If You’re Thinking About Birkenstocks, Consider the Madrid

Kale and Birkenstocks must have one thing in common: a really, really good publicist.

How else would the two rather unassuming enigmas have become as popular as they have within the realm of fashion if not for the aid of a truly trailblazing and unapologetic ball buster? Kale is being used in ice pops and on jewelry and in smoothies and on sweatshirts which are all as equal parts au courant as, say, a piercing is — not to mention Man Repeller has covered the calciferous green at least as many times as we have the concept of style in the last year and change.

As far as Birkenstocks are concerned, need I even really mention Phoebe Philo or Kate Moss or Giambattista Valli and so forth again? That’s a trick question because I already did but you get the point. To really drive the point home, here are three dedicated stories that have been published in the span of the last year.

First, there was On Birkenstocks.

Then, there was On Ugly Shoes, Again.

As recently as April, there was The Birkenstock Debate, and today, there is an answer to the question posed on the end of that post (“Should I get them?”), and that answer is yes.

But only if you’re going to consider the double strap’s determinately chicer older sister, The Madrid. It looks a little bit more like it’s fresh off a boat sailing through the French Riviera and a lot less like the remaining spoils of the last Woodstock festival.

What you’ll find in the slideshow above are the sandals styled three different ways by three different girls starting with me, who wore them with a denim-looking Acne shirt, replete with back side cut out, and 70s style flare leg jeans by MiH. The handbag is Chloe and the sunglasses are Illesteva.

While I let my ass run free as it does, Amelia covered hers with a Madewell striped shirt. She also wore a white sweater from Topshop and old jeans by 7FAM. Charlotte let her inner-Row girl out with a mid length dress from Reformation and a sweater by Vince.

When all was said and done, we three agreed that the shoes were more comfortable than the double straps (which, admittedly, we’d all tried at least once) and I, personally, liked that I felt like I was heading toward a ladies locker room to take a shower with every step I took.

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Now, will you try the Madrid? Frankly, it’s a wonderful way to remain on the fringe of a trend without pouring your entire body in the pool that is, I’m sorry for saying this, basic-ally Normcore.