Tuesday, May 13, 2014

These Sandals

I am not a "trendy" person; I stick to the looks that flatter and fit my personality. It's just the way I am. But every now and then something a bit out of my ordinary just feels right. A silhouette, a color combination.

You may have noticed on Pinterest or The Sartorialist or seen it mentioned by fashion media outlets: Birkenstocks are back. I first noticed it two years ago when a friend from Toronto was rocking this pair. And it looked awesome. Chic and comfortable. What more could anyone ask for? If they weren't back yet, I knew they were coming...

I wanted a pair last summer, but at around $90 they were more than I cared to spend on sandals. Also, many of the new wave Birks don't have a leather upper, which is a turn off for me. After doing some searching this spring, I found these.


I purchased a white pair and have been wearing them for the last week. They are exceedingly comfortable, and the upper is genuine leather. The silhouette is very similar to the Birks, and they are a fraction of the cost. Regularly priced at $54.99, they are currently on sale for $34.99. I actually only paid $12 for mine, because I had received a mailer with a $10 coupon, and an email with a $10 off $30 purchase coupon, and a 20% off coupon. I hate to brag, but damn that's good!

If you are considering ordering these, just keep in mind that the sizing is a little big. While I normally wear an 8 or an 8.5, I purchased the 7.5 and that fits perfectly.

Some scorn the return of the Birkenstock, hurling insults like "ugly" and "frumpy" but my tired feet are more than ready to jump on this bandwagon. And I disagree with the insults. It all depends on how they are worn (if you want proof, click on the Pinterest link above). So Birkenstock [silhouette] for the win. Not just for hippies and Christian youth leaders anymore.

P.S.  Last week, as soon as I recovered from an epic migraine (and I have never used that adjective before, ever, in my life) a sickness fell upon the baby of the house. The experience has culminated in an asthma diagnosis for him and multiple breathing treatments each day. I hope to be back tomorrow with an installment of pics for the Thirty Day Self Portrait Project. Thanks for hanging in there with me despite less frequent posts!


11 comments:

  1. i like yours, style-wise, more than the actual birkenstocks. and that is an amazing deal. holy cow! ah, i can't believe the baby has asthma! how is he doing and how are you holding up?

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  2. Thanks, Nicole! I'm kind of surprised about the asthma myself! He started with a runny nose, maybe from a cold or allergies, but the doc thinks it triggered the asthma. Hopefully it will not be a serious issue once this spell is cleared up. The doc also suggested I try avoiding dairy :( and see if that affects the symptoms. Edmond is super happy, despite his labored breathing, so that's a huge blessing. Could be much worse!

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  3. Dayum, that is a good deal. Great shoes! Funny--I ordered a pair of Birk Gizehs that arrived today and I just now sat down after trying them on. Not leather, sadly. Anyway, I was just pondering a summer footwear post and then I saw your post here. Great minds, you know. :-)

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  4. That's too funny! I was shocked when I found out that they were synthetic. Maybe the comfort of the footbed is so superior that it warrants the price tag? And great minds, yes, it seems as though we're often on the same page!

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  5. I love birks. I have the Gizeh type - I think that's what it's called. I think they've come a long way (in a good sense) from their first shoe. I also like Dr. Scholl - not very popular in the US as an actual shoe. But, in Poland, they sell a variety and I love the wooden type for beach, etc. I also like saltwater sandals. And I adore the Aurora shoe company - custom made shoes, handcrafted in Maine, leather, last a lifetime. I've now outed myself as the hippy here. I do own some heels .... ;-)

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    1. Handcrafted in NY, not Maine - correction.

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    2. Hi K.! Long ago I had a pair of dr. Scholls and I loved them! I forgot about those...

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  6. Love those sandals, very classy. And I can't believe the price!

    I recently bought some Birkenstock Gizehs, It's definitely a surprise that the strap isn't leather for the price. It doesn't bother me too much though, the arch support in those birks is just awesome and I love the brown/gold color :)

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    1. Yes, I agree that Birkenstock has great color choices!

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  7. Those are great shoes! I just bought white birkenstocks, which a year ago I would have sworn up and down I wouldn't be caught dead in ... but they are too comfy to not take advantage of their trendy moment!

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    1. I agree! And I thought of you this weekend when I was in Burlington. I envy you your Ikea!

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