An article recently published by The Business of Fashion asked: “what happened to the high heel?”. With insights from Edited, a retail analytics firm, it outlined shifts in the footwear market – specifically, the decline of stilettos and the uplift in sales of lower heels. And such buying habits aren’t exclusive to heel purchases: the shoe landscape as a whole has favoured comfort-centric silhouettes for some time. Clogs, for one, have become a preferred shoe of choice among the street-style set.
Chloé’s creative director, Chemena Kamali, has aptly infused her boho collections with clogs and wooden wedges, while Miu Miu’s spring/summer offering debuted slip-ons designed in the spirit of a clog (hammered leather uppers, sculptural soles), worn with toeless – and heelless! – sweatband-esque “socks”. Elsewhere, Birkenstock’s cult Bostons – which, along with Crocs, are considered an artefact of the pandemic – are still doing the rounds, while JW Anderson’s beloved loafer mules from many moons ago are still very much on the fashion map.
Whether traditional or contemporary; crafted from suede, leather or even shearling, clogs are a versatile investment to make for the spring/summer period – and a practical alternative to sandals. Scroll on for some of the best clogs available now.
