ChocolateCitySkin Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 http://www.slate.com/id/2170301/?GT1=10238 The Croc Epidemic How a heinous synthetic shoe conquered the world. By Meghan O'Rourke Posted Friday, July 13, 2007, at 10:55 AM ET In the demi-monde of footwear, the term croc was once synonymous with elegance—the reptile skin covering a pair of stiletto sling-backs. Today, it's synonymous with an entirely different—and altogether vegetarian—phenomenon. In just a few years, the exquisitely ugly shoes known as "Crocs" have spread around the world like a Paris Hilton sex tape, giving rise to an epidemic of croc babies and their more egregious counterparts, croc parents. The shoe looks adorable on sun-kissed toddlers, but, alas, the fad did not stop there. For such a modest item (a typical edition sells for $29.99), the Croc has traveled in high places, disgracing the extremities of such celebrities as Mario Batali (who prefers the bright orange variety) and George W. Bush (who paired them with shorts and dark socks). As fans will tell you, Crocs aren't just footwear; they're the closest thing to religion that the foot has experienced. The company's stock has skyrocketed in value over the past year, and Crocs is now poised to launch a new product line this fall. Yet Crocs are heinous in appearance. A Croc is not a shoe; it is a Tinkertoy on steroids. How did this peculiar shoe-manqué achieve ubiquity—and can it possibly stick around? ---------------------------------------------------------- I personally like crocs alot. They are comfortable and super practical for boating and outdoors activities. I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDaddyShoo Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Crocs are the perfect shoes..........if you're a 6-year-old girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.C.O.L.B. Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I don't even know what the hell a croc is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Yeah, I've heard of these celebs even getting into them. One thing's for sure: Clay Aiken can't get enough croc. He just really loves crocs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateCitySkin Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 How can a shoe be so damn polarizing????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskns21 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Crocs are the perfect shoes..........if you're a 6-year-old girl. Yeah, my 6 year old girl has a pair and they're kind of convenient for her and look okay but I wouldn't be caught dead in them. I prefer flip flops I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheers, Beers and Mountaineers Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 i saw a guy wear them one day, i felt compelled to tell him to turn in his man card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fergasun Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 We used to have those jellies didn't we? Or at least the girls did... fad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Yeah, my 6 year old girl has a pair and they're kind of convenient for her and look okay but I wouldn't be caught dead in them. I prefer flip flops I guess. Flip flops are bad for your feet and back over long periods of time. Good for a pool-side outing or something but not for out and about. I wear sandals sometimes if I'm going out and they're safer for driving than if you just wore flip flops. They also are usually more substantial in design and have better coloring that works with more casual *but not super casual* gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 wait, we're not talking about crocodiles? oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Listen to the Shoo. He knows his bidness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfootballer Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I don't even know what the hell a croc is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I hate those things. I had a class where a guy sat behind me wore those crocs all the time, that may sound harmless enough, but the problem was that I could smell every time he wore them. gag!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willmb5 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I ****ing hate crocs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bschurm Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I hate those things. I had a class where a guy sat behind me wore those crocs all the time, that may sound harmless enough, but the problem was that I could smell every time he wore them.gag!!!!! The first thing I thought of when I first saw them explode onto the scene was they have got to stink like **** after a while. People have been wearing them for a few years now here in FL. I was talking to someone at Sports Authority the other day and he swears by them. There used to be people running around in boat shoes all the time. Now I see those boat shoes being replaced by these hiddeous looking creatures. I prefer flip-flops. I would say I wear them 65-70% of the time out of 365 days a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 The crocs in Florida say those crocs are gay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 i saw a guy wear them one day, i felt compelled to tell him to turn in his man card. I saw a man and his 3-4 year old son wear matching crocs. I would have said something if he wasn't a half a foot taller than me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#98QBKiller Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I can't even tell you why but I ****ing hate crocs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MF Doom Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 All the nurses at the doctors office I work at wear them. Apparently, they're pretty comfortable. That being said, I would never consider wearing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 ...They make a Redskins version. I still wouldn't buy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartacus87 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Tons of people wear them at the pool I work at in Orlando, and tons of people wear them around Tallahassee, even when I'm out at night at bars or something. They're hugely popular. I don't really care either way. People swear by how comfortable they are, and their look doesn't really offend me, I just choose not to wear them- it's either sandals or running shoes for me. Personally, my favorite shoe fad was L.A. Gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ax Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Got my Redskin crocs last week. They are very comfortable. I like them a lot. They also make croc flip flops. My wife swears by them as well. And BTW ~ In order to obtain a Platinum Man Card, you must show the ability to do and wear what you like without worrying about what others might think of it. Take my Man Card? Some of you children crack me up. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borninblood Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 They remind me of the shoes chics wore in the 80's Remember the jelly's? :puke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfitzo53 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Hey, they went perfectly with an assortment of tasteful slap bracelets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldysknzfn1 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I like them. They're comfortable and light. I have a pair of Redskins Crocs. I like em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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