Fashion clogs have taken hold, and we’re here for it #tbh

Since March, we’ve sold quite a few pairs of Crocs. Now normally this wouldn’t be unusual. But since when are these foam clogs popular with the fashion set?

Far from the shoe’s humble beginnings, the Crocs brand is now collabing with the likes of Justin Bieber—and that collection sold out rather quickly. A quick glance of fashion headlines also reveals that clogs and similar styles are coming back into favor for 2021 as the dominant new (or returning) shoe style.

Grazia Daily: Dua Lipa in clogs; L’Officiel: Summer clogs and how to style them; and many more.

How Crocs Reinvented Clogs: From Hate to Runway Debut

Our theory: it all comes down to comfort. Gone are the days when the only acceptable way to look good was to wear stiletto heels (or for men, hard leather-soled lace-ups). Much as we love them, they aren’t exactly all-day versatile or even kind to our delicate piedi.

And though Crocs clogs for women are 180 degrees different from a stiletto heel, they are just so comfortable that despite their ugliness they won over the hearts and feet of celebrities and high-fashion brands alike: just look at Crocs’ Balenciaga runway debut back in 2017.

Once called the world’s ugliest shoe, Crocs are cool again. The Classic Bae platform Crocs in purple are a top style for the trend chaser.

Clogs: The Shoe of All Seasons

But it’s a bigger trend than just Crocs clogs. Clogs more broadly have been around, in and out of style,  for decades. If you’re inclined to take the long view: fashion clogs are a staple style that’s making a hard comeback.

Birkenstock clogs are analogous in their enduring and steadily upward appeal—having been popular with parents and teens in the late 1990s and early 2000s to now, like Crocs, inking collaboration agreements for fashion clogs with brands like Valentino Garavani Rick Owens.

And like Crocs, those labels put their own spin on the “ugly comfortable shoe” by making them ultra-luxe and seamlessly integrated with their core collections.

The shape has further morphed, from purist clog beginnings, to appear in the footwear collections of many designers. J.W. Anderson’s signature maxi curb chain details now adorn Birkenstock-like slip on shoes, giving them a dose of glamorous shine (pictured above, top left).

And Off-White’s Virgil Abloh also did fashion clogs for men with his suede Sabot slippers, which look supremely comfy and nice enough to wear to brunch.

Slip On Shoes to Look Out For in 2021

The word “Sabot” means shoe in French—first used when all shoes were basically wooden clogs—and this is the term many brands have adopted for their modern clogs for women.

This year, expand your shoe vocabulary by integrating different shapes—like wedge clogs or trending shoes like the Marni’s hand-painted leather Sabots (they also come in calfhair), or Marsell’s grained leather sabot (both pictured below).

We also love Roger Vivier’s bejeweled slip on shoes and Kurt Geiger’s more traditional but likewise encrusted Oona fashion clogs (above).

You’ll also recognize some of Bottega Veneta’s recent footwear designs, which have nudged the boundary of aesthetic conventions to deliver true statement shoes. The house’s woven nappa leather Sabot mules are both striking and grotesque, resembling knots of chewing gum.

I bet you never though you’d read an article with Crocs and Bottega Veneta in the same text did you?

In summary: Crocs are cool. Comfort can be stylish. So get some new shoes!

Discover more Footwear and Trends coverage: the Square Toe Sneaker; a Guide to Paris Texas boots; and why Golden Goose sneakers are so expensive.

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About the Author

Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.