Love Them or Hate Them, These "Ugly" Shoes Are Here to Stay

There are few footwear staples as polarizing as Birkenstocks. The super-comfortable shoes have been called "ugly" by some, while others wear them daily (including yours truly). Though their history runs back to 1774, the German sandals have only been adopted by the fashion set in the past handful of years, as more and more bloggers, editors, and influencers are spotted wearing them during fashion week.

As demonstrated by the fashion-minded who adopted the everyday staple, how to wear Birkenstocks was hardly a question, as it quickly became apparent that the clunky shoes go with everything from slinky dresses to flirty frocks to any iteration of a jean or trouser getup. So whichever side of the debate you stand on when it comes to these comfortable shoes, it's worth checking out the fashion-girl way to wear Birkenstocks. If you're not already a proponent, these looks just might persuade you. Head below to shop our Birkenstocks edit.