Donna, I find the cork soles on the BIrks do not conform to my feet. It's been awhile since I tried them on, but it seemed the arch and the ridge that's supposed to go under your toes just hit in all the wrong places. I know they say you are supposed to "break them in" -- but (despite trying on 4 different sizes) I found them excrutiatingly painful to wear for more than a couple of minutes, so that was NOT going to happen! I wound up getting black Naot sandals instead, which are sort of similar.
These Clarks, on the other hand, have a different type of insole than the Birks. The description says leather. They aren't molded and ridged like the Birk's. They seriously feel like sneakers to me. Lots of bounce, light weight, highly cushioned. Mind you, I'd just spent the entire day at the mall (yeah company holiday!) and my feet were aching.... they felt instantly relieved when I put these on.
Otherwise, to my eye, these "read" more like a cross between an earthy-crunchy Birk, and lux athletic wear. So I figure I'm killing too trends with one shoe. The white was too bright for me so I went with the silver. They did not have the other colors in the store.
I'm hoping I ordered the right size... I tried 6-1/2 on in the store. It was so comfy but there was a lot of room between the end of my toe and the end of the shoe. I do think a size 6 will be just the right length. Cross fingers it's just as comfortable, width wise, as the 6-1/2 was. I think it will be fine because the buckles are quite adjustable -- which is good for my almost-wide feet!
I also ordered these... did not see them in the store. Cross fingers they work too - super cute...
http://www.clarksusa.com/us/wo.....p/26105981
