Fabulous feet

From dress codes to the barefoot revolution, we take a look at the ins and outs of feet and footwear to find out what’s good for the sole.

- GEORGIA NELSON

Thinking on your feet, cold feet, square feet, two left feet, six feet apart … for all of the time you’ve spent staring at your feet, how well do you really know them? Did you know that it takes a quarter of the bones in the human body to make up the humble human hooves? Feet come with complex customs, loads of different footwear options and an important etiquette guideline.

Yet it seems feet are somewhat of a divisive topic in modern society. There is a spectrum of love when it comes to feet. While some of us shudder at the thought of touching, looking at or catching a whiff of feet, others adore them.

Fortunately for all of the “podophobes” out there, the foot shake seems to have been soundly beaten by the elbow bump in the race for COVID-19 pandemic greeting glory. But love ’em or hate ’em, feet are here to stay.

Foot etiquette

Much like dress codes, emails and dinner tables, there are etiquette guidelines to keep in mind when it comes to your feet. Australia’s barefoot culture is becoming increasingly common, especially in coastal towns. But according to etiquette expert and founder of etiquette training school The Standard Companion, Ana Retallack, going barefoot anywhere besides the beach, pool or health spa is a social faux pas.

“Whilst bare feet on the beach is socially acceptable, coming off the beach and wandering into the supermarket to purchase a box of crackers and dip to take back to the beach is best done with shoes on from a health and hygiene perspective,” explains Retallack.