Key Sentence:
- This is one of the most controversial issues of our time, not Brexit or how to handle a pandemic, but a particular pair of shoes. Crocodiles – do I love them or do I hate them? Because after all, you can’t avoid it.
- Crocs sales are up 64% in the first half of 2021, and severe celebrity endorsements are helping propel them into the fashion stratosphere.
The camp I always go to is very sure: “I’d rather have a torch at my feet than put a pair of alligators on it.” However, two things came together last week that made me reflect on these odd contentious points. The former tried to fight the unbearable heat in London by wearing comfortable-looking light sandals; Readers, I don’t mind telling you about the brutality. After 12 minutes of walking, my leg was cut and bleeding. Not a sturdy pair of Oxfords, but a cool table by the pool.
Subsequently, a book of chi-chi in the scorching heat was launched, in which several well-dressed men wore crocodiles and even combined them with traditional stitching. So, in the name of research – how noble – I put myself in a pair. First thought? I said you’re comfortable. And cooling – perforated details make it more heat resistant than other summer shoes.
Your other USPs are worthless; Many men, myself included, pick up driving shoes, and while they are beautiful, they need care and attention. Made of a special kind of resin instead of plastic, Crocs can pick up anything you throw at it, from gardening to healthy walks.
Stick to the more informal end of your wardrobe. Despite the golden alligators with the red carpet at the Oscars, at the feet of director Questlove, they’re hard to team up with something intelligent and sophisticated unless you make a profound statement.
But at the other finish of the scale, men often wear them with cargo shorts and t-shirts, looking straight out of a geography teacher’s trip. A happy middle is the best way forward; a Summer casual shirt and slick shorts – instead of the Duke of Edinburgh-style cargo iteration – to soften the Crocs mentioned above realistic character.
What if you’re still not sure? Summer shoes for men are tricky beasts, but the best way is to make our Italian brethren – soft driving shoes, espadrilles, and tiptoes just right when you’re at the beach or the pool.