Crocs As A Fashion Statement

Crocs are not new. In fact, they have been around since 2002 when they were invented as a non-slip boating shoe. But I noticed the other day at a playgroup that about two-thirds of the kids were wearing Crocs and the others well, were not. It made me curious so I brought up the topic. I asked some of the mothers what they thought and the room was divided.

But you may ask what is so great about Crocs? Well, to get the exact answer, I surfed on over to the official Crocs website. This is what I learned: Crocs “are designed with built in arch support, circulation nubs, and an orthotic heel cup to support and protect the heel. In addition, Crocs™ shoes are ventilated for cooling and filtering purposes, as well as slip and marking resistant.” What more could you want in a shoe? Style maybe? Well, they have too.

Crocs have been called some of the ugliest shoes ever and there is even a blog dedicated solely to the hatred of Crocs. Maxim magazine came up with a list of the ’10 Best & Worst Things to Happen to Men in 2007.’ Guess which lovable shoes came in at #6?

I love Crocs. I think that they are comfortable and I especially love how long they last. They have progressively gotten cuter and there are so many more styles available. I bought my husband a pair (or two or six) plus my father and my mother have a pair courtesy of yours truly. My kids love Crocs. Each of my three children has two or three pairs. And don’t even get me started on the Jibbitz (why couldn’t I have invented them?). Jibbitz are those little charm like things that start at $3 each and go up from there. My children each have 6-8 Jibbitz for each pair. Ridiculous, I know. I have even convinced my brother-in-law (a podiatrist) to carry the prescription Crocs.

I consider myself an early adopter when it comes to new styles and fashion. I love to try new things. I bought Crocs when they first came out. I still buy a pair every year or so. But recent media reports discuss some of the hazards of wearing Crocs. A child got a Croc caught in an escalator and some businesses have banned the wearing of Crocs with holes in them (there are many styles that no longer have holes) due to safety reasons. In fact, my four year old cannot even wear Crocs to school. We are Urban dwellers and those wood chips on the playground can stick in the plastic or stab the feet. But the second that my daughter gets home from school, even before she reaches for a snack, she has a pair of Crocs on her feet.

Back to the playgroup. The mothers discussed style and price. A few mothers just thought that they were too ugly to be that expensive. The others loved them for their durability and support. As I sat there comfortably in my beloved hot pink Crocs, I decided to do a little test. I took off my shoes and asked the women to try them on. Every person that tried them on commented on how comfortable they found the Crocs. Many of the women had no idea that they felt so good. But as mothers, many of us are familiar with that concept where comfort trumps style (the majority of maternity clothes) and so some are surprised that Crocs just plain feel good on your feet.

Crocs are not what Jellies were in the 80’s. (Remember Jellies? They came back for five minutes one year, didn’t they?) They appear to have some staying power and Crocs evolve with the times. Styles change from year to year. I am still not brave enough to try the Crocs heels or boots (I want to) but those Black Mary Jane Crocs are looking cuter and cuter every day. I was already thinking of what pair I was going to buy next. But as luck and fabulous marketing would have it, I received a gift certificate for a free pair at BlissDom’09. I actually screamed in delight! Off to shop and add another pair of Crocs to my ever growing collection.

Related posts:

1. Crocs and Soft Shoe Safety