Birkenstocks Are Back!
I have a feeling this may be my most controversial blog post yet.
Birkenstocks are back—this time with more vigor and ambition than ever. The legendary sandal and king of comfort has almost reinvented itself with the help of style bloggers, runway walkers and fashionistas alike. With it, a collective groan of disapproval.
I'll be the first to admit I was a skeptic. Until recently, I associated the 90's throwback slipper with words like "frumpy" and "casual". But upon receiving an Urban Outfitters marketing email, a wave of childhood nostalgia bubbled up inside of me. Clicking through to the website, I admired a pair of suede two-strap Arizonas. I could just feel the soft shaped cork soles molding perfectly to my normally constrained feet. But the price was steep ($120) and I wasn't ready to jump.
Then they started showing up in my Pinterest feed. I frantically typed "Birkenstock outfit" in the search bar and a flood of styling options appeared. Unbelievable! I thought. The child inside of me danced.
The key to the Birkenstock revival is getting the right pair to match the look you're going for. The classic Arizona two-strap sandal in black or white is classic and certainly the most versatile. I've also seen metallic versions, which could be cool (but also more trendy, expensive and harder to match). Same goes for the cute pastel versions available at Nordstrom.
I purchased the black Arizona two-strap sandal online from DSW for $70 thanks to a $20 off coupon, but later noticed I could've probably gotten them for cheaper on eBay. They're easily the priciest I shoes own (besides for the Uggs I got in high school) but will likely outlive every other pair in my closet. Something worth noting: I bought a size 8 instead of my usual 9 because Birkenstocks tend to run big.
Black matches with the majority of my wardrobe and was the "most-pinned" for immediate outfit inspiration. I styled the Birks two ways: sporty and boho. I was drawn to all the creative pantsuit looks on the Internet and decided to take a stab at my own version. I'll let you in on a secret: the crop top I'm wearing under the blazer is actually a T-shirt—I just rolled it up and under. The pants didn't initially cover my belly button, so I borrowed a pair of Chloe's suspenders to position them.
The boho look was definitely easier to throw together and doesn't feature the Birkenstocks as prominently. It's a great way to ease into Birks if you don't want to draw attention to them, but crave the comfort. Another tip: colorful toenail polish. Rich, bright colors are best to add a little flair to the simple sandal.
So what say you? To Birk or not to Birk?
Taylor x
What I'm listening to: Cheating – John Newman
Photos shot by Chloe with an iPhone 5S