Summer Sizzle: Hot Sandals for the Season

Summer is in full bloom now as June has started and feet that have been bundled up all winter want to get out and enjoy the beautiful warmth of sunshine. With the vast array of sandals and other summer shoes available, it is easier than ever to find just the right pair of shoes to dress up your toes and help put your best foot forward.

Hot styles that are currently in-trend are for the season include classy sling-backs, mules and slides, in addition to strappy, lace-up sandals. Colors are bright and sassy; aqua blue, tangerine, lime green and hot pink are popular. Chocolate is also an "in" color. And, as always, red is still a hot hue for summer, and crimson can be found in flat sandals, lacy leather mules as well as patent leather stilettos.

Jeweled, beaded and embroidered footwear also are popular this season. It's easy to find flat thongs as well as expensive heels that are adorned with fancy stitching and beading.

When planning your attire for warm-weather social events, make sure you have the ultimate accessory: a great pair of summer shoes.

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR TOOTSIES LOOKING GREAT ALL SUMMER

Pretty feet are in, and you must take the time to care for yours. Professional pedicures cost from $30 and up to $150, depending on where you live and the type of salon you choose, and last from three to four weeks.

* Learn to give yourself a pedicure. It can be awkward and it takes time, but you can do it. The rewards are pretty, well-maintained feet, in addition to the money saved by doing it yourself, .

* Choose nail color that complements most of your sandals and wardrobe. Natural, neutral tones are in, but vibrant colors continue to be popular during summer months.

* Keep feet well moisturized. Great shoes deserve feet that are not rough and ashy. But don't make the mistake of using petroleum jelly on your feet and immediately slipping them into your expensive sandals. The petroleum jelly will stain leather, suede and cloth.

* Don't buy or wear shoes that don't fit properly. A heel hanging over the back end of a sandal is not a pretty sight.

* Keep feet clean and dry in summer heat. Each foot has thousands of sweat glands and hot weather makes perspiring feet fertile ground for bacteria.

* Select shoes that flatter your particular feet. if you have pudgy feet, avoid strappy sandals. You don't want the unsightly bulges, if you have skinny ankles, ankle-strap shoes may not work for you. If you have corns, bunions and hammertoes, don't wear sandals that expose them.

* Keep in mind that men find pretty feet sexy. Yes, the feet are an erogenous zone. Take full advantage of this powerful asset.

Women have about four times as many foot problems as men do--thanks to our love of high heels--which is why we asked Suzanne M. Levine, D.P.M., P.C., a New York City podiatric surgeon, for foot-care advice.

THE BASIC FACTS

The foot is an intricate structure comprising 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles and tendons that hold it together, which allows it to move. There are approximately 125,000 sweat glands that excrete as much as a quarter-pint of moisture each day. Corns (found on toes) and calluses (found on soles) are several layers of dead skin caused by frequent friction.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Here, some reasons why your feet may need extra care:

* Daily wear and tear Ill-fitting shoes (high heels are the worst offenders) are the main cause of foot problems.

* Friction When a particular spot on the foot is subjected to constant pressure or irritation, a blister will form. Over time, the body creates a cushion to protect that area in the form of a corn or callus.

* Ingrown nails Toenails should grow straight out, but sometimes one or both corners curve and grow into the flesh, leading to painful swelling.

* Excessive perspiration Foot odor results when bacteria grow in the moisture produced by the sweat glands.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

Get your feet in top shape for summer. Beauty Rx:

1. Do daily maintenance. Levine suggests soaking feet, sloughing with a pumice stone, then following with a rich moisturizer (try: Origins Reinventing the Heel MegaMoisture for Dry, Cracked Feet, $19.50; origins.com).

2. Care for corns and calluses. Don't cut them; see a podiatrist, who can pare them down with professional tools.

3. Trim toenails straight across and use clippers designed for toenails (like the Tweezerman Power Toenail Clipper, $5.50; tweezerman.com) to prevent ingrowns.

4. Go shoe shopping in the midafternoon or later, when feet are likely to be a bit swollen (that way you'll get a pair that fits at all times of the day).

5. Cut odor. Try not to wear the same pair of shoes (or boots) two days in a row; this gives each pair a chance to air out. Powders like Dr. Scholl's Original Foot Powder ($5; drugstore.com) can help lessen odor too.

TREAT INGROWN TOENAILS

While ingrown toenails may be linked to a hereditary circumstance of poor nail shape, in many cases, pressure from tight shoes can cause trauma to the toenails. The APMA recommends trimming nails straight across and keeping them clean and dry. (Those with diabetes and circulatory problems should visit a podiatrist for nail maintenance.)

FIGHT FUNGUS

Fungal nails are characterized by loose, yellow or thickened nails, according to the APMA (apma.org). Since fungus is extremely contagious, I suggest soaking feet with tea-tree oil to disinfect and keep the fungus from spreading. To prevent fungus from growing in the first place, keep shoes and socks dry and wear flip-flops at public pools, in gym locker rooms, and even at home if you share a shower. Proceed with caution if you go for professional pedicures: Take your own implements, and keep cuticles intact instead of having them trimmed, as they act as a protective barrier against bacteria. Always try to snag an appointment close to opening time, when the pedicure bowls tend to be cleaner.

Nail fungus is another common problem that can make feet unattractive. The dark, moist surroundings created by shoes and stockings make the feet susceptible to fungal infection, which may cause the nail to thicken and become yellow or brownish. Oral and topical medications sometimes eliminate a fungus, but it can return if the medication is discontinued. Curing a fungal infection may require the permanent removal of the nail. After surgery to permanently remove the nail plate, the body generates a hardened skin covering the sensitive nail bed. When this covering has developed, normal activities can be resumed and women can use nail polish on the area.

3 "Naturally" Attractive Sandals

1. With each step, the rubbery bubbles on the foot bed of the Monte carlo thong sandal massage your feet. It's like getting a reflexology massage as you walk ($26; 800-203-5585; www.aswechange.com).

2. Light padding on the foot bed and a smooth cloth upper make the Hemp Slants sandal comfortable. Fiber-reactive dye, which is less harmful to the earth than conventional dyes, provides the brownish red color ($24; 866-335-0050; www.rawganique.com).

3. The TriStep espadrille is made of two earth-friendly materials: hemp and natural rubber. The uppers hug your feet without hurting them ($32; 800-229-7571; www.tomorrowsworld.com).

An Alternative: Vegan Shoes

The first reaction to "vegan shoes" is usually: Ugh. Those stiff plastic numbers that make your feet hurt (and stink). And those funky hemp numbers that, yeah, are sturdy--but forget wearing them to a job interview. To avoid leather, suede, fur trim and even glues that use animal products, you've had to avoid everyday shoe stores. And forget being stylish.

No longer! Vegan shoes have evolved: They're hip, well-made and surprisingly comfortable. No one will know what you are (or aren't) wearing except you. And you might not know yourself--the shoes look that good. More and more manufacturers and retailers--from Columbia and New Balance to Payless--are producing a good number of all-synthetic options. Even the granddaddy of sandals, Birkenstock, makes vegan varieties of its most popular styles. At vegan specialty shops, including MooShoes, Pangea and Alternative Outfitters, you can find dozens of vegan shoe styles under one roof (or with one click of the mouse).

So go ahead and test drive a pair of pumps on a power lunch, some sneaks on a 10K or sassy sandals on a stroll on the boardwalk--all three and more are coming up. Not only will the shoes feel good, but you'll feel good wearing them.

The underside of leather

Many vegetarians support the meat industry without realizing it: Every leather jacket, shoe, purse and wallet is a symbol of factory farming. In fact, pound for pound, leather--not meat--is a slaughterhouse's most profitable item.

Farm animals aren't the only victims of the leather trade. In countries such as China where there are few or no animal rights laws, even domesticated animals are killed for leather and fur.

The environment suffers too. Leather is processed with toxins including arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, zinc, cyanide-based oils and coal-tar derivatives. More than 95 percent of leather made in the United States is tanned with chromium, a carcinogen, and other unpleasant stuff. What flows out of tanneries includes highly polluting sulfides, acids, lime sludge and salt.

No wonder tannery employees get sick. Studies show that they have an increased risk of health problems including cancer and lung and skin diseases, according to the International Labour Organization.

So if you've been feeling a little uneasy in your shoes, turn the page. You and your feet are in for a guilt-free summer treat.

Tread Lightly

Where to find all of these vegan shoes and many, many more

Alternative Outfitters 866.758.5837 alternativeoutfitters.com

Carries dozens of vegan shoes, plus T-shirts, skin and hair care, cosmetics, jewelry and accessories.

Price range: $20-$50 (shoes)

Good to know: Donates 5 percent of gross profits to PETA (10 percent if purchasing Pamela Anderson-brand belts and jewelry).

Crocs 877.238.4404 crocs.com

Makes fun, wildly colorful, water-friendly, slip-resistant clogs and sandals for kids and adults.

Price range: $30-$50

Good to know: Donates shoes from its kids' line to AIDS/HIV orphans in Africa.

Earth 877.372.2814 earthvegan.us

Offers dozens of cruelty-free styles. Also carries some hemp clothing.

Price range: $40-$120 (shoes)

Good to know: Earth shoes are produced in China under fair-trade standards; the company is trying to improve working conditions for other Chinese laborers.

KidBean.com 954.942.2830 kidbean.com

Carries hemp shoes for kids, as well as organic cotton clothing for rooms-to-be and infants.

Price range: $16-$50 (shoes)

Good to know: Makes only vegan products and maintains socially responsible practices. For instance, all KidBean suppliers must meet its environmental and fair-labor standards.

MooShoes 866.598.3426 moosshoes.com

In addition to hundreds of animal-friendly shoes, MooShoes carries jackets, shirts, accessories, books, videos, cosmetics, jewelry and more.

Price range: $20-$145 (shoes)

Good to know: Supports no-kill animal shelters and hosts companion animal adoption days.

Store: 152 Allen St., New York, NY 10002

Pangea 800.340.1200 www.veganstore.com

Its all-vegan products include nearly 200 shoe styles, plus everything from clothing and personal care items to gift baskets and pet products.

Price range: $15-$180 (shoes)

Good to know: Doesn't carry products manufactured under oppressive labor conditions; reuses and recycles mail-order materials.

Store: 2381 Lewis Ave., Rockville, MD 20851

Zappos.com 888.493.7767 zappos.com

While not exclusively vegetarian, this vast online shoe store has an entire vegetarian department and sells hundreds of cruelty-free styles. But because Zappos isn't a vegan specialist, be sure to double-check what the shoes are made of.

If Americans aren't meant to wear white shoes after Labour Day, it seems most of us believe pedicures are a seasonal treat.

Boots' range means you can have beautiful soft feet all year. At 4.99 each, their Prepare to Bare Foot Polish, 150ml; Instant Hydration Foot Butter, 150ml and Instant Revival Foot Fizz, 250g (1) are great value.

For the ultimate foot soak, add a few pumps of London foot-care specialist's Margaret Dabbs Hydrating Foot Soak, GBP20, 200ml (2) toa basin of warm water, where emu oil and lemon myrtle will soften even the hardest skin. Next, exfoliate and polish heels to a satin- soft finish with Ms Pedicure Diamond Dust Pedicure Wand, GBP8.99 (3). Finally, treat your feet in style by slathering on Origins Reinventing the heel, GBP16.50, 150ml (4) a mega-rich foot cream with softening shea butter.

If you're suffering from dry, cracked skin, there are four super options to alleviate the problem.

Intensely moisturising, Tyrene Dermoprogram Cream for most dry feet, GBP2.95, 75ml (5) uses carbamide glycerin, a derivative of lactic acid and vitamin E, to keep feet that have an inclination to keratosis in check. Margaret Dabbs Antifungal Foot Cream, GBP10, 100ml is designed to eliminate the symptoms of athlete's foot, while Spiezia 100-per cent Organic Foot Balm, GBP16, 30ml (6) is just the thing to ease cracked heels.

Finally, inspired by traditional Aboriginal remedies, Australian Bodycare's Intensive Skin Cream, GBP6.99, 100ml (7) uses tea tree oil and aloe vera to soothe and restore moisture to dry and itchy skin.

If dancing yourself dizzy or trotting around town in vertiginous heels leaves you with pounding feet, then Model Co Cool Feet Airbrush Catwalk Heels Instant Cooling Spray, GBP20, 150g (8) is a must. It is specially formulated with menthol to instantly reduce temperature, papaya to refresh, bamboo to soften and chamomile to soothe, and it smells of peppermint. A wonderful invention that should come free with any heels over three inches high.

If a late summer holiday beckons, then Nails Inc Holiday Feet Kit, GBP20 (9) holds everything you'll need to scrub and buff up your feet and nails nicely for a last minute moment in the sun.