Photo by Rachel Hassler
Those familiar with the fitness footwear world, Vibram FiveFingers are minimalist footwear designed to mimic being barefoot. I am not going to talk about the advantages associated with the gecko-toe-shoes and going barefoot because that has been done in several other sources.
This post will describe how FiveFingers are a terrific tool for meeting members of the opposite sex (or simply new friends).
The Basics
Peacocking is a theory that involves dressing in such a way to attract attention of others. The term is derived from a male peacock’s dazzling collection of feathers to entice females for courtship.
The goals of modern peacocking are:
1. Differentiate one from many
2. Initiate conversation
3. Display certain aspects of a personality
Traditionally, in the homo sapien world, this means wearing a flashy or odd item(s) like jewelry, colorful shirts, sunglasses, and so on to elicit attention.
Enter VFFs…
1. Differentiation – VFFs are the most visibly unique shoes to date with their toe pockets and crazy color schemes. Wearing ‘normal’ clothes with VFF footwear provides ample individuality and intrigue without the “HEY LOOK AT ME!” connotation found with gear like an LED shirt. Also, luckily for men, most women care about shoes on an almost instinctual level and many will be curious enough to ask.
If you want someone to be interested in you, then be interesting.
2. Conversation Initiation – Walk around with these toe-gloves on in any setting and you will get people stopping you constantly. It is the single best icebreaker to date. Luckily enough, simply striking conversation with the opposite sex is half the battle… and they will often times do it for you in Vibrams.
Even if your target proclaims that they are the most hideous shoes on the planet (quite possibly true), you still win as the conversation is started and on track for an interesting discussion. It beats the traditional, boring questions like “Hey, can I buy you a drink?” and “So what do you do?” She has heard that a hundred times that night and doesn’t care.
Basically, expect negative comments about your choice of footwear. The key is to be unflappable and say clever quips right back. Try something cocky-funny like, “Well, I was gonna wear those same ones you have, but thought these looked better.” Don’t just jump straight away into explaining all the positives about barefooting and VFFs – you’ll seem desperate for approval. Once the ice is broken you may get into those details so you can display your value in a subtle manner.
3. Personality Display – Having multicolored reptilian footwear on with ‘normal’ clothes can state loads about personality.
Firstly and most importantly, it displays confidence. Other people will know the general public will be critical of your footwear choice. Being unaffected by feeble criticism and not requiring rapport with others are important alpha characteristics that are considered attractive by many standards.
Secondly, FiveFingers provide a vessel for displaying value. After the ice is broken, you become the focal point of the group as you explain everything from why everyone’s shoes are terribly unhealthy and how yours are strengthening all the metatarsal tendons and ligaments and everything in between. This displays personal characteristics like knowledge, authority, and physical dominance – all the tendencies of alpha leadership.
Thirdly, it shows off you are fun and playful. Everyone wants to meet this type of person on a fun night out – regardless of attraction intention.
Lastly, VFFs work as a filter and disqualifier. Let’s say you approach a group of five people. Four of them completely hate your choice of footwear or do not care too much, but they really resonate with one. Chances are you will share other ideas and common ground. Throwing yourself out there with Vibrams will connect you with like-minded people – and those are the ones that can result in long lasting, close friendships and relationships.
Photo by Cindy Lee
In Closing
Let’s get this straight – wearing VFFs won’t instantly make you a foot-gloved Casanova. But they can be used as a tool for winning half the battle – initiating conversation. Just be yourself, be fun, and be interesting.
And for those not looking for romantic relationships, they still provide the same effect, which can be used to find great people who turn into great friends.
Who would have thought that crazy, ugly, toe-shoes can be just as effective for social development as they are for physical conditioning?
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VFF Sources:
Best site for all things VFF – BirthdayShoes.com
Vibram Company – VibramFiveFingers.com
Harvard Barefoot Study – Running Barefoot
List of linked studies related to VFF/barefooting – Here
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree! Every time I wear my Vibs out in public I start talking to strangers about them. Combined with a short skirt they can’t be topped ^_^
I wore my classics to a large conference last November. People asked about them and that was fine. Some joked about them and that was fine too. But then when a friend and I watched the two finest looking women we had seen in ages go into a session and they both said, see if they’re impressed with your shoes, I went in to see. Turns out that they had sat at the table where I had left my bag and I sat down next to the one whom I had taken a particular shine to. “Shoe Man!” she said, smiling. Pardon? “We’ve been seeing you everywhere and named you Shoe Man.” I introduced myself and smiled at my friends out in the hall who literally slapped their foreheads.
Later, when the session we were in was terrible and the women and I had gone out to the lobby, one mentioned that she couldn’t stomach the idea of going back in but her bag was still there. Shoe Man was on it and rescued the damsel in distress. Sadly, while she thanked me profusely, she was not so enamored as to try to get me to give up my wedding vows. Such is life.
There is power in the FiveFingers even if it has its limits.
Well written , witty, and so true.
@Brian
Great story, thanks for providing a real experience of my personal findings – thankfully I’m not that crazy.
Conversations may start out with critical comments, but almost always develop into nice chats with some cool people.
I Like your article very much. Bet it would work on the
older generation too? :)
It works until they smell the Fivefingers.
@WyldKard
Haha, so true. That’s a game-ender.
Gotta take care of the vff’s so they can take care of you.
Yeah but they don’t have to smell them to get to know you, and once they get their own, they’ll understand.
On my gender’s side, they weed out the oversexualized, overmarketed high-heel freaks. If you don’t think I’m cute in my VFF’s, you don’t deserve to see me in the hot librarian shoes I still keep in the closet for special occasions.
They are the ultimate icebreakers. Nothing seems to get more random people to come up and start talking to me than my VFF’s – well other than the strange aura I have that for some reason convinces people that I can give them directions around town.
@David I don’t get asked directions all that much, but I do get asked ALL the time to take people’s pictures when I am in touristy areas. People will pass dozens of others, spot me … and come right over. I must have a different “strange aura.” lol. Vibrams don’t really seem to change that, but I sure do get asked about them … especially if I am waiting in some kind of line.
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