1980's - Nimrod "Tanachi" Sandals
1990's Teva "Theraputic" Sandals
2000 - 2005: Source "Shoresh Extreme" Sandals
2005 - present: Uglyest Shoes on Earth: "CROCS"
I have no clue if Crocs are sweeping the rest of the world like they are in Israel, but they are appearing everywhere. I was just at a meeting at work and the guy next to me was wearing lime green ones. On Shabbat, someone came to shul wearing white crocs.
Personally, I think they're the ugliest footware on the planet, but I'm told they're very comfortable. In Israel, they sell for close to 250 NIS ($56) -- isn't that a bit expensive for such silly looking shoes? Then again, if you wear them to work during the week and to shul on shabbat it could be a decent investment.
Do people wear these to shul in the US? On Shabbat? To Work?
Can you do carpool with these, or is that a major faux pas?
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael
Someone already blogged about this last week...
ReplyDeleteNo Crocs here yet but the Times warned that they are coming. Instead, people (both genders, all ages) here wear flip flops to shul. The kind you wear in a public shower at the pool. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteMan, you are advertising for everyone and anyone these days.
ReplyDeletethey seem to have taken off here somewhat, although doesn't seem to be as popular as in israel. hideous things. (unless you're under the age of five and then it's forgivable. cute even.)
ReplyDeletewhat about naot? they seemed pretty popular at some point.
(dot co do il posted about them recently too.)
Sarah: DCDI posted about these? I must have missed it. My apoligies...even if he did go after me for my "obsession" with hating the world-cup :-)
ReplyDeleteJoe: Are you saying I should cancel my upcoming ad-sponsored blog name change of "Nike, The Muqata and Aliya: Just Do It!"
my more israeli than american (phew!) bilingual kids have them, of course... they HAD to have them. and the funny thing? between the three of them, the colors they chose are red, white and blue!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my NCSYers was wearing them at the last convention, in a shade of green that wasn't quite "lime" but I'm not sure how else to describe it. I, too, think that they are quite the ugly footwear.
ReplyDeleteHrumph!
ReplyDeleteImitation is the highest form of flattery ;)
ReplyDeleteI was in a shoe store and someone asked if they had crocs. The guy said no. Being the helpful person I am, I mentioned that the Sketchers looked the same as the crocs. The woman looked at me in disgust and left.
ReplyDeleteThe guy at the store (israeli) said to me, crazy Israeli's they don't even know what they are but have to buy them.
Yup - they sure are this summer's thing. My daughters wear 'em. They are ug-lie as sin, magnify natural eau d'toe jam, and only come in colors not found in nature. But they are way comfortable.
ReplyDeleteDave
http://betbender.blogspot.com
Don't worry Jameel, when i come for Shabbat i'll be wearing retro shoresh sandals.... or maybe real shoes :-P
ReplyDeleteI had a pair of Nimrods.
ReplyDeleteJack: Somehow, I knew you did :)
ReplyDeleteSteg: Shoes?! Ack!
Dave: but they cost a fortune!
Rock: Hmmm....my skeckers (sp?) look nothing like crocs.
Scaps: But they are supposed to feel mah-veh-lous on your feet!
Coming from the Muqata I'm surprised you have the cheek to insinuate that Humus is Israeli!
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummus
>Nimrod "Tanachi" Sandals
ReplyDeleteaaahh yes. I still have mine. And wear them proudly by-gum.
Crocs are HUGE by us here in the great Midwest. My son's day camp actually put the words "No Crocs" on the form discussing proper camp wear.
ReplyDeleteYou're not going to believe it, but I recently saw someone wearing a pair of those in the subway... and she was NOT Israeli, I can tell you that. This horror has now made its way to the U.S.! (I've never seen them in the United States before) What's next???
ReplyDeleteat the Hebrew University store they are selling something that looks like Crocs for 69 NIS.
ReplyDeleteThey arent any uglier than the other sandalim... are they made of plastic or rubber?
ReplyDeleteOkay, so they aren't exactly attractive, but I don't think I could ever go back to life without my beloved crocs (I have four pairs). I was way ahead of the unfolding trend - my first pair is over a year old. I got the idea from the nurses I met in the hospital who positively crowed about the comfort factor. My mom despises them, strangers look askance at them, and friends question them. But I? I love them! (p.s. They only cost about $35 online. Oh, and don't accept one of the imitations that abound. Nowhere near as comfy.)
ReplyDeleteAll the college kids have em. They're plastic. They're ugly. They slosh around and make your feet look huge. And in white?!?! You'll look like minnie mouse (thought not as cute, just the humungo feet)!
ReplyDeleteLike minds...
ReplyDeleteI also blogged crocs yesterday
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/2006/06/shoes-croc-or-not.html
among other, less healthy, things
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2006/06/few-things-today.html
Crocs aren't horrible for females. But men, eeew. I thought they were women's shoes.
ReplyDeleteJameel:
ReplyDeleteyeah, shoes... wearing sandals with a jacket and tie would look a bit weird, don't you think?
;-)
They're about thirty-five dollars in the US, for the adult models. I'm in Northern California, where they're wildly popular with the preschool crowd--at my Y, you can tell the baby exercise class is in session because of the rainbow of little Crocs lined up outside the gym. I can see the benefit of shoes for small children that you can run under a garden hose to clean off.
ReplyDeleteSo far I have not spotted any in shul, but who knows? They're goofy, but not indecent.
they are all over the states, especially in jewish day schools, i see many kids wearing them in all colors.
ReplyDeletewho would pay 50 dollars for rubber gardening shoes?
Steg:
ReplyDeleteHowabout a tie, jacket and CROCS???
only if you buy the crocs ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was just in Israel and was amazed at the popularity of Crocs! They *are* somewhat popular here in the U.S. (thanks to Mario Batali, etc.) but not to the extent as in Israel!
ReplyDeleteYes, they're hideous. When I brought my first pair home (black) a few months back, my husband, who is French, asked if I'd been shopping for shoes in Germany (German shoes have a reputation in France for being really practical and VERY ugly, so it was definitely an insult!)
ReplyDeleteBUT, having worn them while walking for miles around California and travelling in Milwaukee, Chicago, London, Bulgaria and France, I have to say they are THE MOST COMFORTABLE shoes I have ever worn. Not a single blister or foot pain, period! They look heavy but are actually weightless, too.
And now you can get little charms to put in the holes, like cat paws, menorahs, etc.
But the big breakthrough is that my husband now owns and wears a pair--at least on weekends! 8^)
Thanks for interesting article.
ReplyDeleteNice Blog!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting site. Blog is very good. I am happy that I think the same!
ReplyDeleteExcellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!
ReplyDeleteI like too much this crocs, i did not know that the crocs are from israel, is good for this zone because now we know that in this place, there are very good sandals.
ReplyDelete