This is the fifth installment in our series titled “Summer Feet,” wherein we bring you information that’ll help you maintain beautiful, healthy feet throughout the warm weather months. Check weekly for updates, quick tips and more!

Can your flip flops actually make you sick? That’s the question being explored by researchers at the University of Miami. According to a recent article at Todayshow.com, an emergency mobile lab from U Miami found that

a pair of flip flops could be hosting more than 18,000 bacteria at any given time. The types of bacteria found on the flip flops were especially disquieting, as the lab found “bacteria from fecal matter, skin and respiratory germs.” The Today show also cites results from The New York Daily News that reveal that flip flops traveling through New York City were also hosting potentially lethal germs like Staphylococcus aureus, which can be especially dangerous if the you have an open cut or blister on your foot, of if you handle the pair with your hands. Yikes!

Well, what can you do to avoid the dangers of germs found on flip flops? Dr. Levine suggests limiting the amount you wear them. Shoes with just a little more covering (like ballet flats or kitten heel sandals) are still summer appropriate and will reduce the likelihood of your feet being exposed to the wrong kind of bacteria. And, if you must wear your flip flops, be sure to wash your hands after handling them. And please take them off before entering your home (you should be doing this with all your shoes!).

About a week ago, Angelina Jolie accompanied partner Brad Pitt to the LA premiere of his new film Inglourious Basterds, and she looked fabulous! The whole outfit was amazing, but I went mad dying to find out about those amazing sandals she had on.

Well, guess what?  I found ‘em! 

Ms. Jolie was wearing the Dior Two Tone Strappy Sandal from the Fall 2009 collection. The shoe has a gorgeous leather upper with a 3.5 inch platform heel, and a nifty silvertone zipper in the back. As expected, the shoe is a splurge item. It retails for $750 at Bergdorf Goodman.

Beautiful!

I recently got a hold of a pair of shoes I just have to brag about. They’re the kidskin low-heel halter from (SPLURGE ALERT!!!) Manolo Blahnik in the very popular “Carolyne” style, and I love them! These slingbacks, of a smooth deep navy color with a toebox that comes to a soft point, are sleek and sexy, yet versatile enough for any professional woman to carry from day into night.

As you all know, I’m all about mixing fashion and comfort, and the Carolyne is no exception. The shoe is made of extremely soft calfskin, so in addition to being of extremely high quality, the material is expandable and is porous, allowing your feet to breathe. The shoe has a low heel, and at two inches, is wearable for six to eight hours at a time. The most exciting part for me is that the shoe is cut low along the sides, so it fits wider feet!

The Kidskin Low-Heel Halter is available at Bergdorf Goodman for $575.00. The site warns that the shoe runs a little small, so be careful to buy one size up.

For those who are not able to splurge so much on this pair, Bandolino has a wonderful alternative called Inspired. It’s a comfortable sling back with a three inch heel, and is on sale for only $29.99. Is that a steal or what?!

My association with calluses has always been images of the thick white skin that developed on my palms after a few too many recesses spent swinging on the metal monkey bars in elementary school. And while we’ve all left those rusty bars behind, we’ve managed to find a way to hold onto those rough calluses, and have even let them spread to our feet! Well, I’m here to tell you about those rough spots, and how you can go back to getting your feet feeling baby bottom smooth.

What exactly is a callus?

A callus is an abnormal amount of dead, thickened skin that has built up on your feet. A callus is thick, hard, yellowish-red in color, and has a completely different feel from the rest of your skin. Calluses are found primarily along the outside of your big toe, on the balls of your feet and at the end of your heels.

Why do we get calluses?

Calluses will appear anywhere on your body where stress from excess pressure and friction occurs. Your body produces it to protect the underlying bone from pressure at points where there is little fat or natural padding. Occasionally calluses can become painful. If they develop on the weight bearing areas of your foot, you can expect some discomfort on those pressure points. Sometimes calluses develop because of a misaligned bone or crooked toe. When one of the bones in your toe is lower than its neighbors, greater weight is placed on the other points in your foot. Your body will respond to this by creating a callus.

How to prevent calluses

Wearing high heels causes increased stress on the balls of their feet and thus excess callus formation. To ease this, switch back and faith between high and low heeled shoes. Look for high heels with extra cushioning in the metatarsal area.

How to get rid of calluses once they’ve appeared

There are many ointments on the market that promise to be rid of calluses. But Dr. Levine has her own at home remedy for removing calluses.

Suzanne’s Callus Solution:

Take 5 or 6 aspirin tablets, crush them into a powder and mix with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Make a paste and apply it to all the hard-skin spots on your foot. Put your entire foot into a plastic bag and wrap a warm towel around your foot. The combination of the plastic and the towel will make the paste penetrate the hard skin. Sit still for at least ten minutes. Unwrap your foot, and using a pumice stone, scrub your foot, and use real rubbing action. All that dead, hard, callused skin should come loose and flake away easily.

We all have a few useful pairs of flats. They come in very handy for Saturday errand running and are an easy choice for a casual Sunday stroll. But flats may not be the go to comfort shoe we all think they are. Most flats don’t offer enough support for the feet, and too many hours in them can cause extensive arch and ankle pain.

The key to avoiding such pain is, as always, moderation. Ballerina slippers should not be worn every day, and try to avoid standing in them for too long. And, if you just can’t give up those cutesy little shoes, be sure to use inserts for comfort and cushioning.