Dissent at the Blog of the Manolo
Manolo says, not everyone agrees that the Crocs Mammoths should be abominations unto the Manolo. Such is the case with this comment, left this morning at the blog of the Manolo.
This is SOOO sad. You people are all up in arms over SHOES? That you “wouldn’t be caught dead” in? I don’t know what is sadder, the fact that you absolutely hate something SO much (which, by the way, are JUST shoes!), or the fact that you feel the need to have a website devoted to your hate for said shoes.
My 5 year old son LOVES them, he had a pair this summer and practically wore them everyday (except when he HAD to wear sneakers), and I just ordered him a pair of the mammoths for winter. I actually like them, too. I had some in the summer and just ordered myself some mammoths as well. What I think is so “sad” and should be “the end of the world” as you all refer to THESE shoes, is the fact that you would go out and spend a ridiculous amount (YES, $800 or more on a pair of uncomfortable heels simply because they say “Manolo” is RIDICULOUS). You act as though these shoes are “beneath” you all, but I guaran-damn-tee you all that if they weren’t made by Crocs, but by Manolo, you’d all just HAVE to have them. And you all have to through in the comments about what’s good for the environment and what’s not, but I’d be willing to bet that the environment is not on ANY of your minds when you are out buying your Manolos, huh?
Be damned if I am going to go broke buying heels that will hurt my feet and ruin them in the long run when I can buy something for a tiny fraction of the price and be comfortable. And, in response to a comment that someone left on here, it DOES matter that they are comfortable. Yes, I understand that your flannel boxers are comfortable too and you don’t go out in them, but if you did, I wouldn’t judge you. Unfortunately you cannot say the same because just about every single comment I have read on here shows what kind of materialistic, judgemental, arrogant people you all are. THAT is what is sad…not a Croc shoe.
Consider the Manolo chastened!
Anyone who reads more than a few posts on the blog realizes that The Manolo’s blog is meant to be incredibly tongue-in-cheek. I love it even though most of my shoes come from Payless.
He pokes fun at adults who wear crocs. What’s the big deal?!? If you like them then wear them anyway! People who don’t like crocs aren’t necessarily elitists, you know.
As a Red-State Mensan (not an oxymoron!!) and college instructor who loves gorgeous, artfully crafted shoes, well, whatever–not worth the time to type a proper response. I am a staunch conservative who’s noticed that the conservative women in my area often dress beautifully, eschewing Crocs and track suits for more elegant fare. The Liberal granola girls–they crunch as they walk!–could take some lessons, even if the’re not wearing Crocs.
But, agreed, that a person who simply cares about his or her presentation to the rest of the world isn’t merely narcissistic and worthless. After all, one has only one chance to create a first impression, and you never know who you’ll bump into while running a mundane errand. I’d rather not find myself in a life-altering intereaction wearing the remains of melted Tupperware on my feet.
As a resident, I’m quite often on my feet for upwards of 24 hours at a stretch. While some of my colleges have succub to the siren song of Crocs, I’ve yet to bow. Why? Because when I’m having a bad day and someone compliments my very fun, comfortable and stylish (purple and orange sneakers, because I’m also a bit silly) it makes me feel better, which makes me do my job better? Am I better than my colleges that wear Crocs? A resounding no. But why should I deny myself the joy of looking at something pretty whenever I happen to look down? My goal every day is to make the world a better place than when I found it. If I can do that in superfabulous shoes? All the better.
Incidentally, as a resident, I make little to no money and have school loans to pay, so I have to buy my shoes for just about what a pair of Crocs cost to my understanding.
My recommendation? Ma2one soulds as if she excepts someone to judge her harshly, which generally indicates someone who judges themselves harshly. Love what you do, who you are and what you wear, ma2one (and everyone else), and that’s Drs. orders. :)
My god, this blog has gotten out of control!
Why is it that what pleases the feet must so often offend the eyes, and vice versa?
“MeLizzard Says:
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
As a Red-State Mensan (not an oxymoron!!) and college instructor who loves gorgeous, artfully crafted shoes, well, whatever–not worth the time to type a proper response. I am a staunch conservative who’s noticed that the conservative women in my area often dress beautifully, eschewing Crocs and track suits for more elegant fare. The Liberal granola girls–they crunch as they walk!–could take some lessons, even if the’re not wearing Crocs.”
I couldn’t agree more. Viva la tastefully-shod red staters! =)
I have also not seen such a blatant misuse of CAPITALIZATION since the recent Clay Gaykin (I mean Aiken) furor.
There’s an awful lot of quotation abuse, too. Just saying.
And Crocs are indeed wonderful to wear when working in the garden. A place for everything and everything in its place, I say.
Surely, if you’ve read all the way to Comment 58, you’ll be open to the idea that we needn’t make judgmental generalizations about people of other political persuasions. You remind me of my friend, a former international model, who now looks down on all models as dumb, because they’re thin. Fat or thin, red state or blue state, we can all agree that Crocs belong in the garden, not out in public.
Ultimately, everybody’s shoe wear is a choice and even beyond croc, I see a number of ugly shoes out there. I think the issue that stands is that the ubiquity of crocs indicates a dying sense of propriety and style in our society. That we can go out in rainbow rubber shoes, cutoffs and whatever other housewear, to a nice place is a sad state of affairs.
I personally don’t even wear sneakers out anymore unless I’m going to the gym because they are too casual for my taste. I would never wear crocs because they are not aesthetically appealing, but I’m sure for the $30 that one spends on crocs, they can find a nice, cute, reasonable pair at payless. And that is where the offense of crocs begins, there are plenty of shoes out there that could be bought with that money that would enhance someone’s wardrobe. While I personally do spend quite a bit of money on my shoe collection, there is no need to cross a line of decorum that includes going everywhere in public in gardening shoes.
… Manolo, I will always love your blog and how much laughter I derive from it. I don’t take it all 100% seriously and I doubt I’ll ever spend more than 200.00 on shoes or boots.I thought ma2one had some valid points but it was mean spirited and a rant. Of course I’m donating whatever I can to Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army. I am not shallow but I read your blog everyday and it hurts me when someone chastens you! Happy Holidays everyone, and lighten up. The Manolo, he is our friend!
What a wonderful, lively discussion this silly twit has set off! I love this blog! (And what do you wanna bet she doesn’t stay gone?)
But may I echo and emphasize: Please, please, please, can we leave politics out of it? Not my blog, of course, but I’d hate to see things here go that way. It’s not like there aren’t 11 billion other places on the Web for that.
Well, ma2one got what she wanted. Attention. And we all got conned into giving it to her.
I agree with Abbey. Comfort and style are not mutually exclusive. I think the big problem with Crocs (and style nowadays) is that people equate flattering clothes/shoes=uncomfortable and unflattering clothes/shoes=comfort. I have found better-looking shoes that are cheaper than Crocs at Payless.
In any case, I promote shoes that have adequate arch support. A bad shoe can mess up your feet and your back. Thus, the Croc does nothing for me.
The five year old may wear the Crocs. Five year olds are bringers of such beauty and sweetness. They may wear whatever they choose. The elders, well, we have to put some effort into it.
I agree with Bridey. I love to hear people talk about politics as it relates to the fashion industry, and therefore this blog (example: the ethics of shoe production using sweatshop labor.) However, several people who shall remain nameless have started taking cheap shots at others’ perceived political affiliations.
Many people here, such as Deirdre, have shown their ability to express their opinions in elegant, clear and thoughtful ways. Others have shown only their inability to do so. Please, stop taking cheap shots and start communicating effectively.
May the Manolo be unchastened, as the chastening post is unchaste and chaffing (and ridiculous), like the mammoth crocs, and therefore unworthy of one’s being chastened over.
One of the things I love about fabulous shoes is that they are like wearable works of art. One of my favorite exhibits at the Field Museum is the “History of Shoes” wall. What I love about Manolo’s shoe blog is that it is a celebration of well made lovely shoes that may one day be considered more important than simple footwear. Can I afford $800 for a pair of shoes? No, I can not. (I’m willing to bet my children’s orthodontist can!) But it doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate lovely shoes and don’t deserve the best footwear that I can afford.
This discussion is another reason I love Manolo’s shoe blog!
I agree with so much that has been said, especially about ma2one’s lack of humor and perspective. I did buy a pair of Crocs a few months ago to wear after a long day of hiking in the wilderness. Their primary benefit was weightlessness, and since I could strap them to the outside of my backpack, they added a bright color that may have entertained others.
However, I did not find them that cheap or comfortable. Others have made the point that there are attractive, sturdy, and cheap shoes available at Payless and Target, and this point cannot be made often enough when discussing Crocs. In addition, my narrow feet fairly swam in the wide Crocs, which did not make me feel particularly secure at the campsite.
Since returning from that trip last spring, I have not worn my Crocs. At home, I prefer house slippers or flip-flops, depending on the temperature. When I venture outside the home to a casual environment, espadrilles or sneakers suffice. The most comfortable shoes I own are my cycling shoes.
No, they are not just shoes. They are nasty-looking abominations, and to suggest that anything else is expensive and uncomfortable is, at the least, severe dissembling. I spend less for better regularly, by the way. There is no point made by the humorless “chastener” which holds water.
I don’t object to some of ma2one’s argument (I had missed the damning of Crocs on an environmental basis, which I would agree is wildly disingenuous), and while I don’t wish to wear Crocs, they don’t arouse any particular burning loathing in my soul.
But I object strongly to the notion that it’s inappropriate to judge people on how they choose to comport themselves. It’s inappropriate to judge people over what they can’t control or to value them only according to what they can spend, but it’s absolutely appropriate to assess people based on their choices. Style of expression, behavior, and dress are all choices that send messages to other people, even if the message is only “I don’t care what other people think.” It’s not a prerogative to send a message that you don’t care what I think and then tell me not to judge you. A world that allows us to dress as we wish also requires the freedom for other people to think what they wish about us as a consequence.
cap, you are crap.
MeLizzard you are SO right. All the people I know who wear crocs vote non-red, and the croc-wearing state I visited last, where these people were wearing crocs in the WINTER is my home state, BLUE-STATE, of Illinois.
So there’s MY anecdotal evidence to add to the rest. LOL
There are plenty of comfortable, reasonably priced shoes that are not ugly. The crocs (particularly the croc mammoths with the fake fur lining) are not one of them. I will admit to having one pair, they are useful for mopping the floor, bathing animals and other housework tasks that require a water resistent shoe. But in public? No.
I’m not sure I understand the croc-fad at all, when for roughly the same price you can outfit your whole family (yes, down to the wee-ist babies) in color coordinated Vans slip-ons. Absolutely ANY classic sneaker out there is just as comfortable and more attractive.
The idea that there are exactly two choices in buying shoes, “ugly/cutesy, comfortable, and cheap” and “beautiful, painful, and expensive” is ridiculous. I don’t own a single pair of designer shoes, all of my shoes were reasonably priced (not cheap, but none priced over $150), and all of my shoes are comfortable and fashionable.
I refuse to wear cheap, ill-fitting shoes because I’ve seen what such shoes can do to one’s feet. The result is not attractive, and the surgeries needed to correct such problems are not cheap.
To each his own, but I shall continue to buy fewer pairs of good shoes that match my public-service-sector budget while also keeping my feet healthy and well-clad.
Meahwhile, I’ll come here to enjoy the beauty of designer shoes, and hear about the latest shoe and fashion news and opinions. But I’d rather not read poorly written rants crafted to sting our benevolent ruler and his well-behaved and loyal subjects, thankyouverymuch.
Ayyyyy! What a donnybrook, and over fuzzy ugly shoes! ma2one, the great Manolo intended only graciousness in his highlighting your post, I am sure. For it is good to a) realize that some people have passion about shoes, even if they are not shoes of which the Manolo, strictly speaking, approves and b) to keep the economic limitations of the real world in mind.
My sense is that the people who read this blog regularly are not snobs. Quite to the contrary, they often pine for the impossibly lovely shoes Manolo features, which are typically outside of everyone’s spending limit. We are, I’d humbly venture, aesthetes. We appreciate beauty, and wish to grow in our appreciation of it. In this regard, the Manolo is a mighty teacher. He has a spectacular eye for the gorgeousness of footwear, and is not without a bargain-hunter’s instinct either. He will point out a lovely thing on sale which might bring it closer to affordability of his worshipful readers.
Though certainly there can be debates regarding something as subjective as beauty, there appears to be a consensus among people who appreciate lovelieness that Crocs are singularly unattractive, particularly on adults, and particularly when worn in very public places (as opposed to the park or the garden). For starters, they make your feet look huge, they cut off the length of the leg and have the overall effect of making you look stumpy and yes, cheesy.
Still, no one wishes to deny you the comfort you long for, nor even the Crocs themselves if they make you happy (though yes, we’d prefer not to see them). But nor do the denizens of Manoloville enjoy being called frivolous airheads dedicated to the wasting of cash. It is that perception invited by your post which, I think, has created such a dustup.
To correct something on the record above — red/blue state politics plays no role in shoe worship. Ann Coulter, Condi Rice and Nancy Pelosi all own some spectacular footwear, and Hilary Clinton and Laura Bush own some dowdy ones. All of them would be better off studying at the feet of the Manolo.
Ayyy! My lengthy, well-reasoned dissertation was lost somehow. So here’s the short version. ma2one, we are not snobs. We are aesthetes; people who appreciate beautiful things and wish to grow in appreciation of them. The Manolo has impeccable taste and we love to read the blog for that reason — to see what his eye has divined. Your post effectively calls all of us superficial idiots for finding beauty in shoes. That is why the comments here in return are a bit more aggressive than the norm.
But let’s be clear: most of the commenters can’t afford a pair of Louboutins. Doesn’t mean we don’t dream of them, or use them as an ideal of construction and form. An eye for style has to be developed just like any other skill. Once you do that, you can find less expensive versions of the shoes you see here.
Though certainly beauty can be subjective, I’ve never even heard the defenders of Crocs call them lovely. On children they can be cute, but then children can also wear ridiculous bows, high-waisted pants and all manner of other frippery that would look ridiculous on adults. No one begrudges you comfort, or even your Crocs. We begrudge a world in which things as patently ugly as Crocs become popular because it’s an indication that our aesthetic education is failing. But be sure that no one, most especially the Manolo, thinks you are an inferior person because you enjoy Crocs. We just think you should stop by more often, and tell us in 6 months whether you still think you can wear them out.
Best.
Bah! I have read this daily for over 2 years and I have never seen such foolishness. However, Ma2one is right about one thing. I DO think that Crocs are beneath me. Yup. In fact, I think all ugly shoe are beneath me – whether they cost $8 or $1800.
The Manolo has no reason to be chastened for highlighting this blight.
That is all.
Sigh… my chiropractor just told me to get some Crocs. *whimper* i told him i would, but that i would only wear them in the house…
Oh my goodness, Roz goes away for a weekend and everyone forgets to take their medication.
They’re just shoes, people.
I also fall in the crowd of people who can’t afford most of the shoes on this blog. Even if I could I wouldn’t even be able to wear 95% of them because of numerous foot problems (forget heels over 3″!). But still, I admire good and/or unusual design when I see it, even if I can only fantasize about wearing it. Many of these designer shoes are beautiful works of design and craftsmanship, and life would be just a little bit duller without such things!
As for decent-looking “comfort” shoes, I’d rather be on my feet all day in some decent socks and stylish, retro-`80s sneakers with an EVA midsole (Reebok Classics, Asics, Kangaroos, etc.) than soft foam clogs. Many of them are within $40-60 when they’re not on sale, come in almost any color imaginable, and tend to elicit friendlier comments ;)
I’m a nurse. I work 12 to 14 hours a day, several times a week. I refuse to wear Crocs.
Despite their popularity (which is fading, by the way) with medical folks, there’s one thing that keeps me away from them:
They fuck up your feet. Badly.
That’s my main argument against them. They’re too soft to provide decent support, they’re too wide for most normal humans (though they fit me just fine, go figure), and the foot slips around in them in a way that’s actively dangerous if you have to move quickly.
I wear big, ugly, awful Dansko Sport clogs to work in. They’re solid leather, they protect my foot from dropped needles and a legion of other, less pleasant things, and your toes won’t break if you roll a bed over them in Danskos.
To me, the primary question to ask with any shoe is this: if you’re wearing it for any period of time, will it feather some podiatrist’s nest? I find the answer is “no” with most good-quality heels and “yes” with Crocs and Croc knock-offs.
But I still wear my knock-offs for gardening.
Jo, the Dansko clogs are *far* more attractive than the Crocs. :)
I know this topic has been exhausted to death by now, but I shall state my opinion anyhow.
The problem with ma2one is that while she vehemently defends the monstrosity that is the Croc, she fails to understand a number of points.
1) She doesn’t understand aesthetics
The main reason why we readers at the Manolo blog hate this shoe is because it is ugly. Ugly shoes deserve to be ridiculed. This is true of cheap ugly shoes, and is also true of expensive ugly shoes. Crocs tend to be more ridiculed above all other shoes (except perhaps the Ugg boot) because they are ubiquitous and some people seem to not understand why they are inappropriate.
We readers of shoeblogs.com (excepting ma2one) appreciate beauty in a good shoe. That shoe does not need to be a heel nor expensive nor designer. ma2one does not seem to understand this concept.
Under her reasoning, ANY sort of art should then be considered materialistic and shallow. I mean, why go to an art museum then?
2) She doesn’t understand appropriateness of shoes
The reason why anyone would wear heels around the house is to break them in. Or, you are a Stepford wife. That is why we have comfortable shoes. There are numerous comfortable shoes out there that are cheaper, more comfortable, and more attractive than the Crocs.
ma2one’s attempt to compare Crocs and heels is like trying to compare a Paris Hilton album to Mozart.
She fails to understand that Crocs and heels serve completely different purposes. You don’t wear heels digging around in the garden. You also don’t wear Crocs to the opera.
3) She doesn’t understand that in society, appearances do matter
ma2one claims that if we were to go out in our flannel boxers are comfortable, she would not judge us. Unfortunately, society does. First impressions DO matter. You would not show up at a job interview, dressed in a nice suit but wearing Crocs.
4) She doesn’t understand the fact that her son is only 5
Yes, so what if ma2one’s son loves Crocs? He’s only five years old. It is ok for young children to wear such footwear, as the loud colors and cartoony design of the shoe are acceptable. Heck, even Ben Affleck’s and Jennifer Gardner’s little girl wears them. However, such qualities are not acceptable in grown-up men or women. What is cute on young children does not translate so for adults. How many respectable women do you see wearing pigtails or cartoon characters?
5) She doesn’t understand that Crocs are dangerous
Even though Crocs are theoretically ok for young children, it doesn’t excuse the fact Crocs are in fact dangerous. There have been many reports of children getting their Crocs caught and shredded in escalators, or even getting a toe ripped off.
The problem with the Crocs is that its rubber construction is too soft and grippy, and makes it very vulnerable to getting caught in mechanisms such as escalators.
Even the US gov’t implicity agrees. On a recent visit to the Smithsonian, I saw a sign standing next to the escalators with a photo of a shredded up Croc with a big red slash under the words “Caution”.
So really, ma2one (or anyone) should not be allowing her young son to be wearing Crocs everywhere he goes. All it will take is an accident on an escalator and she will change her mind about Crocs.
6) She doesn’t understand that didn’t express her opinion intelligently.
It’s all right to have an opinion that differs from everyone else. See the previous “Dissent on the Manolo Blog” post for an example. The problem is that she attacked ALL of us by claiming we are “materialistic, judgemental, arrogant people” without adequate reasoning. There is no quicker way to find yourself ridiculed on a blog, my ma2one dear.
You can’t argue about taste. Actually, you can, but it’s pointless because a discussion won’t change the way you feel about prefering Crocs or Manolos.
You might even have both.
It’s also pointless to argue about the way someone else should spend their money.
I come here to look a pretty things, according to my very personal taste Crocs are not pretty and I don’t really care if they are comfortable or not, I think they are too ugly for my feet and because of that it would be a complete waste of money.
If you’d like to wear them: not my problem, as much as it isn’t anyones problem how much I spend for my shoes – which are actually fabulous and comfortable.
I don’t own a pair of Crocs (I personally don’t like the style) -BUT I’m not going to make a judgement about someone’s personal merit just because I see them wearing Crocs to run to the grocery store. And do you guys really think ma2one would go to a formal / business-dressy event wearing Crocs?
I just think it’s mildly ridiculous that people are making assumptions about the political standpoints and intellectual abilities of the wearers of Crocs. Sure, ma2one’s original comment was strongly worded, but I don’t think there’s any cause to rail against her with such vitriol merely for daring to express that she likes the shoes.
I come to Manolo’s blog because the subject matter is light-hearted, and when you get right down to it, mildly frivolous. Yes, I said it: the upscale shoes featured here are very beautiful, and I even consider some of them to be art, but I would never buy a pair. I have a 2″ titanium pin in my foot; all I can tolerate these days is Dr. Martens and Earth shoes (which have also been decried as “ugly” on this this blog.)
I understand that appearing proper and presentable in public at all times is a high priority for many of the posters here. I work in a corporate environment and I try to look presentable at all times, too (despite my sensible shoes.) But, seriously, if ma2one is a busy mom and she likes her Crocs, let her have ‘em. The furor in this thread is just kind of over-the-top, that’s all.
ma2one, his name is Manolo. Really. No need for the quotation marks.
And, furthermore….
The Crocs are not a good bargain! They’re way over-priced trendy things when it’s so easy to find cuter, cheaper, better quality shoes. Yay for the rubber boots! Yay for the $15 rubber gardening shoes!
For the rain and for the gardening.
“Tania Says:
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Why is it that what pleases the feet must so often offend the eyes, and vice versa?”
My vote for best comment.
The rise of the Crocs is a response to the fact that so many beautiful shoes hurt the feet. And there is nothing worse than spending a ton of money on a pair of shoes, and then finding out after you wear them a while that they kill you.
Shoe designers and makers really need to look to making better looking, comfortable shoes. So many of the comfy, high-end shoes, still look pretty orthopedic.
T says: “Sure, ma2one’s original comment was strongly worded, but I don’t think there’s any cause to rail against her with such vitriol merely for daring to express that she likes the shoes.”
The vitriol directed at ma2one had nothing to do with the fact that she likes Crocs. It was in response to her multi-paragraph rant, during which she directed plenty of insults and vitriol of her own at the Manolo and his readers simply because we dared to express that we do not like the Crocs.
Agreed, Cat. I work for the Manolo, and I’m likely to buy croc-like (but off-label, because I don’t pay for labels!) shoes this winter, for purposes of mucking out the balcony drain when we’re three inches deep in slush, but may God strike me dead if I wear those abominations to a dinner.
Horses for courses, my friends. Horses for courses.
I’m surprised that the impression of the commenters is “judgmental and arrogant.” Overall, I think this is one of the nicest, most diverse blog communities that I visit. I read from people up and down the economic ladder and (thank heavens!) politics rarely enter the picture. (After all, we are talking about shoes.) It is unfortunate that a new visitor got that impression, but I wonder if it only fit her preconceived notion of what a shoe and fashion blog would be and from that came her comment. Just a late-arriving thought.
dangster and everyone else phrased and organised it better than I could so thank you.
Just because they’re comfortable and cheap DOESN’T mean it’s a good idea to look like you stepped out of a Hannah Barberra cartoon. ma2one is an adult so I can’t see why she can’t see the logic in investing in good shoes like Dansko, Sofft, Softspots, or even some versions of the Earthshoe. They’re expensive but it’s b/c like many designer shoes, they’re designed to be comfortable. For what you pay for several horrendously loud coloured crocs, you could have 1 pair of sensible and attractive brown shoes that go with most professional and casual clothing.
And why does she even pick on our beloved Manolo?! There are so many posts of him pointing out absurdities, one recent one being the exorbitant price markup on a shoe in which reptilian embossed leather was the only difference from the original leather design. I believe Manolo is no snob and does not blindly worship these luxurious accessories so much as not grace us with his sardonic musings.
Very ugly, very dangerous. They are NOT okay for kids!
http://crocsaccidents.blogspot.com/
Hanging By A Shoestring: Leave Crocs Alone
By Robert Gonzales (robert@soasinc.com)
In case you haven’t noticed the holiday season approaching because you a bumbling fool who hasn’t left the house in weeks to expierence the countless numbers of shopping sheep looking for the perfect gift…
Yes, Christmas is upon us and by God everyone must find the best deal or be excommunicated to poor shoppers hell! (Well maybe not hell per se, but at the very least you’ll be forced to wear a sign on your chest that says “Stupid Shopper” in public with no makeup and sweat pants on) During this time, we are guilty of being thrifty because honestly with gas approaching 4 dollars a gallon if your name doesn’t begin with O and end in Prah, you probably have a limited budget. So what is one to do? Buy expensive pretty gifts that are fashionable but not comfortable or gifts that people can actually use? Its the age old debate about vanity over usability or as I call it, the Brad vs. Forrest test.
Imagine if you had the choice between Brad Pitt and Forrest Whitaker.
Now both are world class actors, they’re rich, and famous. But one is *ahem* … Brad Pitt. And the other one has an eye so lazy that he can have a conversation with two people on opposite sides of the room and look at both of them at the same time. So for arguements sake let’s say that Brad is a jerk and Forrest isn’t. Do you go with the eye candy that is jerky but is *ahem* … Brad Pitt or with the nice guy that you can’t be sure if he’s looking at you? This is how I feel about Crocs.
For the uninitiated, Crocs are a popular slip-resistant plastic shoe with holes in them. The are hyper popular with the kids and people who could care less about what something looks like and want to be comfortable (otherwise known as Forrest people… not to be confused with tree huggers). Other looks based folks (who will be known from here on out as Brad people) look at Crocs as the worst thing to happen to fashion since MC Hammer pants….
Some have even gone as far as to waste their lives writing blogs about their hate for crocs and even going as far as to torture Crocs for information about where in the hell the terrorists might strike next.
Ok, well maybe she’s not torturing the shoes for terrorist info, but she’s at least going to get some info on Iran’s nuke program.
First things first… crocs are affordable. On the Shoes On A Shoestring website, most crocs go for about thirty American dollars (as opposed to 325 Pesos). So if you do buy some, you won’t have to break the bank. So what’s the big deal? Why do people hate these shoes so much? From what I gather, there is a large population of croc-haters that just find the shoes as repulsive as taking a bath in sour milk and hot garbage.
But really… are they that ugly? Seriously, they are like a high tech flip flop… and they are really comfortable. There is a new croc called the Mammoth which has a fur lining in it and wearing it is like walking on a fur rug at your grandmom’s house… without the pugnant ordor of moth balls in the air.
Now crocs aren’t what I would call a fashion shoe that you could wear with anything. So if you see someone wearing a suit and crocs…
…feel free to slap them as hard as your human based strength with let you… Now if you are the Hulk, then use your gamma radiation strength to Hulk smash them. Crocs are meant to be worn as a casual shoe that you might wear with a sundress or jeans…
or even on your boat if you have the money to lavishly spend…
But to say that crocs are an abomination of epic proportions is a bit much…
Maybe I spoke too soon….
If this is how she feels, why read this blog?
Yes,
Life IS all about fabulous shoes, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise children. Also, the more people shop for crocs, the more they stay out of my favorite shoe stores! Viva la croc! hahahahahahah!