At the feet of trendy schoolgirls, on the asphalt of bohemian neighborhoods, on beaches full of tourists, the Birkenstock clog writes its name. The brand owes its name to Johann Birkenstock who created a very first model in 1774, before switching to cork soles a century later, and providing shoes to young Americans in 1970.
But it is the artistic director Phoebe Philo who first conquered contemporary fashionistas proposing an Arizona-inspired model (the slide with two large straps) lined for the Céline spring-summer 2013 show. Since then, all the big designers are doing their little collaboration with the orthopedic sandal brand. And since 2020, also thanks to the pandemic, now another Birkenstock model stands out: the clog, says Boston. Given that in the meantime Bernard Arnault’s group, LVMH, acquired the majority of the brand’s capital in February 2021, and is now aiming for a fundraising of 1.58 billion dollars at a valuation of 9.2 billion dollars for the its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2023, this success is progressing quickly.
After sandals, Birkenstock clogs are loved by fashionistas
We owe the renewed interest in this shape partly to Gucci’s horsebit flat mules, with or without fur, in a deconstructed moccasin style.
Launched by Alessandro Michele when he took over at the helm of the house, these clogs were worn by almost all the influencers on the planet.
The designer who gives his name to the JW Anderson brand (my favorite, I admit) also proposed a much more casual version, like a slipper with a maxi gold mesh, which you will surely have seen everywhere, including on Instagram.
How the pandemic affected the hype around Birk clogs
And it is precisely the aspect of the slipper to wear in the city that has certainly contributed to their growth in popularity during the pandemic. While during the first lockdown we could only go out for an hour a day within a kilometer of home, and we were looking for comfort, Birkenstock models were very popular, and clogs in particular, among fashionistas.
Comfortable like Crocs but a little more sober, and therefore easy to integrate into everyday looks, these shoes to wear both at home and in the city are particularly suitable for our times troubled by Covid, which has significantly blurred the boundaries between inside and outsideintimacy and esteem.
From one day to the next, social life can only continue via video, and we may be very lazy to leave our jogging pants and slippers behind to go for a run or an hour-long walk at most.
A sign of their consecration in fashion, the master shoemaker Manolo Blahnik (much adored by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the city in particular) has just signed a collaboration with Birkenstock to renew its famous Boston. The result: a fuchsia or cobalt clog, with a jewel buckle, available in a limited edition from 24 March 2022, at a price close to 500 euros…
How to wear clogs, dupes and similar Birkenstocks?
With the onset of spring and finally sunny days, Birkenstock clogs and their replacements may appear as a perfect transition shoe between closed and open shoes, but also between the comfort of home and the violence of the outdoors.
With a skirt or shorts, obviously this type of clog can be worn barefoot if desired. Those who are more cautious will opt for socks with a slightly loose rustic knit that curl well. While the more daring will be able to have fun with the telescopic style registers socks in plumetis, with metallic threads, or even with sequins or sequins.
With pants, socks the color of the hooves will make them more discreet for university or the office. But you can easily decide, if your environment allows it, to make these shoes A declaration fashion with socks that contrast with his trousers and clogs.
7 pairs of Birk’ clogs and dupes to slip on
If the brand’s real Bostons start from €80 for the wool felt ones, from €95 for the real leather ones, and from €100 for the vegan ones, these are the shoes that are easily found second hand. Otherwise there are many cheap duplicates, for all styles.
Front page photo credit: Birkenstock.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
