Flip, Flop and Fly (No Kerrys Need Apply)

In these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, is it really a fashion crime to wear flip-flop sandals to important events?

Apparently some journalists think so:

A photo of Northwestern University's national championship women's lacrosse team, taken during the athletes' visit to the White House last week, shows four of the nine women in the front row wearing flip-flop sandals along with their dresses and skirts.



A front-page story in the Chicago Tribune included the headline "YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?!" inspired by an e-mail sent to player Kate Darmody from her older brother after he saw the photo on the team's Web site.

Family members of other players expressed similar dismay, insisting the summer footwear staple was too casual for a visit with the president.

"Don't even ask me about the flip-flops," said the mother of player Aly Josephs. "It mortified me."

Well, mothers will be mothers.

Y'know, there are a lot of ways to describe President Bush, but "sartorially correct" isn't one of them. He's always seemed to be the kinda guy who'd toss the tie away, if he thought he could get away with it. But for some reason, people insist on formality when meeting The President.

But, as any Blogging Tory knows, there are worse fashion crimes ...