Chas say?
I’m with you all the way. All flip flops should be put in a giant pile and burnt on Copacabana Beach.
A nice pair of Adidas Sliders however… 90’s football hooligan mixed with RnB trillness. Whats not to like.
chas doesnt wear sandals. chas doesnt even fucking wear shorts to the beach. he’s a weirdo from orgeon
Unless they are modified banana hammocks then he’s all in.
wut. no.
new york media has a thing about flip flops idk it’s sorta stupid really
http://www.lairdsuperfoods.con i mean com.