Birkenstocks! Love em or not? - YouLookFab Forum

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Birkenstocks! Love em or not?

Barbara

Veteran

I'll have to admit, when I moved to Germany in 1988, my first exposure to Birkenstocks was witnessing an older local guy strolling the streets of a small German village with lederhosen (leather shorts with suspenders); but he wasn't exactly rocking this look by wearing Birkenstock Arizonas with white socks! After living in Europe for 12 years and witnessing almost everyone from toddlers to seniors walking along blissfully blister-free in their Birks, I bought my first pair and was hooked on the comfort and durability. I prefer less 'clunky' styles, and they are available. Along with several very colorful pairs from the local shoe shop in the German village where I lived, I got the Silver Orlandos from Zappos and LOVE THEM! I'm wearing them today with a red, knee-length linen/rayon tunic and dark skinny jeans. My other favorite style is the Rio, Photo 2. I have fussy feet (narrow foot/heel, high arches) but with Birkenstocks, I can literally walk blissfully for miles. Ladies, what do you think?

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Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara

Louise

Veteran

I think they look fine, Tam (yublocker) has some I believe. I also think sometimes comfy shoes are far more important than style x

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I do love them- the comfort and durability can't be beat. They are the best house shoes you will ever find. Wearing them out can be a little trickier, but if you have a boho edge and pick a feminine style they can work.

Barbara

Veteran

Absolutely, chewy. That's why I'm wearing those silver Orlandos with my long linen tunic - for that funky, boho vibe! Not all Birks are clunky.

Maya

Veteran

Coming from a culture where a large number of people don't even wear real footwear in public, I feel uncomfortable judging the footwear choices of other, more dignified cultures...

I think Birkenstocks have their place. Not all of them are hideous. Unfortunately the Arizona style has come to represent the brand, but they have a few styles that aren't awful and are even kind of cute. Europeans generally walk a lot more than Americans and deserve suitable footwear. That said, a lot of it depends how they are styled. Arizonas with socks? I cant get behind that. I would not wear them myself because no matter how you wear them there is always a certain granola, bohemian look to them. That just doesn't go with my style at all.

Put a gun to my head and I'd hands down choose a cute pair of Birkies over hideous and orthopedically unsound flipflops and Uggs. I think the flipflop epidemic is a national tragedy. Honest. They have no redeeming qualities. At least Birkies are actual shoes and good for your feet, and they don't make that nerve-rattling flapping sound with every step.

Queen Mum

Veteran

can't say I love 'em for myself, but I don't mind seeing them on others.

Barbara

Veteran

LOL Maya! I work at a college campus and am subjected to the hideous FLOP FLOP of flip-clad students ALL DAY LONG. My Birks are silent and cute. And I never wore them until I lived in Europe where folks do indeed walk or bike everywhere. The iconic Arizona style is much better suited for men. But NEVER with socks. ARGH!

Cookie

I just can not do it.

Scarlet

Veteran

I like Birkis, but I just don't like the way they look on me. On me personally it somehow does not go with my proportions, but I think they can look cool on other people. I do keep a pair for house shoes though.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Not for myself. I have narrow, small feet and they look ridiculous in Birks!

Jonesy

Veteran

I like them, especially the suede clogs, but they don't fit my feet well so I don't wear them.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair of bronze colored "gizeh" birks that I wear as casual sandals all summer.

http://www.birkenstockusa.com/.....kibuc/4375

My sis has a very cute pair of brown clogs that I'm actually kind of jealous of:

http://www.birkenstockusa.com/.....suede/6090

I have extremely pronating, flat feet, so if I want to walk or stand for more than a half hour I have to wear shoes with real arch support or end up with foot/toe cramps for hours after. That means my Naot's or my Birks. Period. I've learned my lesson the hard way because I do love cute shoes. But at a certain point in my life I realized that there are moments when practicality is more important given my particular foot handicap! Here's a link to a recent WIW outfit with my Birks:

http://outfitdiary.blogspot.co.....sunny.html
http://outfitdiary.blogspot.co.....runch.html

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Edit to add: I even have to slip my birks on as soon as I get done with running, or I get very bad foot cramps, and I wear orthotics in my running shoes!

Jen

(website)

Jenava, my feet sound exactly like yours. I too love my birks. I finally broke down and bought them two years ago. They are just now (after two years of steady and heavy wear) starting to show some age. I have the Gizeh too, I think there are wearable cute birks if you look hard. Since mine are silver they pretty much go with everything. And I really kinda dig the boho look of them. Really the comfort and arch support are key. These are the most supportive sandals I've ever found.

Lynne

Veteran

Check out this month (Sept) Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List...Waris Ahluwalia makes the mens list...in a SUIT with birks...

Anonymous

I'm on Team Birki! I have a special fondness for them. Although, the past couple years, I have switched to Mephisto Helens...which look the same....because the footbed is better for my particular arch condition. My Birkis are stored away in my sentimental box.

shana

Veteran

I'm in the Love'em camp! I never wore Birks until last summer though my husband is German and swears by them - oh and yes, he wears them with socks! I always thought they looked like Flinstone shoes on me - they just looked enormous on my small feet and never seemed to fit quite right.

When my feet became fussy last year after a debilitating arthritis flare, my doctor recommended that I get my feet into some birks pronto. So I went to a Birkenstock store in Germany and not only found a style I liked but also learned that I was trying on the wrong size in the past which is why they always looked so goofy on me. It took a little while for me to break them in and though I don't wear them every day, I always slip them on if my feet ache or if I feel like I'm going to have a bad foot day.

I definitely have to plan what I wear around the shoes since they are not necessarily the most versatile shoe. I think it helps to have well manicured feet with great polish. Mine are a olive green/gold color and I have been wearing them quite a bit with my olive green silky cargos.

Barbara

Veteran

LOL Cookie, I totally understand.
Scarlet, it's all about proportions. I never thought I could wear them, until I tried them on.
Laura, jonesy, Birks aren't for everyone and some feet simply cannot wear them.
Jeneva, I have three pairs of Gizehs - LOVE LOVE LOVE! Those clogs you covet are the Boston clog - I have them in black nubuck and cranberry distressed. Birks have the best arch support ever, my feet demand them!
Lynne, I'll be sure to check out the Birks with a suit look!

taylor

Veteran

I am in the hate em camp...for me:) fine on other. I have never actually owned a pair...I just can't get past the 60's hippy vibe of them...and I was a teen back then too.

Barbara

Veteran

Marlene, Birks are an acquired taste. I have Mephistos for SERIOUS walking. They are fantastic.
Shana, your husband is allowed to wear socks with his Birks, because he's German! Glad you found some that fit properly - I was first expertly fitted by the German lady who owns the local shoe store in the village where I lived for 10 years and, bought several pairs! Pretty polish on your toenails is a must! Good point.

Barbara

Veteran

Taylor, I understand. Birks are like licorice, you either love it or hate it.

taylor

Veteran

Ha...Love licorice:)

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Might have to get the clogs for winter...lol. Taylor, your style is very polished, so Birks would probably be odd on you...(-: I grew up on an island in the pacific nw, so Birks seemed totally normal to me. I didn't wear any for a long time after I moved away, but then my best friend came home from Berlin to visit wearing a pair with her girly summer dresses and I took them up again.

Barbara

Veteran

Jeneva, I love Berlin! During our 12 years in Germany (my husband, son and I lived near Heidelberg) we visited Berlin often after the wall fell. I'll never forget that moment!

Check out Ebay for killer deals on Boston clogs. Just be VERY sure what size you need!

I never even wore Birks until I lived in Germany. Now I'm hooked!

Kim

Veteran

I think my eye is "adjusting" as Angie would say, because I'm going to *have* to get a pair to wear around the house since I can't go sock footed anymore. I've actually started to think some of the Birkis might make a good "slipper" look, and then I went to the UK website. The pair they show in the front page (Boston Clogs in beige) with leg warmers actually look good enough for my out-and-about-life...

I would wear *these* in the summer if they sold them here in Canada....

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Lisa

Veteran

I've never been a fan of Birks, I've only ever seen these, http://www.birkenstockusa.com/.....ls/Arizona
and they just never stuck my fancy.

But these
http://www.birkenstockusa.com/.....kibuc/4375
mentioned above, I really like.

And I've always heard they are very comfy. I'm going to keep that style in mind come next summer. I hate flip flops, I agree with Maya, all the flopping around can't be good for the feet, AND they are so darn annoying hearing all day long. Many people at my work place where them during the summer and I consider them really unprofessional (even with our casual dress code I think it's too far) and distracting... flop, flop, flop, all day long.

Thanks for changing my view on Birks!

Barbara

Veteran

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. I totally understand that Birkenstocks aren't everyone's cup of tea. The best advice I can give is to try on several different styles, then decide for yourself.

Kim, I love those gladiators! They are fierce.

Lisa, the Gizeh is one of the most popular and original Birkenstocks. My purple Gizehs are favorites. Arizonas are best for guys, IMHO.