The Ottawa Citzen
July 23, 1998
Ring around the toesies: Treat yourself to body art that's not permanent
Body art, in all its forms, is fashion's latest fetish.
Whether it's nose, lip or belly piercing, henna designs or tattoos -- skin is in.
But this summer, the often-neglected digits on our feet are finally getting the attention they deserve.
Toe rings are the hip new way to adorn our feet.
Just like the ones for your fingers, toe rings come in a variety of styles, from solid silver bands to flower power, snakes, spirals and jewelled designs. According to a saleswoman at Eaton's, some people are buying gold wedding bands in small sizes for their toes.
But because toes are shaped differently than fingers (we hope), most toe rings have an extra design feature that sets them apart from their circular sisters. Toe rings are often adjustable on the underside, so they can fit over the padded part at the top of the toe and still fit snugly below the joint.
The fact that they're adjustable also makes them versatile. People are buying the small, decorative cuffs as pinky rings, fake hoop earrings and nose rings. They provide all the fashion without the permanence of piercing.
Toe rings are widely available this summer.
Sterling silver rings sell for about $10 from silver jewelry kiosks. Le Chateau carries a few faux-silver styles for about $4. And funky shoe guru Steve Madden has tuned into the toe-ring craze. His designer rings (available at Eaton's) have three tiny silver balls attached and come with a matching anklet for $16.
Wande Osuntokun, a saleswoman at Le Chateau, recognizes the trend as another fashion element borrowed from Indian culture -- the importance of beautifying feet and hands. She says this trend is being followed by teenagers right up to women in their 30s.
"When the weather warms up, people start thinking about . . . taking care of their toes," she says.
But while Osuntokun agrees toe rings are beautiful, she admits they can be uncomfortable. She doesn't wear her toe ring to work because, after a while, it tends to rub between her toes and becomes quite painful.
Many toe-ring wearers say the most comfortable place to wear one is on the index toe, the one next to the big toe. The extra space between those toes allows a little more room to move around without feeling uncomfortable. But there are no rules. Some people wear several rings scattered on various toes.
"I think feet are the most important part of your body. They carry you around your whole life," says toe-ring-enthusiast Konnie DiPizza. "I don't understand why people ignore them."
DiPizza, 27, says her toe ring is comfortable enough to wear all year round, with any pair of shoes. But she recommends wearing only sterling silver. After all, nothing's too good for her tootsies.
