Dear Manolo: Something for a Sturdy Summer

Dear Manolo:

I am a graduate student, and I will be on the teaching staff for a course taught in Rome this summer that will involve walking up to six hours each day. The professor leading the course strongly recommends not wearing open-toed sandals.
— LAUREN

MANOLO SAYS, frankly, the Manolo is somewhat perplexed by the professorial injunction against the sandals of open-toedness. Is the professor perhaps worried about foot comfort while walking? Respectable professional appearance for the teaching? The possibility that young Italian men will importune the assistant because she has exposed her alluring graduate student toes?

Whatever the reason, this restriction seems odd, for after all, did not the Romans themselves wear the sandals? And, as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as if the Romans did, especially if the gladiator sandals are super-hot this season. But, graduate students must generally heed the wishes of their professors, and so the Manolo would recommend these, the Stefany 05 from Geox ($114, Zappos.com), the exceedingly comfortable shoe that has the technology that "breathes" the sweat away from the foot.

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