Beard Liberation Front
29th May
Media Release contact Keith Flett 07803 167266
2021 Beard, Shorts & Sandals Season. Advisory vote backs socks
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that with another Bank Holiday weekend the 2021 Beard, Shorts and Sandals is set to open on Sunday May 30th.
A public vote saw 54% say they were ideologically opposed to wearing socks with sandals. However a combined 46% thought wearing socks was practical or their personal preference anyway. The 54% fell short of the 66% required to make ‘no socks’ part of the official BLF guidelines.
The BLF says that it has relaxed guidelines for the 2021 season and brought in a new framework governing types of footwear, length of shorts and the controversial issue of socks:
1] Shorts may be half length (to the knee) or three-quarter length-‘culottes’. The length of shorts is particularly important as climate change may mean that unprotected legs get sunburnt.
2] Footwear should be casual. There is a considerable range of sandal type footwear now available. Some leaves parts of the feet and toes open to public view, while some does not. The BLF is not prescriptive about the matter.
3] Socks may be worn, depending on individual preference. If the beard, shorts and sandals are to be displayed in busy urban areas it is likely to be prudent to wear closed rather than open casual footwear.
4] There is no prescription or definition on what type of beard may be worn, or how this may match with the shorts and sandals. This again is left up to the individual.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, socks are always the most controversial issue during the Beard, Socks and Sandals season. It is an issue that seems to divide the beard, shorts and sandals community. Ahead of the start of the season on Sunday it’s clear that there is no super-majority to suggest a move away from leaving the matter up to individual preference.
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