Birkenstocks

[Rockinghorsehay]

They're so ugly but I love mine. Are they really awful or sort of fashionable now? Mine are the sandal type, at least 8 years old, and mainly used around the house but I see a few youngsters looking good in them. Opinions?

I love 'em. I am a 43 normally, but can wear a 42 in Birkies. Back in the bad old days rotten old strappy 'so-called' pretty sandals lacerated my feet and others painfully blistered by hooves.

I don't give a flying fig what anyone says, I luffs 'em.

Ha ha, just came back to check this question: what a lot of answers. I think they're maybe like some very ugly buildings- a great piece of architecture, loved by some but hated by others. I love them partly because they are so ugly. My husband didn't even notice that I wear them, I'm not sure what that says!

My Birkenstocks arrived. I'm a size 4 and ordered 3.5. They are too big! Sent them back. Will have to try on in a shop as I'm a Birkenstock virgin!

Are you sure? Bs look much bigger on your foot that ordinary shoes. Your foot should not fill the footbed.

yes, should be a gap all of the way around so they may not be too big.
One of my pet hates is seeing people with their toes and heels over spilling the foot beds.

Anyone expert at ordering birkies online? All the ones I'm looking at on sarenZa/ Amazon seem to be the narrow ones, but none of them say- I am just seeing the filled in foot symbol in the pics! I need the wider (original!) fitting!

They are hideous looking. They Look like they are infested with bacteria. Totally unreasonable for me to think this but I feel repulsed when I see them. I confess I judge the wearer (sorry)

That's ok, we probably judge what you're wearing as well mainly

Fair enough Swedish! I deserve that but I can't help it! You know when things unreasonably repulse you? Just one of those for me I'm afraid... the OP did ask !

(I'm going too far hear but I do a little mouth sick/gag when I see them close.) can't help it IKIABU

Birkies rock.

Birkies are awesome. I fucked up my calf muscle a few years ago and could only wear birkies or hideous walking sandals - lands end type jobs.

They're very comfortable and absolutely amazing if you have any foot or lower leg problems as they're so supportive.

I agree that you have to embrace the fugly. A heel on a Birkenstock is weird.

I'd wear it with either a skinny jean, a slightly distressed jean a size too big, or a skirt. If your fashion sense is dumpy and functional, that's how they'll look, if it's sleeker and darker then they'll look a little Yojhi Yamamoto (except the white & coloured ones - don't like those).

A plug also for Naots. Similar to Birks but more slender and very comfy. I get about 3 years wear out of them, wearing them daily about 5/12 months.

Saltwater sandals are even worse 😱 they look like something my nana would wear!!

Thanks for this thread. I was an unsure Birkenstock virgin, but now have four reasons to change that;

Already recommended by DD 22 , she was born stylish and shoe conscious and wears her metallic ones so much that I'd ignorantly assumed I'd be mutton dressed as.. can you tell I'm a shoe/style ignoramus?

Walking without pain is my chief requirement of a shoe, and these seem to get a thumbs up

Now realise there are way more styles than I knew

Seems I can also irritate a lot of ultra judgy folk at the same timetime

So win, win,win.
Birkenstocks here I come.

PS.Fur lined? Fantasy? Joke? Actual thing? Little bit excited.

Re: Saltwaters - they cannot possibly be comfortable, surely?! They are totally flat. Remind me of our old primary school sandals in 1980!

They are hideous but all comfy shoes are. I don't think they last longer than two years (two summers) tho without smelling god awful. You can scrub them out with a nail brush and let them dry overnight, to clean them

"Life's too short to make your feet look revolting. "
I'd argue, life's too short to have painful feet!

Birkies are classic! Flat, thins soled sandals with no shock absorption or support are a disaster waiting to happen. When I see people wearing them, I wince!

I think that I'd judge people who dissed me and my many pairs of Birkies as they're bloody great. Fugly they may be, but surely having one's feet Squashed into a pair of vertiginous five inch heels is murder on the joints? I used to commute to London and if I had a pound for the amount of times I saw stiletto-shod women slipping over on the station concourse and platform, then I'd be a happy woman.

I'd be a rich (and indeed) a happy woman

TBH, I think that because Birkies are so clumpy and deliberately fugly, they only look cool if you have pretty feet.

I know I'll get slated for that!

I'm with wellitwouldbenice 100%. They are horrendously ugly!

Are these the Saltwater sandals? 😂 I wouldn't be seen dead in these. They are worse than Birkenstocks....

If you're Birkenstocks become smelly (or any sandals, for that matter) here is a lovely solution: take a lemon and use a veg peeler to shave off a thick piece of lemon peel. Rub the lemon peel all over the inside of the sandal, especially of the footbed. Cut the lemon itself and rub it all over the soles of your feet and between your toes. Now wear your Birkenstocks.

Fresh lemon juice deodorises.