Comfortable Clogs

Today, when someone mentions clogs they are usually referring to a type of shoe with no back that can be slipped on, but thanks to the rise of the Dansko brand over the past decade, that’s no longer a requirement for a shoe to be classified as a clog.  Clogs range in style and purpose from Crocs, the popular rubber shoes, to sandals to shoes with heels that can be worn in more formal settings such as at the office. There are womens clogs, mens clogs and even styles for kids, and they can be purchased in leather, fabric, wool, plastic, or other materials.  Birkenstocks are a popular type of comfort clogs, as are Danskos.

Clogs have a long and colorful history.  Today, when shoe shoppers type “clog” into the search engine or make a statement like “That outfit would look great with clogs!”, they mean something totally different than the original, wooden shoes worn mainly by European peasants.  Historically, clogs served a purpose, but eventually inspired a form of dancing still practiced today, a form of fighting that has disappeared into the mists of history, and a shoe style that has evolved into something far from associated with peasants or poor people.

Originally clogs were shoes made of wood worn by people who worked in the fields, mines or factories to protect their feet.  Although they are mainly associated with Holland and thought of as Dutch shoes, clogs were worn all over Europe.  They were made differently, though.  For example, in England, clogs were slats of wood that were tied together and were usually worn over other shoes made of leather of fabric.  In Holland, clogs were usually made of willow wood and were one piece rather than strapped or tied together.  Most people think of the Dutch style with upturned toes and no back, but clogs were also made with a leather or other fabric upper and there were even clogs that had backs and laces and some people wore boot-style clogs.

Not only peasants wore clogs.  Wealthier people with expensive shoes they wished to protect wore them also.  Before the days of septic systems, sewers, land-fills and incinerators, trash and waste were tossed into the streets.  In cities, clogs were often raised on heels or platforms to keep the wearer raised above the nastiness in the streets.  People who had very delicate or expensive shoes would wear clogs as an over-shoe for protection, from mud, dirt or even rain.

Clog dancing probably developed in factories.  Workers wore the wooden-soled shoes to protect their feet as they worked the looms, and would tap the shoes against the floor in rhythm to the banging and clanging of the machinery.  The dances became more complicated and extravagant and today people take clogging lessons and dance competitively.  Special clothing and shoes are worn during the competitions.

During the 1970s, clogs became a fashion staple, although the soles of the shoes were usually covered with rubber or some other material to make them more stable for the wearer.  Designers departed from traditional styles and created clog sandals and even dressier styles.  Mostly they used natural fibers, such as cork and rope, to create the distinctive look of the decade.