We call them "chancletas"

There used to be a time when clothing and culture were determined based on how close you were  to the equator.  It was ok to see a topless indigenous person on the cover of National Geographic, but, certainly not an American on the beach in carefree Provincetown.

It's interesting then, that for many years now the reverse has been taking place.  Memorial Day and Labor Day do not hold an exclusive to the use of white wear. No longer are we bound by professional and casual dress. Unless of course, you're working that finance beat.

A case in point, flip flops.  In Cuba, we call them chancletas.
Not sure what they call them in Brazil, however I would venture to say that flip flops may be one of their biggest exports. These humble shoes are made out of rubber. Before being skyrocketed to cult status, flip flops were found in solid colors. Usually accompanied by some sort of house dress and hair rollers, only the poorest of the tropics' poor would be caught out in these. Now, they are fashionable garb at ivy league graduations and hip, professional klatches.

As a newly arrived 9 year old to the States, I lived with my sister, mother and
father next door to my aunt, uncle and 2 younger cousins: (Eddie and Lizzie)  in side-by-side apartments. Lucky for us, during the long winter months we had an extended playground without having to go out in the cold. One day, my aunt's boss stopped by for a casual visit. She was a nice lady named Pat. I guess that Pat was invited over for some Cuban coffee and then she was introduced to the children. All of us girls were well-behaved and polite. And then, it came time to meet my little cousin Eddie. Eddie didn't get out much (he was probably 4 or so).  Eddie looked at Pat, proudly pointed to his furry-little-man flip flops and asked "do you like my new chancletas ?" When the poor lady failed to understand, Eddie did what any American boy his age would have done. He asked again, but, this time he Americanized the term, "do you like my  new chanclets?" and also pointed to his feet.  Mission accomplished.

If you wear chancletas you will probably engage in an activity known as chancletear; or that slip- slap sound that can be heard from miles away as you walk in them. If you do this often enough you can be called a chancletera. The meaning of chancletera goes beyond the noun form. It's vernacular that says that you're a very sassy, crude, street or vulgar person.  Of course, this kind of behavior is totally acceptable  in fashionable circles, making the chancleta synonymous with easy-breezy casual elegance.

And there you have it. No need to over think it. It's the dog days of July. It's hot. It's really hot. What will you wear?

CHANCLETAS!!!!