Cats are special animals, even though I still doubt I can own one to save my life. Aside from the majestic aura they so effortlessly possess, cats have a strong will to live which is fascinating – they have nine lives! Well, isn’t nature unfair? Who is tempted to swap places with a cat? I know I am. You see, some trends have proven to be cat-like and just wouldn’t die! They find a way of catching up to our fast fashion pace and reminding us of their awesomeness (sometime’s awfulness). Love it or loathe it, the Birkenstock footwear is one of the “never dying” trend.
Surely there has to be something special about this footwear for it to have survived extinction and abandonment, maybe its history might give us a clue.
The Birkenstock foot wear is a brand that traces its roots to Germany, specifically the Birkenstock family. From 1897 to 1964 the Birkenstock’s gradually developed and produced the first original prototype of the Birkenstock sandal. It however wasn’t until 1967 that the Birkenstock made its way to the USA and subsequently to the rest of the world. Do you think a sandal such as this is anti-professional? Well it isn’t! Get this, since the 1980’s; the Birkenstock footwear became popular with professionals especially those in the medical field who tend to constantly work on their feet. Blue-collar workers and those in the entertainment sector are also lovers and rockers of this footwear.
So why does the Birkenstock footwear have our hearts charmed?
Three words; comfort! Comfort!! Comfort!!! The “comfort shoe” trend is still going strong; the brogues, the sneakers, now the Birkenstock. This sandal is perfect for summer seasons and those days were you just aren’t in the mood to trot around in towering heels. Therefore, it is only fair and logical that its chapter has been reopened.
Designers like Prada, Celine, Christopher Kane and Chloe gave it a special appearance in their spring 2014 collection. But it is one thing to be wow-ed by it on the runway (which is exactly how the Celine mink fur-covered Birkenstock left us), it is yet another to apply it to your fashion reality. Taking an ordinary looking sandal, like the Birkenstock, and turning it into a fashion staple in your wardrobe isn’t ‘piece of cake’, it’s not like you can just wave a wand and cast a Harry Porter magic spell to make it work, even if Aladdin’s Ginie is your hommie, the Birkenstock footwear is still a tricky trend to pull off. How does one pair a gorgeous cocktail dress or a finely tailored suit with a Birkenstock?
I dare say it is doable; the only (other) thing needed is your confidence. Wear your confidence well, mute every distasteful whisper and you are good to go. The only necessary rule is to keep your feet looking pretty with a pedicure since you’ll have to debut it to the rest of humanity.
Love it or loathe it, the Birkenstock trend isn’t dying anytime soon.