Every Clog Has Its Day

Guy Day Friday: 38...and Ugglebo wants our input!

What kind of men's clog would you like to see?

 

I created the image below months ago as a whimsical commentary on the state of men's footwear. Women have choices when it comes to expressing themselves with fashion. And express themselves, they do. In plain text, cursive, italics, bold, underlining, and all caps.

 

 

Men, on the other hand, have had to make do with a No. 2 pencil.

 

But today on Every Clog Has Its Day, I hope we can take the first step to moving the needle in a new, more exciting direction for men's clogs. 

Not that long ago I profiled the young man who had just taken the helm of the venerable Ugglebo clog line, David Giese. (Featured Designer: Ugglebo - Every Clog Has Its Day) 

 

A quick glance at the Ugglebo website makes it clear that this brand is not resting on its laurels. You'll find medium heeled clogs and clog boots and more on their virtual shelves. David and his company are reaching out in a number of ways to spread the gospel of wooden goodness near and far. As he and I were preparing the Ugglebo feature for publication, I told him about an idea that I had. I've seen that the men's clogs that are available are typically created along the lines of traditional Swedish clogs. But I know from e-conversations with a number of my male readers that they are often looking for something more. More cool. More macho. More interesting. More adventurous. More than ordinary. I asked David if he'd be interested in getting input from my readers on what they'd like to see in a men's clog. And he told me most definitely yes. 

So what would make a men's clog something to get excited about? A higher, chunkier block heel? A lower flat soled shoe? A robust lug sole? A squared off toe? An ankle boot design? A lace up clog boot? 

We've knocked around the idea before on Every Clog Has Its Day. But now we have the ear of someone who's in a position to do something about it. And what's more, if we can get a consensus and enough of a commitment from potential interested buyers of what we may dream up, I think there's a chance we might get our collective vision of a man's clog into the marketplace.

Interested?

Take a moment to think about what you'd like to see in a men's clog design. Then e-mail your ideas to me care of everyclogblog at comcast dot net. Just write a simple description of the features you'd enjoy.  Or feel free to nab an image from elsewhere on the web and simply say, "I'd like to see this in men's sizes." Maybe it's not even a clog design at all, just a cool looking shoe that you think would be great with a wooden sole. 

There are no wrong ideas here. We're just interested in hearing what people are thinking. (And let me make clear that women are also encouraged to chime in. Especially those of you who find clogs on men to be sexy. What guy wouldn't be interested in wearing a pair shoes that his gal thinks makes him look hot?)

Just to keep this project moving along, I'd love to hear from you by next Friday. You can chime in afterwards, of course. But if we can get some ideas to mull over by next Guy Day Friday, we can take our discussion to the next level online and get some specific input from David and the rest of the Ugglebo team.

I'm excited. The recent clog design contest I held is giving birth to a shoe that never existed before. And although this is not a competition, I'm very hopeful that the outcome will also be something new that we all helped bring into being.

 

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Ugglebo announces their new website

 

And while I'm mentioning Ugglebo, I should mention that this venerable clog maker has just launched a new website. What's more, they chosen to break the news to the webosphere via Every Clog Has Its Day. That means that you're some of the first people to find out! Woo-hoo!

 

 

And along with that new website, Ugglebo has also launched a number of stunning new designs. Quite a few of which fit in with today's Guy Day Friday theme of "clog designs we'd like to see for men". Just take a look at the new Ugglebo clog boots below.  

 

Philly mid heel clog boot

 

Philly mid heel clog boot

 

Aspen mid heel shearling clog boot

 

Seattle mid heel clog boot

 

Seattle mid heel clog boot

 

 

Seattle mid heel shearling clog boot

 

Definitely food for thought. 

And if that's not enough for you to be mulling over...

 

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Ugglebo discount offer

 

While you're visiting the new Ugglebo website, the team there would like you to treat yourself to a discount.

 

 

Once you've totaled up your purchases, apply the coupon code below and receive 20% off. 

 

Lindsey20

 

Did somebody say 20% off? Point me to the Ugglebo web store!

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  Cecilia Tidlund, the dynamic force behind the never-fail-to-fit Clogmaster line is in Chicago at the moment to fit customers here. I showed up to interview her for Every Clog Has Its Day, and wound up having a fitting done for myself. More details to come. The hardest part was deciding what shoes to be seen in when I presented myself before her. I'm no stranger to sacrificing a little comfort for the sake of style. But I knew that just would do for an audience with Ms. T! And then I spied my Lindsey clog boots from Multnomah Leather Shop. My custom made pair to the rescue! Thank you, Mark Casperson, for making it possible for me to show up before the Clogmaster (she told me she thought "Clogmistress" just didn't sound right) with no fear!]

 

This 'n' That...from Here 'n' There

Summer exited Chicago recently without a lot of fanfare, and in its place cooler, wetter weather has made itself at home. Without realizing it was happening, I suddenly find the season for short sleeves and bare legs is over. And that means all the knits and leathers I love to wear can finally come out and play. Accompanied by all manner of clogs that are just perfect for colder temps. Hooray! I had a fun summer sartorially speaking, but this fall, I think I'm really going to enjoy myself!

 

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In Time of Scrimping, Fun Stuff Is Still Selling

 

This just in from last Friday's New York Times:

 

With a flat job market and an economy that will not improve, Americans are once again buckling down and cutting back.

At least on the things that they can resist.

Consumers at all income levels have been splurging on indulgences while paring many humdrum household expenses, according to industry data for the last year. Many retailers also report that while fripperies like purses and perfumes are best sellers, they cannot get shoppers interested in basics like diapers, socks and vacuum bags.

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Consumer psychologists say that in this uncertain economy — coming after one of the worst recessions in generations — it is just too hard being good all the time.

“People have a limited supply of energy to put toward controlling their urges,” Kathleen D. Vohs, a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota, said in an e-mail. Ms. Vohs studies spending behavior at the university’s Carlson School of Management.

Many of the products selling briskly are not high-priced, but they could be on a party supply list: premixed cocktails and coolers, cheesecake, cosmetics and wine. Meanwhile, sales of staples like batteries, bleach and fertilizer have declined sharply.

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“The toughest businesses, frankly, have been in the middle of the basics assortments,” Myron E. Ullman III, chairman and chief executive of J. C. Penney, told investors last month, referring to clothing staples. In the company’s second quarter, shoes, handbags and jewelry were top sellers.

At Kohl’s, similar categories — watches, handbags and women’s shoes — were among the strong sellers in the second quarter.

“The psychology of the customer is you can — I hate to sound too esoteric here — but you can improve your outfit or dress up your outfit without buying a new outfit by buying a new handbag,” said Kevin Mansell, chief executive of Kohl’s. “It makes people feel better.”

* * *

“In a poor economy, at any given moment people are more likely to have problems with self-control than otherwise — because there’s only so far their self-control energy can be stretched,” said Ms. Vohs, the professor of marketing.

Well, it goes without saying that if you wanted to work on self-control, this is not the blog for you!

 

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Chinese "Wooden Sandals"

 

Or at least that's what they're called in this article on cultural-china.com.

 

In Wenchang County of Hainan Province in southern China, a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, there has always been a custom to wear wooden sandals. 

Although the wooden sandals are in the danger of being gradually eliminated, to be replaced by cloth shoes, leather shoes or plastic shoes, yet you can still see many people wearing wooden sandals, whether in countryside or town.

Muji is a general term for shoes of wooden treads. Legend has it that in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), Jie Zitui, a nobleman of the Jin Kingdom, once got exiled together with the Jin King, Jin Wengong, to another kingdom. After his return, Jie Zitui lived in seclusion in Mianshang Mountain (now southeast of Gongxiu County, Shangxi Province), and declined Jin Wengong's repeated invitations. Later, the military people ordered by the king to summon Jie Zitui attempted to force him out by burning the mountain where he lived, but Jie Zitui died holding a tree. Jin Wengong lamented Jie Zitui so much that he used wood of this tree to make Muji, and whenever he put them on, he would think of Jie Zitui.

Wenchang Muji has a centuries-old history. At first, its shape was very similar to a tiny wooden stool and the upper was added onto it. Since only a small area of Wenchang Muji contacts the ground, they are suitable for walking on muddy road or in rainy days, and it is not easy for people to slip down.      

 

It's a unique design to be sure. But I can't help wondering if muji such as these were the inspiration for the Irregular Choice styles that featured these unique wooden soles. (The style Daddy's Girl is pictured.)

 

 

 

 

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Welcome Wagon

 

And before any more time passes, let me offer a hearty welcome to Jennifer who just discovered Every Clog Has Its Day. She's a brand new regular reader here as well as being a newcomer to the world of blogging. You can check out her own lighthearted corner of the webiverse at Fighting the Frump. Jennifer describes herself there as "a forty-something British expat living in Portugal. I work from home and it would be easy to stop making an effort with my appearance. Therefore I've committed to publishing a photo of myself every weekday to stop myself from spending my life in tracksuit bottoms!"

Jennifer dropped by in the ECHID Comments last week to say,

Just discovered (a bit late in the day as I'm now 40 something) that I too love clogs. I'm sure I must have had some in the 70's but my memory fails me so I count my new tan Sanita plain clogs as my 'first' pair and I'm already looking to build a collection! I've been reading through some of your archives and you've had me laughing out loud for most of the day. Thank you and keep blogging! You have a new follower ;o)

Woo-hoo! Jennifer, we're glad to have you here to join in with our addiction support group fun. Thanks for letting me share some of the pics from your blog with my readers.

 

Jennifer also writes,

I ordered 3 more pairs yesterday including a pair of clog boots for the winter! Thank goodness for internet shopping eh?

Oh, dear. It does sound as though she's got it as bad as the rest of us. Well, Jennifer, we'll make you feel very at home here. Though you shouldn't expect us to help you show any restraint. Three more pairs of clogs? You're just getting started!

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  my steel blue XRAY clogs from Bernardo. The perfect choice to pair with my grey crewneck top and grey corduroy flares. Did I mention I love fall?]

 

 

What's New? (as of September 28, 2011)

Another week's worth of new releases, and once again I am delighted with the variety of intriguing variations on a theme that designers are coming up with. Not the least of which is the gobsmacking discovery that Timberland is making clogs now. Yes, that Timberland. Plus, there are a couple of interesting woven clog booties that have surfaced. And the Swedish maker Friis & Company have a pair of styles that I've only just happened upon, and naturally, I have to share. It's another week's worth of goodies to be considered carefully by clog fans near and far. I can hear you counting the pennies in your emergency shoe fund already.

 

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1.  Marge clog from Timberland Boot Company

Available through Zappos.com.

 

 

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2.  Hera clog bootie from Miista

Available through Solestruck in black...and...

 

 

 

 

 

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3.  Hera clog bootie from Miista

...available through Anthropologie in sand.

 

 

 

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4.  Ada clog bootie from Friis & Company

Available through Friis & Company.

 

 

 

 

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5.  Zenobia clog sandal from Friis & Company

Available through Friis & Company.

 

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6.  1974 platform clog from Joie

Available through ShopBop.

 

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7.  Clog bootie from Henry Cuir

Available through Barneys New York.

 

 

 

 

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8.  Ankle bootie from Henry Cuir

Available through Barneys New York.

 

 

 

 

 

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[On my mind as I blog:  poking around the Friis & Company website, I ran across the Roska clog bootie that they released earlier this year. Talk about unrequited love. They so effortlessly overshadow half the shoes in my arsenal. If only this maker sold their styles outside of Europe. On second thought, it might be better for my bank account that they don't.]

 

Introducing Styllbox

Just the other day I found a message waiting for me from Scott at Styllbox:

Came across your blog and though you might want to check out our Wooden Clogs and Sandals.

Today's post is just my way of answering in the affirmative, "Why, yes, I do!"

 

According to the website for this Canadian e-tailer, they offer the lowest price in North America on the German line of Berkemann wood soled shoes. European clog fans know this brand as one with a venerable history in their part of the world, though here in the U. S., they're still not well known. I remember in the medieval days before the internet (how did we ever find anything we really wanted back then?) ordering a pair of Berkemanns from an ad in the back of a magazine. (How on earth did I even notice an ad for clogs back then?) I remember at the time being enamored of their staple-less construction which resulted in that merry line of nailheads parading along the circumference of the midsole. What a delight that the world wide web has made it easy to find so many things of joy and wonder and spared us from having to rely solely on chance and happenstance. Happily, Styllbox has brought the Berkemann line closer for those of us on this side of the pond.

You can visit the Styllbox clog page here or their page for wooden sandals here. Most styles are available in both women's and men's sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  bless the changing of the seasons. I spent the day in my Savanna clog boots from UGG Australia. Yummy! Especially with a new pair of skinny stretch jeans I just bought from Victoria's Secret (not pictured).]