I do love ugly shoes! In fact, the phrase “ugly shoes” is a compliment in dava's strange world. Birkenstocks, UGGS, even those ugly, ropey-looking hemp sandals – LOVE them all. It's all about comfort for me. What I hate are pointy-toed shoes, skinny heels that make me wobble and narrow, pinky-toe-rubbing torture devices.

Slippers? C'mon, TED!

Ohhhh, I do love me some pointy-toed torture devices

OK, someone who wears Crocs outside the house has, um, no leg to stand on.

I do heart my Chucks. They make me think of those skinny punk boys of my youth.

If I can't download you on iTunes, you're not a rock star. Just sayin'…

Ah, the Chucks question. I live in Brooklyn, Bushwick to be specific (which is the hipster capital of the world for those who don't know). Hipsters sure do love them some Chucks. Guys wear 'em, girls wear 'em. With skinny jeans, with shorts, with leggings, with moustaches, it doesn't matter. They Chuck it up all over the place.

This always amuses me. So many people say that they wear them because they are comfortable or because they are practical or whatever. And I can't help but notice that to most of these people they only became comfortable and practical after they became fashionable. Funny how that works out. Granted, i'm certainly not above conforming to fashion trends. Before I moved to NYC I wore flip flops about 350 days a year, now I never do.

p.s. I should also say that I'm commenting based on the Chuck wearers in my neighborhood. I'm sure the experience/reasoning is different in other areas, such as this blog.

They’re the Jeep of the shoe world. You can track them through all manner of gunk all day long, toss them in the wash, and they’re good as new. It’s also just a good, clean looking shoe – a nice change of pace from all the other crap with embossed vinyl, mismatched materials, and clashing colors (I’m looking at you, Puma).

Wearing Chucks just tells the world you can handle anything that comes your way. Plus you look like a rock star.

Hmmm, why people love Chucks:

1. They're punk. They've been a staple of punk scenes for decades, and as far as shoes go, nothing else really has the same street cred. That's just a superficial reason, though.

2. They remind us of 4th grade. All the cool kids had them in the '80s, usually in crazy colors, and staying loyal to them just keeps us grounded in our awesome, pseudo-subculture roots. Even though they're completely mainstream now. (Which doesn't matter if you were around the first time.)

3. They're damn comfortable. Seriously, they just conform to your foot, exactly the way they refuse to conform to the weddings and high-end banquets people sometimes wear them to just to be all punk and stuff. You can forget you're wearing them for, like, 3 days at a time.

4. It's OK to let them get all f'ed up and shredded, because like a good pair of Levi's, the more street grunge on them, the more acceptable they are. In fact, the only time they're lame is when they're right out of the box. (Or when they're artificially weathered, which is like wearing a band t-shirt without knowing who the band is.)

5. After you shred them and wear them down to the bone, you can sell them to people in Japan for $80. But there's very little research to back this.

Crocs? Wow, I have nothing to say.

Oh, Dave…I was being snarky. But then again, Chucks do *not* a rockstar make. I wonder if Mike wears Chucks….#ponder

Dude, women wear some U-G-L-Y shoes. I'm backing you up 100% there. I even copped to the Croc flops. #footwearfail

Flip flops are another trend. My other half would wear them in snow if he could get away with it. And I applaud the use of the phrase “Chuck it up.” Kinda like upchuck but without the cleanup!

I remember the very first pair of shoes I ever actually WANTED to own were black and white checkered Vans after I had seen the same pair featured in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Then, there was a lag in the Spicoli fashions and I couldn't find them anywhere.

So when I did find a pair I picked them up even though they were at least two sizes to big. They were amazing no less.

Naturally, a few years later, you could find the same pair of shoes just about anywhere. From Hot Topic to the feet of hipsters.

Overall, they're loved by so many because they are so damn timeless, cheap, and are easily and readily personalized by a Sharpie or a Bic pen.

As for Crocs? I can't take anyone seriously when they are wearing Crocs. I don't care if you only wear them between the swimming pool and the locker room or while you're weeding your garden (literally, or not). They look stupid, they've always looked stupid, and when Crocs finally goes out of business you'll realize what a silly fad you got sucked into.

Well…. fine. Here.

Why people wear Crocs:
1. They became trendy. So did minivans and the Jonas Brothers, but I digress.
2. They’re “different.” I’ll give them that. They certainly are.
3. They’re waterproof. This makes them adept for washing your laundry in the river and stomping in mud puddles, and protects them from spilled Zima.
4. They’re cheap. Or at least they were before they became trendy. And if they’re not, they should be. But I bet they are.
5. They’re there if the shoe store doesn’t have Chucks in your size.

Dude, I didn't PAY for the Croc flops…Shesh!

You also didn't throw them away!

I started liking them waaaayy back in high school. And before the were bought by Nike (ugh) they were cheap. But I like them because my feet are flatish and they really don't have much in the way of arch support.

Seriously – the outpouring of emotion over footwear here has been impressive. Have you all filed your taxes?!?!

Yep – bought them in 2003. Fortunately, Nike left the basic design alone but has added loads of snazzy colors

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/business/worl...

Aw, Erika say it ain't so! Chucks are so cute! I feel like they bring out the little kid in you. But I can see why some people might not like them. They're really not all that cushioned. They're horrible in the rain. And sometimes I feel like they make my feet look kind of clown-ish… so I started getting them in kid's sizes haha.

I'm a fan of my Nike Eclipses You should check those out!

I don't get it. I don't. I wore Chucks as a teen because it was cool and that's what you do. But they hurt my feet. And they only got comfortable when they started falling apart. Sorry. No help from this girl.

Approved

OK – I'm awarding you five Random Redhead Points for the Axis/Labor Day/New Coke/Kate haircut rant.

Awesome.

You know, I've heard tons of folks swear by the Five Fingers shoes and I have to say, it's likely I'll buy a pair!

Thanks for the voice of support, Andy. Seriously – why should you have to wear something into submission? GAH!