Q: Some people seem to utterly despise sandals on guys in almost any situation except a Phish reunion concert. But it is summer, and my feet need air; what should I do?

A: Ahh, you’ve opened the door to one of my favourite fashion debates: do we or do we not unleash the man-toes? Other than at the beach, at home or during poolside parties, I happen to side with the haters on this one. But keeping your feet covered doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve got to suffocate. There is a pretty decent selection of breathable shoes out there, and none of them involve form-fitting hunks of holey rubber.

The folks at Groovy (323 Queen W., 416-595-1059) recommend Asics’ Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81 (1) ($95). The Onitsuka Tiger has been a staple at Asics for 60 years and it comes in a plethora of colour combinations, with  mesh uppers that make it both lightweight and breathable.

And then there’s the enduringly stylish simplicity of canvas. Traditional Converse Chuck Taylors (2) are always a safe bet; though steer clear of the black monochromes for obvious reasons of sunlight absorption. British label Fred Perry (964 Queen W., 416-538-3733) has also adapted the classic cloth in a laced plimsoll ($75) and the summery stamp-down (3) ($55).
As for something dressy that won’t act as a foot-oven, Clarks shoes with the Active Air system are designed to help circulate air around the foot. It’s not quite the same as cruising past the ocean in a convertible, but it’s close.