First worn by rural workers in pre-industrial Europe, clogs have become the shoe of summer and possibly fall. With thanks to Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2010 collection, Karl Lagerfeld put a clog in our step. We trace the clog trend from runway to real way.
Chanel SS2010
THE VENDOR: Matthew Broughton, footwear director, 1927 (European distributor for See by Chloé, Sam Edelman and Juicy Couture, among others).
“Clogs are a staple in most designer footwear collections come spring, however it’s not often they make it out of the showroom and onto the shop floor.”
Why?
“A combination of the Dutch national dress, unforgiving rigid soles and it being a very difficult construction to make comfortable on anything other than the traditional low wedge has made it a somewhat niche product category – until now that is.”
What happened?
“Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld’s SS10 Chanel runway show (the one set in a farm yard) the wooden hoof is very much a summer hit; with every Marc, Jil and Dolce getting in on the act.”
How green is my clog?
“Ecologically the clog is very 2010 – with very few components all of which are natural (solid wood base, leather uppers, steel rivets) it has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any shoe.
Cape Clogs
THE IMPORTER: Since 2006, Pamela Irving, founder of Cape Clogs has retailed alder-soled clogs from Massachusetts. Right now, her bright Pica Pica heels are bestsellers.
Clogs: recession friendly or an affordable luxury?
“They are recession friendly and they are affordable: under $100 on most styles. And they give that extra special pizzazz to an outfit when needed.”
Falsterboden clogs at c/o The Maidstone
THE HOTELIER: Jenny Ljungberg runs c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton, New York. Just like a Nordic home, there are hand-painted Falsterboden clogs in every room for guests to wear and purchase ($125 for adults, $105 for children’s clogs).
Why clogs?
“Having clogs around your country home is a centuries old Swedish tradition as it’s so much more comfortable to put on a pair of clogs than your fashion high-heeled shoes or boots when sneaking out for a cigarette.”
Will there be clogs in the room next year?
“Clogs are here to stay at c/o The Maidstone.”
