Many holiday guests say they won't toe the line and bare their tootsies

It’s an issue as polarizing as global warming, health care reform or even Sarah Palin. When it comes to gatherings at home, what’s better: shoes on or shoes off?

On one side of the aisle are hosts worried about the dirt, germs and dog poo that can piggyback onto boots, loafers and stilettos — or those who would rather do without the scratches and dents a pair of spike heels can leave in a polished wood floor. On the other side are guests who resent having to semi-undress at their host’s doorstep, not to mention shrink three inches, endure the embarrassment of threadbare socks or suffer an evening of foot pain just to placate a particular friend.

“This issue comes up a lot,” says etiquette coach Jodi R. R. Smith of Boston. “Some people don’t wear shoes in their house for cultural reasons, but it’s usually a health and sanitation thing.”

But is it truly healthier to lose your shoes at the door? To pad around barefoot or in a pair of proffered socks? Or is safer to dig in (and stay in) your holiday heels?... Read the full story and share your thoughts below.

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Discuss: Shoes on or off at the door?

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