Birkenstock shoes/sandals

Freckles

Mandipa's post on shoe woes
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....otato-feet
brought up the subject of the dreaded Birkenstock shoes.

I wear these 98% of the time and have a really poison eye for them as I lust after gorgeous shoes. Jeneva and Astrid were kind enough to add pics of really cute outfits while wearing a pair of Birks. I can't thank you ladies enough.

Funnily enough both ladies wore the same style shoe as shown in pic one.

I wear a different style as I find these the most comfortable for my fussy feet.

Do you think that changing to this other style would add a less ugly factor? I usually wear casual pants but not jeans.

My shoes are shown in pic two.

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13 years ago

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from elpgal

Kristin L

Veteran

I think those styles would be cute with most any casual outfit. A pair of cropped khakis or a knee length skirt would go with either pair of shoes. The big thing is to be comfortable.

13 years ago

Chrizzle

Active Member

The Birks in #1 are definitely more stylish. I love the way Jenava and Astrid wore them in the pics you referenced. Not a big fan of #2, maybe because I've never seen them styled in a way that appeals to me. But as a person with bad feet I competely understand that comfort must almost always win out over style. Perhaps there's another style of Birkenstocks or Naots that would be more stylish than the ones you have and be just as comfortable?

13 years ago

Chrizzle

Active Member

If you prefer Birks without a toe loop, thong, or heel straps, how about the Granada, Moorea, or Tahiti styles? Those all come in the soft footbed, and look more stylish than the Florida to my eye.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I have the same as #1, and have had them for about seven years. I think they are just as comfortable as the slide style Birks that I've worn in the past. They certainly feel more stylish to me when I'm wearing them.

Another line you might be interested in, if you haven't seen them, are Finn Comfort. They come in some interesting patterned leathers. I have a silver pair and my mom has a black croc pair. Even though I have duck feet, the Finn Comfort fit fine.

13 years ago

Chrizzle

Active Member

Thanks for the tip on Finn Comfort, k can shop. I was aware of the brand, but hadn't investigated to see if there are styles I would like. I really like the adjustable thong and instep strap on the Finn Comfort Alexandria, and the fact that the footbeds are removable and replaceable.

The price is much higher than I would usually pay for a casual sandal, but since I am investing in shoes that are supportive and comfortable and will last a long time, perhaps I should consider getting a pair for our brief summers and for trips to visit my family in the Caribbean. I like this color, because it will function as a nude for me and will go with everything:

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13 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

Thanks Kristen, maybe I do have a bit of a poison eye on how they look on me and not other people... When I shop for clothes I always bring other shoes with me to wear when I am trying them on. Not the smartest thing to do when I wear the Birks all the time...

Chrizzle I love those styles you mentioned. Unfortunately the Granada does not come in narrow widths. I am going to investigate the other styles. Some of them do not come in leather which always made me say no but perhaps I need to let go of that.

Thanks Kcanshop for the review, I will definately check out the ones with the toe thong. Great idea about the Finn but they unfortunately do not come in narrow widths.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Try the Finn Comforts anyhow, if you can! Their straps are very adjustable, in the same way that Birks are. Don't let the fact that I have wide feet keep you from trying them if you see something that you like. After all, I wear Birks too!

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I have more traditional Birks, like your pic 2, but with 2 straps instead of 3. They are not stylish but I am so glad to have them. Sometimes life calls for such a shoe. I do like the ones Jenava has and would have opted for them instead of my version, had I known they were out there!

13 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

Thanks Kcanshop. I called the store that I trust who carries them and the sales rep said doubted it but I will go in and try them...you just never know! I wear the narrow Birks on the last hole and the straps are very very loose. I have an appt in July and the hospital is just up the street from the store so I will plan to go a couple of hours earlier and check out the Finn shoes.

Mo, since these are basically the only shoes I wear do you think that the style will make much of a difference?

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I would opt for the most stylish version that I found comfortable it they were my 'go to' shoe.

13 years ago

teeandcee

Active Member

Dillards carries Kalso Earth shoes, which is one of Earthies lines I think. Below is a link to their site explaining how the shoes are constructed and the benefits of their "negative heel" concept. They have some cute style options.

Earthies also has some cute flat sandals.

http://www.earthbrands.com/kalsoearthshoe

13 years ago

rosee

Veteran

I have a pair of bronze Birk Gizehs (pic #1) and I find them really comfortable (except that I have to develop a bit of a callous where the toe loop goes every spring) and they are easy to style. I believe that comfort is first, but the Gizehs are a bit more stylish than the Florida. The Florida can be styled easily too -- maybe get them in a different color "leather" (most Birks are synthetic), a patent or a patterned upper.

13 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

Teeandcee those look totally awesome but unfortunately don't come in narrow widths.

Rosee you are a lifesaver. In the back of my mind I was wondering if I could get away with the toe thongs but once you mention the callous you get I'm almost positive that my chiropathist and endocronologist will veto them. That's not to say that I can't try them on and see if it's worth persevering though. Luckily enough my endocronologist is on sabbatical and his replacement is a much younger woman who just might have a bit of sympathy
I plan to investigate those other materials. The ones I wear all the time are leather but my beach ones, that I try to wear when out on rainy days, are not.
Looking through their site I noticed that a lot of them in the nicer fabrics are the thong style or else they do not come in the nicer fabrics in narrow. There is quite a selection in the Florida though. I WILL have to go down, see what is available/able to be ordered and take pics. I don't think I'm a fair judge anymore as perhaps the graceful fabric is lavender is just adding frump factor to already frump.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Freckles, for what it's worth, my feet are on the narrow side of average and Naot sandals fit me very well. Birks were always too wide in the foot bed itself. You should check out their cork bottomed sandals.

http://www.naot.com/cgi-bin/sh.....#038;cat=5

13 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

Thank you Claire, there is a place down in the market that carries them.

The narrow Birks were too wide for you? Do you wear a 2AA?

13 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I am a regular Birk wearer and I have the Mayari, Gizeh and the Salina styles. I picked these mostly because they have narrower angled straps. I agree with the others regarding comfort and durability. You can get everything but the straps replaced. Love them but they don't come along when I visit India. They are a purely dry-weather style and I do not wear them if I am going to be walking on dusty trails.

http://www.zappos.com/birkenstock-mayari
http://www.zappos.com/birkenst.....ap_pdp_sub
http://www.amazon.com/Birkis-S.....B000XRE9YS

The Naots that Claire recommends come in more fun styles and some style sit higher off the ground than Birkenstocks/Birkis but are, unfortunately, too narrow for me. When I visit India, I stock up on the Dr. Scholls. They are excellent for comfort.

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13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

(Apologies, Freckles, for going off on a tangent with another brand! But think might be useful all round as Scholl's and Birkenstocks do share a certain aesthetic.)

Elpgal --- would you mind pointing me to the styles of Scholl's you wear in India? I can't seem to see anything except the two-strap slides here (they look like the Gizeh in your link), which I find very hard to keep on --- but I'd certainly like to look harder if you've seen other comfy styles. [PS: Elpgal, I haven't words enough to tell you how much I LOVE your profile photo! Both for the goddess representation and the style of art which is very close to my own heart]

13 years ago

Lantana

Veteran

Do you know that you can buy a Birkenstock footbed? These insoles come in the complete Birkie size range and are thin enough to slip into ordinary shoes. You dont need to have orthotic friendly shoes to wear them.
I bought mine on line for $45:00 Australian. I slip them inside a whole range of shoes and they are heavenly.

13 years ago

brown

(website)

Active Member

Amazing pair of sandals!!! Looks good.:)

13 years ago

teeandcee

Active Member

Lantana, I did not know that! Thanks for pointing that out. Wow!

13 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

Elpgal the gizeh come in the most amazing colours. They have an orchid which would be perfect for me as the colour orchid would go with all my red, pink and tourquoise t-shirts so well. The salina are so pretty too and come in some nice combos. I will definately check them out, thanks for the review. Glad to hear that the Naots run narrow as they do have some very pretty styles.

Mandipa no apologies needed, this is a hijack of your thread afterall. How totallly awesome that you got an answer to the question of Birks in India and a push in another direction for shoes. I haven't seen Scholl's up here in years and will have to check them out too.

Lantana I'll have to check out those insoles, they would be heavenly in my winter boots.

Teeandcee so glad you got some info on a product that you did not know about.

13 years ago

cheryl

Veteran

I think Birkenstock's have come along way as far as being fashionable. I have a pair that has two straps and is black patent and they are very comfortable and nice looking too!

13 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Manidipa, Sorry if I was not clear. The thong style is the Birkenstock Gizeh and the two-strap one is the Dr. Scholls that I buy from the Bata stores in India. I also had a Dr. Scholls thong style sandal that is very similar to the Gizeh. I wore them out and had to discard them so I can't take a pic, but they look like this one:
http://www.bata.in/webbata/fac.....goryID=580

The straps were leather and the underside was lined in soft suede. The footbed is identical to the two-strap style (so slippery) but the thong helps them stay on. I love this style of art too and am always on the lookout for art to buy but have never found anything that sings to me yet. If you have any recos, please let me know.

Freckles, I have the Mayari in a purple/grape patent and the Gizeh in a golden brown. I had the Salina in a burnished leather style called Amalfi, The vibrant colors use a synthetic material for straps called Birko-flor and are less expensive. The leather styles are harder to find, but there is a gorgeous red burgundy that takes on a lovey hue as it ages.

http://www.overstock.com/Cloth.....oduct.html

Take a look see on the Naot webpage. Different collections are cut differently and there are several that fit medium feet very well. I take a wide width in regular shoes and the Birkenstocks R width fit well. The default width for the womens' line is the N,

13 years ago

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