Croc A Doodle Doo!
Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 10:33PM 
Crocs™, Crocs™ everywhere. Walking in the neighborhood, being sold at Sports Basement, and even shodding the feet of people out on the town. They’re adorable on little kids because they’re a colorful, efficient update of the classic Salt-Water Sandals® we wore when we were little. (The Hoy Shoe Company of St. Louis, MO still makes Salt-Water Sandals®, by the way – can’t go wrong with the original.) However, Crocs™ as adult fashion? I will admit that they are an extremely practical shoe to have around during triathlon season, when you have to transition from the pool, to the bike, and then to breakfast with the team. You couldn’t ask for a better thing for your feet in that situation. Throw them on with your sweats, garden away, but for the love of Pete, don’t wear them out to dinner! I know this seems overwhelmingly obvious to most of us, but I’ve seen it done. In fact, I’ve been out on dates with gentlemen who thought this was appropriate footwear. It’s not.
Crocs™ are a compelling business, originally developed by Foam Creations Inc. in Boulder, CO a few years ago. They seem to be maintaining a great set of corporate values while watching their popularity explode. I am especially in admiration of their Crocs™ at Work program to provide specialized footwear to the Health Care, Hospitality, Restaurant, and Transportation industries. As a former line cook, I must say that this is fantastic. The shoes are billed as both orthotic and ergonomic, so it only makes sense. While nurses and cooks love them, the shoes were originally intended to be boating or outdoor shoes due to the slip-resistant, non-marking sole. Other good points? According to the Crocs™ website, they mold to your feet, have air vents, weigh only six ounces, and are resistant to odor and bacteria. But, “ultra-hip Italian styling”? Someone please show me the influences of anything remotely Milanese on these babies.
Crocs™ are great for the people who need to be on their feet all day, but lets not get confused by comfort footwear being high fashion. Let’s review the history: Birkenstocks®, Tevas, Crocs™. A few years ago, we let UGG® Boots get out of the slipper world, and girls in flippy micro-minis thought they could wear them to black-tie parties on New Year’s Eve. Believe me, if you had been at the Mark Hopkins that night you would have witnessed the atrocity first-hand. I’m begging, please keep Crocs™ in the kitchen, the hospital, the garden, on the boat…anywhere but the runway. I understand cross-marketing of a new product, however I think it’s a reach to say they’re for the fashionista (as they do on the website.) I’ll go out on a limb here and say that Crocs™ are cool, colorful, and gaining they kind of popularity that ensures stock splits and acquisitions. However, without going out on a limb, I am pretty certain they will not be placed among Nina Garcia’s top 10 picks.
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