But what would I know? I’m a guy. My shoe collection is just what you’d expect. I wear Stan Smith white leather tennis shoes during the day. Timberland boat shoes for grown-up events. Bass Weejuns  for dress-up. Right: zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

 

I would ordinarily pay no attention to suggestions about shoes. On the other hand, when two people write you almost at the same time to suggest the same thing….that’s God talking. It’s actionable. And so I dutifully went to the Crocs web site to find out about these airy rubber shoes originally made for gardeners that are now widely appreciated as a "lightweight, comfortable, slip-resistant, fashionable and functional shoe that can be produced quickly and at an affordable price to our customers."

 

They left out "ugly." But then I read some testimonials and realized "ugly" was part of the appeal. And that when two Croc-wearing strangers meet, they tend to feel they’re old friends. These Crocs — they’re not only long-wearing and comfy, they’re the MySpace of shoes.

 

So I asked the Butler community for feedback. And you wrote:

 

"My brother in law came to visit us from Atlanta a few weeks ago. He was wearing what I thought were clogs, like Mario Batali wears. Close inspection showed they are more comfortable with better support than clogs. The colors are funky. The design is great for walking, the back strap keeps the shoe from slipping off. Great in the rain. The one drawback is that depending upon the size of your foot, you could look a bit ridiculous. The toe tips up so that it looks Dutch. Like most clothes, color makes a big difference. Some of the dark colors look too "shoe"-like. But hey, for thirty bucks, they work."

 

"I have been wearing them since they came on the market about two years ago. I had just had foot surgery and they were the only things that I could wear as the toe is very wide. They are most comfortable and the colors are great, so it really didn’t matter what they looked like. I was just happy to be able to get a shoe on my foot. I am somewhat of a fashion plate and the ugliness of them really did not bother me! I am taking a trip to Europe this July and I am packing two pairs as they are so light and comfortable. You must try them! You will be hooked!"

 

 

"Lighter than air, and a great orthopedic footbed….lots of people at the hospitals are wearing them, attesting to their comfort and durability. I hear they are made from recycled plastic bags); if so you are doing your bit for the environment. Rockin’ colors too."

 

"If you fall off your boat….they float."

 

And my favorite: "My guess is that Crocs will soon be the shoe of choice of wannabe WB extras in LA, who have been searching for an ugly shoe to wear since they were forced to toss their smelly old Uggs."

 

Shall we make Crocs the "official" shoe of Head Butler? And, if so, do I have to wear them too?

 

To buy Crocs for men/women/children from Amazon.com, click here.

 

To visit the Crocs web site, click here.