The Ugly Crocling
Manolo says, here is yet another article on the rise of the consuming evil that is the Croc, this time from the Christian Science Monitor.
Foot comfort, apparently, appeals to a broad demographic. Fans include celebrity chef Mario Batali, actor Jack Nicholson, and country-music stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Recently, President Bush was photographed sporting black Crocs, which he paired with black socks and shorts. In nations as diverse as Israel and Iceland, 1 in 4 people own a pair of the shoes.
The Crocs phenomenon is not purely a love-fest, however. Detractors abound, and they aren’t diplomatic with their diatribes. On Manolo’s Shoe Blog (http://shoeblogs.com/), Crocs are termed “the hot trend in footwear for the lazy person.” And on ihatecrocs.com, Vincenzo Ravina and Kate Leth devote an entire website “to the elimination of Crocs and those who think their excuses for wearing them are viable.”
Ask Mr. Ravina why he finds Crocs so objectionable, and then take a breath. “They are exceedingly ugly. They are chunky, luridly colored, perforated, and overall, an eyesore,” he replies. “They are to your eyes what second-hand smoke is to your lungs.”
Ravina, a college student from Halifax, Nova Scotia, scoffs at testaments to the comfort of Crocs. “My bathrobe is comfortable,” he says. “But I don’t wear it to the supermarket. You have to respect other people’s aesthetic.”
[…]
Even in Boulder, where you can buy Crocs at the grocery store along with celery and soy milk, there’s something of a backlash. “I don’t have any friends who wear Crocs,” says Rachel Losowski, a style-conscious senior at the University of Colorado. “They’re just really bad. Really weird.” As for claims to their comfort, she winces. “When I go out, I want to look nice, not comfortable,” she says.
Once, she was out with friends and saw an attractive male heading her way. Then she spotted Crocs on his feet. “I said to him, ‘I thought you were cute, but then I saw your shoes!’ ” she says, laughing.
Well done, Ms. Losowski!
This ridicule and scorn are exactly what the Manolo has begun to advocating as the proper response to the wearing of the Crocs.
Join the Manolo in speaking out against this abomination. Do not let your friends buy these shoes, and shun anyone who dares wear them on the street. Our greatest weapon is social pressure which much be applied liberally and forcefully.
It so sad that it has come to this point, and yet, the Manolo fears that we have not yet plumbed the depths of this depravity.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 am
The little fat man with his ridiculously unflattering shorts and his orange tie would be bad enough, but to team the ensemble with co-ordinating Crocs is surely an abomination. The photographers eyes must have bled after he took that picture.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:17 am
I was staying in a friend’s holiday apartment in in Tel Aviv last week, which I was visiting for a wedding. My friend is a high-flying City lawyer, he doesn’t work for the Man, he is the Man. He told me that he and his wife had visited this restaurant http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/middle-east/israel/tel-aviv/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1154663252647
for dinner and one of the guests had complained to the maitre d’ that he was wearing Crocs.
I told him his fellow diner was quite correct and he should be ashamed of himself. When the Children of Israel were wandering for 40 years in the desert, would they have wanted shoes with holes in them? We know the purpose of circumcision, don’t we?
I tried on his Crocs out of curiosity. I did not find them comfortable. I was wearing these. Now these are comfortable.
http://shop.schollshoes.com/product_info.php?product_id=358
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:54 am
One in four persons owns a pair of Crocs? Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! I think I need to go lie down.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 am
Oh, dear. Oh triple dear. Oh me, oh my. How dreadful.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
Make the croc madness end! I’ve had just about enough of crocs infesting shoe stores worldwide! Imitations are even in pound stores in London now - once you can buy a cheap rip off for five quid you know it’s time to banish them back to boating and gardening wear only!
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:47 am
Just bad. I also lump flipflops into the same category and recently read an article about how podiatrists are seeing more and more young people with foot and leg problems associated with those. And we have already read of children who have been injured wearing them while riding escalators. So, these are just dangerous…ugly too, but definitely dangerous…
I see that tie oxfords with heels are being flogged this fall for women - now THERE is a shoe which is attractive, sensible (dare I say that), and a good choise. I think I’ll go out and try to find myself a pair right now.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 am
I live near a major university town in Alabama, and it is stunning how many people are wearing the damn things — not students necessarily, but senior citizen types along with little kids…The major reason Crocs are so popular in that area is because they’re now made in school colors (in this case, orange and blue)…
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:08 am
As a CU alumni, part of me is sad that the official shoe is no longer the Jesus Sandal.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:14 am
My sister-in-law owns four pairs. She even says that they’re ugly. And, yes, she is a big girl who has problems with her feet because of her weight.
However, it does not absolve her for wearing them.
I was okay when she was wearing them around the house because only the family was subjected to the horror. The last straw came when she wore them to a fancy restaurant where the usual mode of dress is much more formal.
She had the nerve to tease me about my high-heeled sandals. Crazy.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I think my reply to Rachel Losowski would be something along the lines of “I thought you were cute, too. Then you opened your mouth.”
Relax, folks. Crocs are just a fad and will be gone before anyone knows it. Remember when clogs were all the rage?
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
MY EYES! AAAAGH MY EYES!!!
*crashing and stumbling about trying to find a means to rinse mine horribly abused ocular orbs*
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Friends don’t let friends wear Crocs!
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Indeed, gemdiva, friends do not let friends wear Crocs! I have one dear friend who insists upon wearing them, but I have trained her never to wear them in my presence. Whenever we are out and about and I see someone wearing the Crocs, I grab her arm, point at the offending footwear, and hiss, “Abomination!!”
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Hey Manolo, I LOVE your site!
Check this blog out: http://crocsaccidents.blogspot.com/
It’s horrible. In Manila alone, there have been a LOT of accidents already. It was in the news last night! Parents are calling for Crocs to go away! I think the parents should STOP buying the shoe really.They buy it then blame the shoe when their kids get into accidents! Consumer responsibility please!
August 24th, 2007 at 3:29 am
Perhaps The Manolo should creat a shirt for his store warning of the danger of wearing these evil shoes. They surely are possessed.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
DEAR GOD!!! i saw a man at the gas station the other day wearing a bright PURPLE croc!! I was like, “good lord take me now these shoes are the death of me!!”. I mean they are ugly and a girl I know has apair with fur ans holes inside, i was dying from the terrible stench. CROCS = BADDNESS SQUARED cant people get it??