The Evolution of Ugly
Manolo says, perhaps not as amusing as the Manolo’s Gallery of the Horrors, but this short article in the New York Magazine is important nonetheless.
Let us devoutly hope that the author is wrong about the next big ugly shoe trend…
Salt-Water Sandals worn proudly by adult persons!
Which is, of the course, yet more evidence of the continuing infantilization of Americans.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Salt Water sandals! I will admit, those were my favorite thing to wear through most of college. I don’t wear them any more, but I do think, despite the childish associations, they are not that bad as footwear. Not superfantastic, perhaps, but at least they are made of natural materials.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
They look like Birkenstocks, really.
Go to Burlington, VT and this is the default normal style.
As someone that grew up in the New England countryside, I am continually shocked that the rest of the country thinks things like this are ugly. Where I grew up, they’re ‘trendy’
November 7th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
It strikes me that one of the aspects of this trend is affordability: Crocs, Salt Water sandals, and Worishofer are all inexpensive shoes, and I think that has a lot to do with their popularity. Most of the rest of the trendy shoes on that list are under $100.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:11 am
For that Iranian in exile look don’t forget the white sox to go with.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I wore white Salt Water sandals every summer when I was a little kid, until I outgrew their sizes. They are SO CUTE on small children, but I agree that they do not translate well to adult footwear.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Ironically we’re doing just the opposite with children’s wear.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I seem to remember these being quite popular about a decade ago. Then again, I was just starting high school a decade ago.
I think these sandals are quite cute but I guess they don’t work too well on big adult feet. But they are nowhere as horrible as Crocs or Uggs.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I think these sandals are quite cute but I guess they don’t work too well on big adult feet. But they are nowhere as horrible as Crocs or Uggs.
Agreed. They aren’t the best sandals, but I’ve seen a lot worse. I could even see wearing them myself if they weren’t totally flat (I need some sort of heel or I look stumpy; the perils of being short with thick calves).
November 8th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Oh no! First it was flip-flops, now it’s salt water sandals.
I pray nightly for the return of the kinder, gentler, and far prettier authentic sandal. If I’d known that stores would suddenly stop carrying them, I would have stocked up on them years ago. Now they are nowhere to be found. SNIFF!
Dawn
November 9th, 2007 at 7:16 am
It looks uäk!! Totaly ugly but I won´t be surprised if the become a big trend like the crocs…
November 9th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I’m glad my favorite, Chaco’s, aren’t on this list although I guess they’d be with the Teva’s. The Salt Water sandals appear to be made in the St. Louis, MO but further research needed to confirm that. I like the red ones, although I think someone always got white for me.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Hey, don’t knock the Salties without seeing how they look on the feet. They look better on than off. They are simple, yes, but are made out of legitimate shoe-making material (leather) in the good old USA. They are well-made, so last a long time. They are not for wearing to the high powered business lunch, but for weekends and casual offices, they are nice summer wear, and one can wear them walking around for hours without blisters. And they are classic sandals that have been around for quite some time, not foul johnny-come-lately rubber clogs.