Socks with Sandals…. Why Confucius?

https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2003-1-15-laozi_confucius.jpg

 

 

French Husband informed me that we are taking one suitcase for our trip to China. One as in, one dinky shared suitcase. I informed him that we were not on a motorcycle.

He held up one finger. He has a thing for traveling lightly. And somehow even though deep down I would like to travel with ten suitcases, or at least more than two pairs of shoes… the challenge he draws is a fun game.

 

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One suitcase for six weeks.

Traveling light has its benefits, and two pairs of shoes is more than enough. French Husband will wear sandals the entire time. I told him that this is the rainy season in China, and that maybe he should reconsider the sandals.

 

https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SocksandSandalsCatwalk-03.jpg

(Photo Source Miuccia Prada.)

He told me he would manage with socks and sacs (The French word for plastic bags.)

Oh the joys of traveling with a man who isn't fashion conscious.

I looked-up "socks and sandals" in the Urban Dictionary and read it to him:

"A footwear combination worn only by the fashion-challenged."

"If it's hot enough for sandals, it's too hot to wear socks. If it's cold enough to wear socks, it's too cold for sandals."

Note:

Favorite places to go antiquing coming, and photos of Stinky Cat when I see him and have my camera at the same time.



Comments

40 responses to “Socks with Sandals…. Why Confucius?”

  1. I wear socks with my flip-flops, but refrain when I’m in Aix 🙂

  2. Marie-Noëlle

    Brilliant !!!
    Have you seen The 2011 spring/summer collection by J-P Gauthier ??? FH can travel VERY light !!!

  3. you’re not alone, I have the same kind of men here 😉

  4. SIX WEEKS! Six weeks and only half of 1 suitcase? Corey I don’t know how you are going to do it, good on you. I have just got back from a week in Spain, the weight allowance was 15kg. As I had heard the weather was goig to be unpredicable I packed half for warm weather and half for cold weather. I needed the cold weathr stuff all week and I can tell you I went crazy trying to figure out what to wear. As for FH and his sandals, rather him than me. Look forward to reading your posts from China xx

  5. Corey, my initial career path was as an haute-couture evening gown & millinery designer…until a family tragedy veered me off course. That being said, I’m from the Pacific Northwest. I’ve always thought the sock/sandal combo was hot.
    It’s true.
    Happy travels!
    : )
    Julie M.

  6. My son and his wife travel very light always as well. It amazes me how little they need too.
    You will do just fine.
    Love you
    Jeanne

  7. Here in Ohio, whenever we someone wearing socks with sandals, we assume the person is German. That just seems to be a German thing. Now I will always think of French Husband as GH (German Husband).

  8. I am a one suitcase like of gal. Husband is a three/four for a long weekend with no special plans.Always takes his marring/burying suit. Sums up our marriage relationship.

  9. Socks and Sandals .. A big NO NO !!! Only on British old men do you see this .. ha ha.. I have a friend that went to China with a pack back only .. 4 weeks Ithink .

  10. Corey: 6 weeks is a challenge, but we have become so efficient in packing! (out of necessity) I still want to bring the entire closet, but like you said, I made it a challenging game! The key is to pack fabric blends that roll up into a ball and are wrinkle free when you unpack them. From underwear to outerwear, silky type blends work well! Broomstick skirts look good wrinkly anyway! Tanks, slips,stockings,panties,skirts, shirts,jeans~ all roll into very small space! Now the bras, that’s another thing…maybe wrap them around FH’s slacks!

  11. Your French Husband could travel with my Second Half, who could travel with the things on his back and maybe one extra change of underwear and socks. He also drives a motorcycle and sails, so maybe it’s a thing with motorcycle/sailing guys.

  12. Please no socks with sandals! You will spoil the image! Be safe..take a pair of shoes!

  13. LOL, a relationship is all about compromises.

  14. Well, apparently Prada thinks socks and sandals are “cool.” So maybe Prada is just catching up with Yann who started the trend. Little did you know you were marrying a fashion icon! 😉

  15. Here in the Northwest lots of people wear socks and sandals. Though probably not this week-snow is predicted!
    I think it is part of a plan by FH. If he needs “real” shoes he can buy them while in China.
    How many immunization shots did you need prior to the trip?

  16. I must admit giving up sandals in the fall I do sometimes wear socks for awhile with my sandals. I adore wearing sandals and hate it when I can’t. However, this is just something I do around the house because I do know the rule. You are going to be gone for 6 weeks, that is one big adventure~

  17. Marie-Noëlle

    Go with an empty suitcase and there get the traditional silk Qipaos and high-heeled huāpéndǐ (you can wear socks in those).
    Correction : Suzhou is famous for its embroidered silk. Forget the empty case, fill it up with tons of yuans to bring back tons of Su silk !!!
    xo

  18. Note on the Prada ad. My husband is already sporting this look of short pants, white socks and sandals..xox

  19. Hello! I continue to love your stories! Keep them coming!

  20. I thought I had it bad when my DH said “only 1 carry-on for you to take to Provence”. It’s only 2 weeks, so now
    I don’t feel so bad and I think I can handle it! The big
    worry is bringing anything back that I purchase!
    Good luck to you and I know you will make do, also.
    I’m looking forward to your notes on China!
    Have fun!!!

  21. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    FH would fit in so perfectly here in western Washington state that a quirky local insurance company has an ad about socks-and-sandals. It cracks me up every time it’s on. (I’m married to a socks-and-sandals guy too, although he looks less frumpy than the guy in the ad. I think.)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z59fQ12OR0A

  22. I feel the same way about shorts and sweatshirts – the weirdest combo this side of socks and sandals.
    Oh, happy packing! (Did you hold up a single appropriate finger right back at French Husband?)

  23. You would not want me for a friend, I think, when it comes to traveling I am so much like your FH!
    I take clothes which is simple to handwash and dry somewhere?!
    Good luck with your packing Corey!

  24. Socks with sandals is preferable to badly sunburned feet with sandals, which is what befell my fair-skinned Farmboy Husband at the beach one time. It’s also preferable to getting one’s feet dirty.
    Corey, could you persuade Yann that one small (i.e., carry-on) suitcase APIECE would be reasonable, as long as you promise to tote your own? That’s how Farmboy Husband and I handle packing nowadays.
    Also, while in China can you borrow some of Chelsea’s wardrobe, i.e., garments that would fit you both?

  25. My friend shops in China. He flys over there from England and brings back lots of stuff especially Fabric….so make sure you have room for on the way home with more Sacs of new purchases…

  26. This is a cute post. Unfortunately I have 2 uber unfashionable males in my household. In the US we have these horrible shoes called “crocs”. My son has literally been wearing the same pair for 2 years now. He thinks they are the BEST. Oiy.

  27. Have fun in China Corey…LOVED the vintage cat soaps I bought from you 🙂 Can’t wait to see your photos of Stinky Cat!! Glad you’re reopening the brocante in April…my birthday is in April and it will be a good excuse for me to buy something 🙂

  28. “If it’s hot enough for sandals, it’s too hot to wear socks.”
    That is going up on my fridge. Immediately – for grandpa! …although I must say that handsome Prada boy sure is rocking the whole socks and sandal thing…
    Good luck with that one suitcase!!! OY!
    xo Isa

  29. Having lived in Thailand and experienced my share of rainy seasons, I say French Husband is well enough with sandals. Your feet will get soaked regardless, and sandals dry out much faster than soaking socks and shoes.
    I miss the days when I could travel with only a backpack. Now with 2 kids (and our international trips always = buying sprees), we have a ridiculous amount of luggage. Here’s a tip – you need the same amount for 6 weeks as for 1 week. Just plan to wash (by hand – so bring stuff that’s easy to dry and enough underwear for ~ 10 days in case you have to go longer between washing)

  30. Victoria Ramos

    O-M-G I couldn’t do it!!!! I like to be prepared, hair products alone would take up my space.
    Have fun.

  31. elizabeth kirkpatrick

    Corey,My ITALIAN husband has always worn socks with sandals!Another one we can add to the list!Am headed to ITALY in MAY no France at the moment but I’ll get there!

  32. very true! when it is time for me to pack for our 2+ months trip this coming April, I’ll remember this and think I’m going for a week 🙂

  33. I’d rethink the sandal idea given the way folks spit on the street. Also good hiking shoes for wet slippery areas like the great wall are a must. Six weeks in China sounds wonderful. I’m so jealous. Have a wonderful time!

  34. Best tip I ever had.
    Pack once – unpack and halve the amount.
    Pack again – unpack again and halve again.
    That will be just about the right amount.
    How often do you come home and find you still have more than half a suitcase of clothes you haven’t used?

  35. Six weeks is a long time. I can’t wait to see the pictures you’ll be taking. It will hopefully prove to my husband that there’s more to seeing China than Bejing.
    ~elaine~

  36. My dad does that too. :/
    Luckily for you, I think everyone in China may do that too.
    I don’t really believe that, just trying to make you feel easier about it.

  37. Brother Mathew

    Casual: Birkenstocks w/o socks.
    Formal: Birks w/socks that match sandal color.

  38. ONE STIKING LITTLE SUITCASE FOR SIX WEEKS….??? FH must be out of his mind…. impossible!
    but socks and sandals – non, no, nein, neeeeeeh, niet, nada, never, ever, ever!!!!
    you made me laugh out loud!
    Thank you for the Urban Dictionary; didn’t know that one and love it! Love the word UNBRELLA….

  39. Ni Hao Corey, How exciting for you. I visited my daughter when she was in China with the Peace Corps in 2000 and it was a memorable adventure. Where will you be going? I can get some pointers for you from Amy. Allegra

  40. Only one suitcase? Take a folding bag inside and buy what you need (and love) in China.

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