We are year two into the reign of ugly sandals, and it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere. Exhibit A, above.
Of course, ugly is completely subjective. Or is it? I’m not going to argue that Birkenstocks aren’t ugly, but am I going to wear them anyway? They’re not beautiful. I don’t see a pair of Birkenstock sandals and gasp at how beautiful they are as I would this pair of Maison Martin Margiela ankle booties, or these Aleaxander Wang wedges. Of course, you may think those equally ugly.
The fact is “ugly” sandals like Teva or Birkenstocks are more about a return to practicality and “normcore” than about fashion. Sure, Vogue, et al herald them as the trend shoe of the moment (how nice of them), which by default makes them fashionable, but no one is saying they’re beautiful.
Does it matter anyway? To me, as always, fashion/style has only been about what I can wear, and what I want to wear while going about my everyday life. I don’t buy anything I don’t love, but I’m under no illusions that what I buy is “fashionable” or even beautiful to anyone other than me. And I really don’t care.
So I wear clogs (incidentally, Vogue is endorsing their “return” also. Oy.), and Birkenstock sandals without caring how ugly they are, or how trendy they are. They just are.
But I cannot in good conscious endorse Tevas. THEY are Ugly*.
The only thing I will say, is that they are infinitely more interesting in white than in black.
*of course, I’m not saying that no one should wear them…wear what you want…and also, I’m just having fun. a little Friday humor!
I hate Tevas, though I know they are super practical. That being said, I’m contemplating a pair of Chaco sport sandals for walks and hikes this summer…everyone seems to have them in our mountain town, so I’m sure they’d for right in!
I regret not purchasing the Birkenstock Yara sandal in tobacco (lighter color), which are now sold out everywhere. To me they are as close to “pretty” as Birks get. I’m with you on comfortable sandals/shoes…I can’t stand not being comfortable, especially my feet!
You know how I feel about comfortable shoes:). So I was thrilled to see this trend, and am now the happy owner of a pair of Birkenstock Arizonas, in gray suede. I like this comfy shoe thing so much that those white Tevas look cool to me:).
I am not a fashion girl. I am boring. I was normcore before such a thing existed for hipsters to “create”.
Today, I am wearing my birkenstocks (black) that I have owned for years. They are comfortable and I’m just happy I can wear them to work 🙂
(I have owned tevas, but like gym shoes, I wear them only for specific activities- boating, the beach, hiking in rain forests, etc 😉 )
back in college when i rotated my birkenstock sandals & clogs (I think i had three pairs) – i also wore t-shirts with sayings on them. my favorite was “life is too short to wear un-comfortable shoes” – as if i wasn’t already “saying” that with my footwear choices LOL
if i did a lot of outdoorsy stuff i might like a pair of teva-like sandals, but i really don’t. and anyway, i think i’d prefer a real shoe, rather than a sandal. for traipsing around in the woods and what not anyway…
love the gray birks! and i agree – the white tevas are kind of cool – but i’m also having a white shoe moment…
I am grateful for the “ugly sandal” trend! I have been having horrible foot problems (I think it was the beginning of capsulitis, due to my foot shape and walking my dog miles every day in unsupportive footwear) so i caved and bought a pair of Birkenstock Mayari sandals, in silver birko-flor, and they are actually kind of cute. Okay, maybe they are only ugly-cute especially with my Fred Flintstone feet, but they aren’t bad anyway. 😉 I have also told myself, yet again that I can no longer buy completely flat footwear even though I love flat, all leather sandals (I forgot and bought one pair this summer already). I also bought the Dansko Tasha sandals, which I have only worn once so far but found extremely comfortable.
I don’t like this whole “normcore” thing as a trend because that makes no sense to me. It bugs me in the same way that it bugs me when media combines celebrity’s names when they are in a couple. No relation, these are just the things that annoy me. ;-P Anyway, the point is, yay for comfort! Now if only more designers would make cute shoes with orthopedic insoles, then I wouldn’t need to buy kinda ugly shoes!
oh my… i was thinking about this. for a while, i was excited about “ugly sandals” and trying out different things (remember my text?) and those aerosoles. but i’m kind of at the point where i want to refine my style. comfort yes. but still aesthetically appealing. there are loads of great options out there.
that said, once i put on a pair of crocs, and almost died they were so comfortable.
then again, bean bag chairs are so comfortable, but would you have one in your living room? just a thought!
anyway, who knows, maybe tomorrow i’ll be wearing tevas. 😉
I’m also noticing a lot of white soles on sandals, which tend to remind me of “nursing shoes.” But for some odd reason, my eye is getting adapted to them and I actually like some of them.