i don’t know how it happened.  i don’t know why it happened, but it happened.  birkenstocks are back.  they crept their way onto the runway 2 years ago and i laughed in the face of fashion designers all over the world (not true – more like i laughed at my computer screen in the face of no one).  (please note: i do not follow fashion designers or runway shows; however, i do occasionally follow some trends.)

i don’t like sandals.  feet gross me out.  i will wear flip-flops at the beach, but that’s out of necessity.  from the looks of those around me, i believe i am in the minority.  flip-flops are a staple in the everyman warm weather wardrobe.  i’ve learned to accept it.  i just don’t look down when the temperature is above 65.

a couple of months ago, esquire tweeted a link to an article called “four steps to getting birkenstocks right.”  i had a small panic attack.  is this really happening?  i thought for sure the trend would remain on runways like skirts for men.  and now here i am 3 months later considering buying a pair of birkenstocks (not the sandal kind).

i had a pair of bostons like the ones you see above.  i bought them in high school, wore them in college, and then retired them to the same place i put my old phish bootlegs (hint: the trash).  if – and that’s a big if – i were actually going to purchase a pair of birkenstocks and wear them in public, i would make sure they were the boston model.  i would also tell everyone i bought them for comfort and didn’t care how they looked (total lie).  and if you’re considering buying a pair, you can get them at unionmade which is where i stole this picture (thanks, guys!).