Birkenstocks

They look very comfy, and thus err on the side of ugliness for me. Not unbearably, unwearably ugly like Uggs or those Croc things, they don't make my eyes bleed or anything, but they are not an attractive thing. I think it is pretty rare to get lovely to look at and uber comfy together.

L
xx

Definate yey from me. Got mine a couple of weeks ago and although they took a little bit of getting used to they are so comfy and i havent had any of the new shoe/sandals trauma i usually have with my feet!

Very comfy, and there are some very pretty ones available

You either love them or hate them. I love them.

I have 3 pairs and am after some more this summer. I'm pregnant so I'm allowing myself another pair. They are so comfy once you get used to them (I only have the one strap btw - not the granny 3 strap! ?)

They look better with linen trousers or shorts rather than dresses but you can wear them with.

I have some black 'madrid' patent ones. Hurt like hell the first few wears but they are really comfy now. So much so that I have my eye on about 7 different colours now!

Madrid! That's what I meant by one strap. Papillio have some nice patterns too.

Incredibly comfortable and practical and much easier to walk in than flip flops. They're not things of beauty but neither are they as extravagantly ugly as Crocs etc. They are just sort of a blank, style-wise, I think- I almost don't see them, if that makes any sense.

I have dull dull navy suede two strap Birkies and love them. I also have a pair of toe post ones in turquoise that I must get repaired.

V. comfortable after a few wears.

However, I've just succumbed to the call of the Crocs (for bumming around home/garden/beach) so my opinion is beyond help ?

I've got birkenstock madrids in silver, baby pink, patent purple and patent raspberry. They're the most comfortable summer shoes I've ever owned, my next ones are going to be patent
orange, I just haven't told the husband yet ?

The fact you can get them in so many pretty colours is brilliant, they're the only shoes I'm going to take on holiday this year.

HH, have you seen the fig ones? From the ones you already have, you may like them.

ETA

I NEED these ones! http://www.birkenstock.co.uk/index.php?m=catalogue&a=vw_prod&wprid=497&colid=930&fabric=7

And these. http://www.birkenstock.co.uk/index.php?m=catalogue&a=vw_prod&wprid=176&colid=944&fabric=1

I've been wearing mine for years - started with the Gizeh thong/toe post ones, but for some reason my feet seem to have developed an allergy to them this summer, so I've started on the Madrids. I find the Gizehs easier to walk in (once you've broken them in - takes about a week), but both are very comfy.

I'm with most others - they're not things of beauty, but at least you know your feet won't be blistered and ripped to shreds the way I used to find most summer shoes.

Oh yes, I lust after them too. When I was ordering my purple ones it was a toss up between them and the patent fig, I so nearly bought both but didn't think I should push it ?

I am a lover. I have Madrids in patent black, navy leather, patent purple and patent lime green. I would also have had hot pink if they had not sold out in my size.

I actually like the look of them- I get that they look pig-ugly when sat next to heels of gorgeousness in a wardrobe, but on feet with the right outfit (I think they look nice with skirts/dresses, too, btw) they are fab.

Are these ugly? I cant make my mind up if I love or hate them.

http://www.birkenstock.co.uk/index.php?m=catalogue&a=vw_prod&wprid=126&colid=1019&fabric=1

They are h'uuuuugly 😄

But the flowers....theyre so pretty!

Hmm. I think you may be right. I shall just draw flowers on my feet instead.

I am in the 'love them' camp. So comfortable, I had a pair of Silver Madrids to wear in the evening when I got married under my dress.

I now have 3 pairs - Silver leather, navy nubuck and lime green patent. I am debating whether to get a pair of Papillio ones with a pattern. Current favourite are the 'silk flowers' ones (blue swirly flowers)

If you want some, Costco have them at the moment at about £18 a pair. That is where I got my last pair (patent lime green) from.

Hitched consensus - are Dorians ridiculously frumpy/twee?

http://www.footshopping.com/main.cfm?wgID=10&MI=6&MID=19841

Looking at the plain white pair. I neeeeed a pair of shoes I can wear to work with pretty summer skirts.

Couldn't wear normal birkis at work and am struggling to find comfy, white/plain coloured flats.

I like the white flowery ones at the top - that's the kiss of death on them, I suspect ?

Love my Birkenstocks, I have the pink classic sandals, so comfy!

I don't own birkie, am tempted, but do wonder if this style would fly off the foot every so often?

I am a fan!!! Think over the last 4 years I have had about 9 pairs, although some are now out of action due to me completely wearing the sole down on them. I have a pair of Dorian ones - super comfy!!!

I love them - I've just dug mine out for the summer, I've got white, black, pink, red, orange, khaki, light brown, baby blue am and lusting after the purple at the moment. They are so comfy but I also think they look quite pretty if you go for the brighter colours.

I have some... comfy as hell but i won't wear them with a pretty skirt. Too chunky. I also have some crocs.. but i only where them on holiday or when i get blisters from some less practical yet pretty shoes! x

I've got three pairs although I'm about to bin my silver Madrids because they've just about given up the ghost.

I've got a gorgeous pair of three strap Papillio's - pale blue with a pattern of red hearts and flowers on them and a new white pair which I got from QVC a week or so ago. They've got a main strap across the top and then four very small straps around the foot - from the new Betula range.

I've got big issues with my feet and so I swear by Birkies because they offer me arch support and I can walk really comfortably in them. I do wear them with floral skirts but as I tend to wear leggings too, they "work". To be honest, I wear them with just about everything!

Am contemplating another pair ...

TK Maxx do Birkenstocks much cheaper incase anyone was interested and didn't know that.

I may be going back on my word about never buying Crocs, the flip flop style ones in my Glamour mag look ok and if they're comfy then i'm going to give them a go. I like Birkies (I have a cheap white version) but I can't get past the fact that they make my feet look huge.

I love mine because I simply cannot walk very far in "pretty" strappy summery shoes, both due to not walking in heels for ages and having collapsed arches. I can walk for hours in Birks. I have red and silver and am probably going to get the black patent ones this weekend. they do make feet look a bit wider, but they do look good with most casual things.

Do not buy fake look alikes though, they're just NOT the same.

Totally agree with you there AnnaBanana! I've had cheap pairs rip my feet to shreds before ?

On the subject of comfy summer shoes, I'd like to show you all these really (and I mean really) comfy sandals. I've practically lived in these for work with skirts and trousers. It's like walking on cushions.

http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product1_10055_-1_67698_10553 The picture really doesn't do them justice.

I know! ive had "lookalikes" before and they are not moulded and the strap is not as comfortable. Definitely a no-no. Those barratts ones looks lovely! I thought they'd gone bankrupt - the two Barratts near me closed about 4 months ago.

I thought that too but some stores are still open. Priceless shoes online is still working but the stores have closed. They might be doing little by little.

I love, love, love my madrid birkies. They are soooooo comfy. They really hurt my soles the first few times I wore them, but I can't be without them now. The pair I am wearing today I have had since 2004! They are not a pretty sight, but the are so nice to my feet.

I don't think they are ugly. Crocs are ugly (sorry Zeb) ?

I am seriously considering purchasing some patent purple madrids. However, I have wide feet ( I buy most of my shoes in Evans). Will the regular width ones be wide enough? Also, I hover between an 8 and a 9 - do they come up big or small would you say?

Thanks!