‘If you have weird feet, please don’t show them on the tube’ — how to get your summer feet ready

The hotter months are a testing time for trotters… so a little public service journalism coming up. Please (please!) take great care before exposing London to your feet. It is your right to expose them, of course, but do so with the understanding you are taking on great responsibility. The sun has crept out, but like one’s summer body, your toes will not be ready overnight.

Preparation, says Margaret Dabbs OBE, known for pampering the tootsies of celebrities and international political elite, is essential. “Exfoliation is key,” she says. “File your feet when they are dry (before a bath or shower) for two minutes per foot, concentrating on the areas of hard and dry skin. Never underestimate the benefit of using an exfoliating foot scrub all over the feet (do this twice weekly), including between the toes and over the nails.

Afterwards, use foot cream before bed and wake up with new feet.” With rough regions banished, toenails are the next disaster zone to fix. “To groom them best, file toenails straight across. This promotes healthy nail growth, and seals the nail edge to prevent splitting.” Split nails for summer? Straight to Siberia.

Then all that’s left is to handle the weird, wiry hairs that sprout from a Birkenstock. Do this with a tough touch. “Hair removal from the toes is very important when wearing sandals,” says Dabbs. “Do so by using a gentle hair removal cream, which doesn’t give you any downtime.” So, your butter smooth, elegantly trimmed soles are ready for their big debut! Whatever to wear? “No flip-flops in the city!” exclaims celebrity stylist Luke Day. “They are for the beach only; you’re just asking for a stubbed toe on the Tube. If you want to free the toes, a smart leather sandal or Birkenstocks are somewhat acceptable,” he says, “but for me, loafers or even deck shoes are more appropriate.”

Beware of the “invisible sock”, he warns (“you can always see them, and they always look bad”) and remember: “If you have weird feet don’t subject other people to them. Socks and sandals are cool, socks and slides even cooler, especially with shorts.” Best foot forward, then.