I have always been a practical person when it comes to shoes—well, practical for a fashion editor anyway. I tend to stick to styles that I don’t have to think about. I can’t stand those shoes that enjoy reminding you every five seconds of their existence by A) flying off your feet or B) rubbing your poor heels into oblivion. That is not to say I don’t think about aesthetics, and so you can imagine my delight when the comfy hiking sandal was declared an object of fashion veneration in 2019.
Fast-forward 12 months, and we are all in a very different situation (to say the least). However, my penchant for practical shoes remains and has become somewhat useful in my new work setting. The average day includes mooching around the house, working on my laptop and sitting on the sofa, but I didn’t want to be stuck in slippers 24/7. My solution? Birkenstocks. Yes, you’ve had a pair since you were 15, and they’re not exactly a groundbreaking discovery, but all the same, let me inform any fellow Birkenstock virgins that I have literally not taken them off for the last two months.
After much deliberation and research, I opted for the Arizona EVA iteration, which is slightly cheaper than the classic Arizona and made of the brand’s signature EVA fabric, which looks like leather but feels like a softer form of flip-flop material (no need to wear them in, hurrah!). They cater perfectly to my WFH needs and truly go with every single outfit, from jumpsuits and jeans to midi dresses and slip skirts. Don’t believe me? Just scroll down to see photographic proof, and shop my fave Birkenstock styles.