Birkenstock’s Boston clog still reigns supreme this summer, but a model by Bershka could well steal the show.
Each season has its obsessions. This summer, it’s the Boston clog from Birkenstock that wins everything. Cocoon silhouette, soft suede leather, gold or silver buckle on the instep: the German closed mule is a favorite on the catwalks as well as the sidewalks. We see it everywhere, on the feet of fashionable girls as well as in the streets, worn with an aplomb that takes it from the status of a gardening shoe to that of a pointed accessory. The only problem is that its price flirts with 165 euros. Enough to hesitate when you’re just looking to slip a little nonchalance into your summer wardrobe, without transforming one day’s desire into a seasonal investment.
And this is precisely where the low-cost brands have spotted the right thing. It’s difficult to resist such a viral trend without wanting to make it accessible to as many people as possible. Bershka jumped into it with a certain flair, and its very round tip, its fitted buckle which gives this chic utilitarian side, this suede material which imitates the cozy texture of the original quite well: everything is there. We look twice, obviously. At this price, no real leather obviously, nor the famous anatomical cork bed that has made the brand legendary. But the sole remains soft, the foot immediately feels good there, and from a distance, no one will see anything but fire in it. The good surprise? The bill stops at 29.99 euros.
Its real asset is to wake up an outfit in one gesture. Just slip it under denim Bermuda shorts and a ribbed tank top for a quiet weekend, or under wide-leg linen pants to relax a too-strict shirt at the office. It also works wonders with a flowing dress, the ones you put on without thinking on heatwave mornings: the contrast between the lightness of the fabric and the slightly chunky side of the clog immediately gives a casual chic look. And it doesn’t stop on sunny days. As soon as the coolness returns, add thick socks, a silk midi skirt, and the mix of materials does the rest. This is perhaps where he proves his smartest: he is able to go through the seasons without ever appearing out of time.
Bershka does not claim to match the know-how of Birkenstock. It offers something else: a way to test the trend without feeling guilty, to dare with some slightly risky combinations and to treat yourself to style for the price of a lunch at a restaurant. A way, too, of not getting too attached to a pair that you will perhaps wear thoroughly for one season before moving on to something else.
One last word, though: given the craze for these comfort-chic models, the stock shortage should not drag on. So if you feel like it, it’s better not to think too much.
