History and evolution of the clogs
Sons of the 70s and of the Nordic tradition, the clogs are back and divide the opinion of the fashion world
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G-Club
April 15th, 2021
April 15th, 2021
Fashion is cyclical and sooner or later all the knots turn to the comb: directly from 2010, here resurface the wooden clogs, controversial shoe but with a great personality. It-Girl Camille Charriere calls "Clogophobia" the fear of the shoe that has been unleashed after the luxury giant Hèrmes has opened the doors in the world of high fashion with its runway spring-summer 2021. In October, Lyst Report had recorded a growth in demand for clogs by 27%, and thanks to the forced lockdown the frenzy against the latest decline in the trend of ugly sandals began with J.W Anderson. It then took off when Celine, Bottega Veneta and many other high fashion houses also launched their models. In short, for those who hate them there is no story: clogs are the shoe of summer 2021. There is something intriguing behind a controversial shoe, which makes it irresistible. Just think of the success of Birkenstock, entered the olympus of LVMH thanks to its competitive wisdom. Clogs today are a self-declaration of style, born for utility in the Nordic countries and then spread to Sweden and Japan, then becoming the last frontier of fashion influenced by the scandi-style. With the importance of the Copenhagen fashion week, if today there is a model of Puddle Boots signed Bottega Veneta adapted to comfortable concept slippers is certainly not the fault of the Dutch. Let’s discover the history of the must-have footwear of this summer 2021 because, hate them or love them, they are back.
Historical notes
Clogs are the footwear of traditional Dutch dress, worn on special occasions such as historical revisions and during national dances. The oldest clogs found in archaeological excavations near Amsterdam are dated 1230 AD (thanks to carbon dating) but the footwear is probably even older, perhaps attributable to Roman soldiers, however less stylish than the Scandinavian peoples. The first shoemaker officially made a pair of clogs in his workshop in 1570, and from there each city has its own shoemaker able to create a pair in just 3 hours. Originally they were used as protective work shoes for the commoners, carpenters and peasants in manual and potentially dangerous jobs, and the classic pointed upwards served a little as protection and a little for the mobility of the foot inside the wooden shoe. Then their noise made them perfect for tap dancing. The alder wood of which they were tentatively composed did not adapt to the shape of the foot, but keeps it away from the heat in the summer months but also from the cold of the harshest months. Today technology makes them more comfortable and soft. Clogs have become the symbol of the Netherlands and along with tulips are one of the most popular souvenirs to give back from a trip to Holland: the country produces about one million pairs per year for this purpose.
Clogs in the 70s and today
With the evolution of travel and intercontinental trade in the America of the 70s comes also the avant-garde Scandinavian fashion, characterized by the wooden plinth that blends very well with the hippie and rebellious culture that flourished at that time. Worn by men and women often without socks, they were the most comfortable and wellness-oriented shoe you could want thanks to the supposed benefits of contact with wood, but it was perfect because unconventional by nature: The wood didn’t fit the foot, the bearer’s foot had to adapt. The rebellious concept of clogs echoes in the many vintage photos that immortalize the classic fashion of the 70s, with wooden clogs worn almost submerged by the fabric of large jeans with flare or large long and dark skirts. Looks like a familiar image, doesn’t it?
How to style
Celebrities who love hooves are not few, and do not like to hide. Dua Lipa has recently shown the world his unexpected passion for the Scandinavian accessory in high heel version and cow print pattern. The aforementioned Camille Charriere imagines a fashion show POV sitting on the sofa wearing the infamous pair of clogs Hermès while the angel Elsa Hosk goes around the streets of New York showing off a pair of clogs in Dior monogram. The cute Instagram account @clogsblog captures the coolest hooves seen on the streets of the world, and who knows if there are even the feet of Bella Hadid in the middle? In the early 2000s, however, the most popular with clogs were Alexa Chung and the Olsen twins. None of the famous girls mentioned above lack style, is this enough to declare the clogs new emblem of avant-garde fashion?
