Mon 3 Sep 2007
CROCS!
Posted by Sandy Dumont under Question of the month
[12] Comments
Everyone raves about how comfortable they are, but I want to know if you think they look as silly as I think they do. Comfort may come with a big pricetag. What would you think if you saw President Bush wearing a pair of orange Crocs with his navy blue power suit?
Weren’t crocs originally made as gardening shoes? The first time I saw them, they were in the Lawn & Garden section of Target. They can get wet, dry out easily, and look useful for tromping around in grass or dirt. They would be noticeable so you wouldn’t accidentally mow your feet while trimming the borders. They remind me of Dutch windmills, and the story of the boy who held his finger over the hole in the levee to prevent a flood. Because they are so clunky and bright, they are the first thing I notice about the person who is wearing them – and the only thing I remember after the wearer is gone. Crocs may be trendy and emblematic of something about the times in which we live. Are they about getting back to Nature? Whatever their symbolic meaning, they don’t do anyone’s appearance any favors.
Sarah,
I agree with you. Something is wrong if the eyes are riveted to a person’s feet! It is amazing how laziness causes peole to choose inappropriate attire.
Even someone in a business suit would look as though he belonged in a sandbox playing with toy trucks, or stomping through rain puddles, wearing crocs. They look like they’re for children, because of the round shapes and bright balloon-like colors.
Sara,
Crocs are extremely distracting. Several months ago a male client showed up in crocs and I don’t remember the first 60 seconds of our conversation because I was so taken aback by his bright child-like shoes. When you opt for comfort over image, you pay a terrible price.
You hit it right on the spot, Sara! I rather see somebody bare footed than with a colored submarine on their feet.
Many wear them for medical reasons.
I believe that comfort comes first.
And I’ve worn my black ones with my designer attire and no one really noticed. And the few that did said they envived me because their bosses made them wear heels.
I siad my boss is a doll (after all I really am) and I’ve been matching my Crocs with my clothes for over a year now.
So, what would I say if Bush’s Cros didn’t match the color of his attire? Just change colors.
Dear Madwoman,
Black Crocs probably have the best chance of not causing the eyes to be riveted to the feet – and not causing the feet to look larger than they are. I suspect that there are more effective shoes for those who have medical problems with their feet.
Most of the people I’ve seen wearing Crocs did so out of laziness, and they admitted it to me. You can’t argue with the fact that they are so easy to maintain – just rinse them off. However, you can’t deny the fact that they look whimsical rather than professional, so they are best kept for personal rather than business use.
The first rule of image is to make certain that YOU “wear” your clothing and accessories – rather them your clothing/accessories “wearing you.” Crocs usually take the attention from the face to the feet, so they fail the test.
I’ve worked with a lot of companies, and I never heard of anyone making a person wear heels. Sounds a bit exagagerated.
Sandy
I am flabbergasted by the number of people who wear these things. They are ugly, and don’t look good on anyone. Who started this?? There are a lot of shoes out there that are comfortable without being ugly. Why do we go with trends, no matter what? I can understand wearing them in the garden, as Sara mentioned, but beyond that – why would anyone wear them in public? Pajamas are comfortable as well, but wearing them in the mall, or at work is ludicrous. When did we stop caring about how we look? And why?
I have medical problems with my feet, and I’ve thought of getting black crocs to wear with my suits. My doctor said I should wear New Balance sneakers with special pads he prescribed for six weeks. The six weeks are almost up, and I’m looking for something stylish that won’t damage my feet. Heels are definitely out. Any suggestions?
Hi Kim,
Most major department stores carry several lines of shoes for people with foot problems. When I broke my toe a year ago, I wore special sandals that I purchased at Dillards. You didn’t mention the nature of your foot problems. When I was modeling, I developed a neuroma and had to have surgery. With this particular problem, high-heels are not recommended. If you need to avoid heels, I would suggest plain black pumps with a “tiny” heel ( 1-1/2 inch)so that they look fashionable. If that is unbearable, the popular “ballet” style flats look great. Remember pointy toes are for heels (even low ones) and round toes are for flats.You could probably only get away with Crocs if you wore pantsuits, not a skirted suit.
Let me know if you need more feedback.
Sandy
I do agree that the standard Croc should be matched with appropriate casual attire BUT the Crocs company has SEVERAL styles, some of which are more than appropriate to wear with professional attire. They have a couple styles that look similar to a ballet style flat and they even have some nice looking men’s shoes. Check out the Crocs website for yourselves to see the wide selection of styles.
Amy,
You could be right about the ballet slippers made by Crocs, in that they could be worn with some business attire. However, I would’t like to see them with a skirted suit. Maybe with pants and a less formal top.
I’m afraid I must draw the line with men’s shoes – I just can’t imagine anything but a classic dress shoe with a suit. And even with a blazr and no tie, loafers are about as informal as I can recommend in terms of footwear. That is if you want to maintain the image of a polished professional.