2024 marks a remarkable 250 years since the founding of the company behind everyone’s favourite cork footbed sandal: the Birkenstock. The brand’s chunky strap Arizona, first created in the 1970s, is a go-to style for everyone from the likes of twenty-something models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, to 82 year-old Paul McCartney and my dad (who is one year younger than Sir Paul).
Although they were initially confined to health food stores and worn by hippies, Birkenstocks slowly infiltrated the fashion world, making their way onto catwalks as early as 1983.
As a long-time fan of Birkenstocks, I’ve always had a pair in my wardrobe since my early twenties and I don’t even own any heels. I don’t confine wearing them to the summer months, either, because the Arizona and Boston styles are perfect for styling up during autumn and beyond. Here’s how I wear mine.
Eke out shorts weather
Maybe it’s all those formative years spent in a school skirt and cardigan, but I do find that my legs can take a chill if the rest of me is adequately warm. Which is why I love to prolong shorts weather season – the shortest season of the year! – into October if at all possible. The key for me is to wear a longer length pair of shorts and a heavier fabric both on top and bottom halves. Double, or even triple denim is ideal here, and you can even sneak a thermal vest under that shirt for a bit of an extra snuggle factor.
Levi’s denim coat (past season); Aligne denim shirt (past season); Roake Studio ‘Tilly’ denim Bermuda shorts, available made-to-order in 17 fabrics; white Birkenstock Birko-Flor vegan Arizona sandals, around £90 for similar (Hannah’s are twelve years old)
Secret leggings
Why does it feel a bit more ‘fashion’ to show a bare ankle rather than donning a pair of tights? Who knows, but as such, I’m wearing a pair of leggings under this dress. I picked up this trick from the fashion blogger Kate Hiscox, AKA @wearsmymoney, who swears by ‘secret leggings’ as a way of keeping warm while still hanging on to the last remnants of summer. I have also become a fan of ‘secret cycling shorts’ for dresses and skirts with a shorter hem length than the one I am wearing here. Both of these tricks also give the gym-shy (guilty as charged) the opportunity to offer some of the items in the lesser used sports drawer the chance to get to their optimal thirty wears.
The Well Worn gingham dress made from deadstock fabric (past season; try The Well Worn for similar); Roake Studio ‘Nicole’ waistcoat, £95, available made-to-order in 8 colours; Birkenstock black leather Arizona sandals, £90 (Hannah’s are ten years old)
Smart trousers and socks
Although I am personally a big fan, wearing socks with your Birkenstocks – known as ‘socks and stocks’ to the well versed in this area of footwear – isn’t for everyone, aesthetically-speaking. But once you’ve tried it for yourself, you’ll struggle to argue with the comfort levels, because the one thing more comfortable than wearing your well worn-in Arizonas with bare feet is pairing them with some socks. The class of sock here is key, because you don’t want to look like you popped out with the bins and then forgot to put on your ‘proper’ shoes. To make it feel like an intentional outfit decision, choose your socks carefully and steer clear of novelty prints. I favour a chunky, ribbed style like these from masters of the chunky ribbed sock, Rock + Ruby.
Lavender Hill ‘Adobe’ roll neck, £65; Justine Tabak reversible waistcoat (past season); Topshop Boutique trousers (around 10 years old); Rock + Ruby ‘Mabel’ socks in Denim, £23; Birkenstock black leather Arizona sandals (as before)
And when it’s wet…
For wet and windy days (like the day we shot these pictures) and when the mercury drops, I reach for my Birkenstock Boston leather clogs instead of my Arizona sandals. More practical than their ubiquitous suede counterparts, this pair has served me well for the past eight years or so. I think Boston clogs look far better with socks than without, and you have the obvious added benefit of not getting wet toes when it rains as you would with the Arizonas. As a perpetual casual dresser, I like to wear my Bostons to dress down something I’d potentially feel overdressed in, like this knitted tube skirt.
Law Design Studio jacket (past season); Community Clothing t-shirt in Cinnamon, £25.50; Conditions Apply skirt at Percy Langley (past season), Rock + Ruby ‘Sophie’ socks in Pumpkin, £22; Birkenstock Boston clogs, £125
Three Autumn sandals outfits
Look one
Jersey t-shirt, £12.95, Muji; Alpaca wool vest, £125, ME+EM
Denim midi skirt, £95, & Other Stories; Suede clogs, £195, Russell & Bromley
Look two
Bamboo socks, £7.50, Pairs Scotland; Leather sandals, £170, A.Emery; Pleated wide trousers, £39.90, Uniqlo : C
Gold vermeil earrings, £110, Otiumberg; Tencel shirt, £130, With Nothing Underneath
Look three
Leather bag, £470, Polene; Wool cashmere blend dress, £175, Jigsaw
Ribbed boot socks, £12, The White Company; Double buckle leather mules, £65, La Redoute
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