UK 2009. What I wanted to know about life there

What kind of footwear is popular there?

For example in the colonies I think 90% of the people are wearing sneakers or trainers or whatever they are called.

I'd say that most men wear trainers, lace-ups, or work boots in our village for casual wear. My DH likes to wear dressy low-ankle boots with his work clothes, but also wears just black slip on style shoes sometimes with his work clothes.

For women, casual wear is usually Ugg boots (like the furry ones) or some other sort of tall boot, ballet flats, or sometimes trainers, but not too often. They wear very tall platform heels when going out, most of the time.

This is just in our area, though. I don't know what the city slickers wear. 

I've been watching women's shoes obsessively. I do live in a uni town - so most of the people I notice are undergrad uni students (so maybe 25 tops?). They all wear boots - cowboy boots (have you ever been on a farm?? ever?), kneehigh, or those horrible Ugg boots. If they aren't wearing boots or heels they are wearing flats. All kinds, in every shape and colour.

man I so wish crocs never made their way across the pond

These hideous shoes are all the rage with the young people in Ireland and I HATE them!!! They are so ugly!!!

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=false&catalogId=17551&storeId=12555&categoryId=111718&parent_category_rn=38998&productId=1252880&langId=-1

Are they really that ugly, K?  They just look like black Keds crossed with a dress shoe design to me!  But maybe they're worse in person. 

They use to call them pumps in the UK or is that something different?
They were white and also called tennis shoes.

Now I think that pumps in the US is a shoe. DW just told me they are high heals and were called pumps.

Are they really that ugly, K?  They just look like black Keds crossed with a dress shoe design to me!  But maybe they're worse in person. 

No, they're worse! Especially in a light gray color with white rubber sole, on a guy who has feet that are 2 ft long. They look ridiculous. I need to get a picture of a kid wearing them.

Are they really that ugly, K?  They just look like black Keds crossed with a dress shoe design to me!  But maybe they're worse in person. 

They're really ugly.  One of the idiots that works with me wears them.  I hate them.  Ugly. ugly. ugly.

Lord Jim (wtf?!)... perhaps you should have mentioned that it was a footwear question in the subject line... that way 130+ people would not have been disappointed and clicked away without bothering to reply.

Honestly... footwear?  That's what you want to know about life here?

Lord Jim (wtf?!)... perhaps you should have mentioned that it was a footwear question in the subject line... that way 130+ people would not have been disappointed and clicked away without bothering to reply.

Honestly... footwear?  That's what you want to know about life here?

For starters, Yes
It was a question I had at the time and the answers were interesting.
OK. #2. Someone mentioned plastic kettles and I couldn't figure out how you could put them on the burner and not melt but I think now I understand that they are the ones that have a heating element inside. Still wonder, if that is the case, why the hot water doesn't melt the plastic??? Possible answer, a heat resistant plastic. That is reasonable because they now use plastic for the radiators on cars I think.

No, they're worse! Especially in a light gray color with white rubber sole, on a guy who has feet that are 2 ft long. They look ridiculous. I need to get a picture of a kid wearing them.

Please do!  I want to see!

Yeah it's hard plastic.  It's sort of like how you can put some plastic in the dishwasher or why some coffee mugs are plastic.  Some electric kettles have exposed inner elements, and some are built into the bottom.  I've had two of them in the States, so they aren't unheard of over there.  I got my first one as a college kid because they are awesome to make Ramen in, but they also boil water pretty quickly.

I can't add much to the shoe thing except I've seen men wear plain front slip on loafers and low plain boots a lot more here than in the States.

For starters, Yes
It was a question I had at the time and the answers were interesting.
OK. #2. Someone mentioned plastic kettles and I couldn't figure out how you could put them on the burner and not melt but I think now I understand that they are the ones that have a heating element inside. Still wonder, if that is the case, why the hot water doesn't melt the plastic??? Possible answer, a heat resistant plastic. That is reasonable because they now use plastic for the radiators on cars I think.

Plenty of plastics don't hit their melting points until 450ºF- Water only boils at 212ºF

Please do!  I want to see!

I'll do my best!