Everywhere I look lately, I'm seeing slides for men. Is this the shoe to get this summer, or will I be publicly ridiculed for them? Michael T., Hempstead, NY

Unless you plan on spending your summer afternoons strolling around your villa on the Aegean, or by some chance, you are the Son of God, it's best to avoid slides. This is not to say that slides are ruled out as an option for all men, but it's that rare one in a thousand who can pull them off.

Slides are one of those annoying shoes that demand a complete wardrobe and lifestyle readjustment. Plan on buying lots of linen clothes. Plan on being asked about what you're listening to now that Jerry Garcia's gone. Plan on dousing your clammy, paper-white feet with a decent amount of solar rays before you debut the shoes in public. Plan on faking an Italian accent. But most importantly, plan on keeping your feet well-pedicured. This will help avoid frightening away small children and potential female companions.

The importance of a pedicure can't be stressed enough. Remember, slides are about as minimal a shoe as possible. They're just a strap and a sole. The less leather, the more naked foot. And trust us, people will notice those feet. Whether they admire your sartorial panache or lose their lunch is your call.

One option we like for the summer is the closed-toe fisherman's sandal. A bit more complex than the slide, this sandal is constructed of a series of straps that cover a good part of the foot but still leave plenty of room to breathe. These sandals require far less foot maintenance (although that doesn't excuse you for having grungy feet). In addition, they're rugged enough to handle city streets, an important option to consider when you think about how broken glass on bare feet must feel.

Whatever option you decide to go with, remember the cardinal rule of dressing: whatever part of your body you choose to expose becomes exposed to scrutiny. And no, wearing socks with sandals is not an option, German tourists notwithstanding.

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