| by anonymous | 11/07/06 | 263 views |
If Sex and the City has taught us anything, it’s that girls love shoes. It’s almost impossible, however, to find a shoe that is sufficiently fashionable as well as extremely comfortable. Maybe Crocs, the trendy but controversial shoes that seem to be everywhere, are just what girls have been looking for…or are they?
Introduced in 2002 by three founders based in Boulder, CO, these colorful, quirky and unusual shoes are quickly gaining popularity. Originally developed for boating and outdoor use because of the slip-resistant, non-marking material, these shoes are favorites of water lovers and nurses. Recently, however, Crocs have walked themselves into the closets of men, women and children across the nation.
How do college students feel about Crocs? I set out to talk to the girls of UD to get a sense of their thoughts. After surveying student after student I came to the conclusion that Crocs have not found their way into the hearts of many UD students. The overwhelming response was not about the comfort of Crocs, but what they look like. Allison Wechter explained, “I think they are so ugly, they look like clown shoes.” A sophomore UD student who wished to name anonymous said, “I hate them so much, I just want to rip them off people’s feet and throw them away.” Determined to find at least one person who had something good to say about these shoes I kept looking, and eventually found her!
Kasey Gust, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, got her Crocs this past summer. “I always wanted them, but it wasn’t until my two- year- old cousin got them and said he wanted me to have them too that I finally got a pair.” Gust acknowledges that Crocs are not the best looking shoes, but she does not care what others think, as long as her feet don’t hurt: They are really comfortable, who cares if they are ugly!” Gust even admitted to being a member of the Facebook group: “I like my Crocs and I don’t care what anyone else says.” She explained that it is not just the comfort that she loves; you can wear them in every kind of weather, and you can just slip them on.
Comfort and convenience are not as important to everyone. Nevertheless, the comfort and convenience of Crocs have yet to win everyone over. A senior economics major and Croc hater, who wished to remain anonymous, considers herself a full-time fashionista. When asked about Crocs, she said, “They are the ugliest things ever! The bright colors, the holes, the back strap, everything about them is wrong!”
Alison believes that it is okay for Crocs to be worn for practical uses, but wearing them as everyday shoes does not make sense to her. She explained that she does not care how comfortable Crocs are: “I would never wear them, they are ugly! I like fashion too much to care about whether something is comfortable or not, if I cared about comfort I wouldn’t wear half the things I do.”
These are obviously not the most beautiful shoes, but those who have gotten over this fact will tell you it is not always about what something looks like on the outside. I guess in the end the big question is about giving up style for comfort…would you do it?
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University of Delaware
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