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If the affordable Arizona sandal is summer fashion’s great equalizer, Birkenstock’s Boston clog has become the seasonless slip-on shoe. The backless loafers, boasting supple moulded footbeds in line with the German footwear giant’s ergonomic design approach, have appeared in Lyst’s hottest product list for the fifth quarter in a row. Balenciaga bags have come and gone, but the Bostons have dug their heels in. Birkenstock is struggling to satisfy demand, and customers are paying upwards of double for pairs on resale sites.
What is it about the slip-on, buckled-up, cork-footbedded flat that’s so appealing? Its austere colorways—“desert dust”, “iron”, “stone coin” anyone?—don’t immediately signal stylish, while its fabrications—from wool felt to microfiber and oiled leather—are more grandpa-friendly than fashion-forward.
The allure of the affordable Boston lies in its subtle hybridity. Part slipper, part chunky loafer, the lightweight adaptation of an old-school clog symbolizes comfort, ease and the unspeakable relief of being able to walk out the door in two seconds wearing a versatile shoe universally seen as stylish.
“In my book, the clog needs no defending,” says British Vogue digital director Kerry McDermott. “Especially when it’s the Boston in taupe, which I’ve been trying in vain to buy for some months now. The characteristically sensible shoe is suddenly infinitely more appealing than any designer stiletto. Life is hard enough without throwing sore feet into the mix.”
For the former, port-colored, fleece-lined Bostons are in line with her innately effortless sense of style. Originally launched in 1979, the cosy-casual clogs were a natural extension of Birkenstock’s sandals, but offered all-weather appropriate toe protection, as well as the orthopedic benefits of its signature soles. They became a sleeper hit on college campuses in the ’80s and have remained on the periphery of fashion’s subconscious since then.
Source: Vogue
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