Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
BY MEGHAN BAEHL, OPINION EDITOR
That is the age-old question. And by age-old, I mean within the last few years. Birkenstocks have made a resurgence and they are here to stay. For me, it started with the classic. I have the Arizona sandal with charcoal-colored straps. They have a lot of life to them, I have had mine since the summer of 2020 and they are still super comfy. I do not wear them nearly as much as my mama or sisters do, but the only damage they have are from when my puppy chewed a bit of the strap. Even that has not stopped me from wearing them.
They still are just as good as a basic. I feel like the word ‘basic’ comes with a negative connotation. This is not the case with Birkenstocks. I firmly believe that everyone should have a sandal like them. I would describe them as classic or timeless, but that does not mean they are beyond reproach. Not all Birkenstock styles are created equal. But I will get back to that.
What I like about Birkenstocks is that they are super versatile. They can be styled up or down, worn with a dress, or with pants. They can also be used for many different social functions, you could wear them to the beach or to class. Another plus for Birkenstocks is that you can wear them fashionably with socks. I’m sure you are thinking, socks with sandals, really? Trust me on this, it is okay. They are an any season shoe, and if you don’t think so, they even make ones with fur! I cannot contest how warm those are, but I have heard good things.
Alright, here is where things get less positive. I strongly dislike the Gizeh and Mayari style sandals. The only reason is that they are uncomfortable around my toe area. You also can’t wear socks with either of them so Birkenstocks become less versatile. I also think they are trying to be a more elevated version of something that does not need to be elevated. You can try to argue with me but I will not back down.
Now back to the regularly scheduled programming. My current favorite Birkenstock lovechild is the Boston clog. I have them in tan and they are just so damn cute. They look even better with fun socks, which is how I usually sport them. They are so autumn vibes. But they also give every other season vibes because of the versatility. Wow. Birkenstocks Birken-rock! I cringed writing that but everyone loves a good pun. So to answer the question: to Birk or not to Birk- definitely Birk!
