Althouse: "But, in spite of what marketing initiatives like cocktail parties and a satellite design studio may suggest, he would be the first to say that the Birkenstock is beyond fashion."

August 21, 2018

"But, in spite of what marketing initiatives like cocktail parties and a satellite design studio may suggest, he would be the first to say that the Birkenstock is beyond fashion."

"'It’s less painting, it’s less color,' he tells me at one point, 'but it’s more emotion.' I burst out laughing. 'So you’re saying Karl Birkenstock, bitter or not, is right? That it’s not about design?' Reichert smiles and then says with care (or for effect; I can’t tell), 'There’s always a dwarf in the mountain having the biggest diamond. It’s not the nice prince. You need the nice prince to get the diamond out of the mountain and treat it right. But the ugly, mean dwarf in the mountain — he owns the diamond.'"

So ends "The Dwarf, the Prince, and the Diamond in the Mountain/An unlikely fable, in which Birkenstocks become cool and double sales overnight" (New York Magazine)(an article with many more photographs of the making of Birkenstocks than you could possibly imagine).

20 comments:

Nonapod said...: I used to hate sandals, especially Birkenstocks. I associated them with smelly hippies.

Now I wear Keens all summer long. I don't know how that happened. I just found them super convenient (don't have to worry about socks) and super comfortable.; 8/21/18, 1:42 PM
Fernandinande said...: Knob Sticker; 8/21/18, 1:49 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Birkenstocks ain't cool. Hippies weren't cool. Computers aren't even cool.

Look at a young Miles Davis and sort yourselves out.; 8/21/18, 2:11 PM
cassandra lite said...: Birkenstocks = birth control.; 8/21/18, 2:17 PM
Francisco D said...: "Now I wear Keens all summer long. I don't know how that happened. I just found them super convenient (don't have to worry about socks) and super comfortable."

Since moving to Arizona in June, a day has not gone by without wearing one of my four pair of Keens - great sandals that are good for hiking as well.

They seem much more utilitarian than Birkenstocks and much less pretentious.; 8/21/18, 2:22 PM
CJinPA said...: 'There’s always a dwarf in the mountain having the biggest diamond. It’s not the nice prince. You need the nice prince to get the diamond out of the mountain and treat it right. But the ugly, mean dwarf in the mountain — he owns the diamond.'"

Tomorrow's Editor's Note in NYM: "We wish to apologize for the use of unfortunate wording to describe Unattractive Little People..."; 8/21/18, 2:22 PM
Rick.T. said...: Gotta agree with Merle:

“Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear
Beads and Roman sandals won't be seen...”; 8/21/18, 3:12 PM
PM said...: The only thing that could up their lame-osity: Birkensocks™; 8/21/18, 3:20 PM
Anthony said...: The only people Birks look remotely good on are hot 18-23-year old females in short-short jeans cutoffs. and a tank top.; 8/21/18, 3:36 PM
Robert Cook said...: Birkenstocks are the most hideous footwear ever created in all of recorded history.; 8/21/18, 3:36 PM
Robert Cook said...: "The only people Birks look remotely good on are hot 18-23-year old females in short-short jeans cutoffs. and a tank top."

Nope, not even on them. Birenstocks will diminish the attractiveness of anyone wearing them.; 8/21/18, 3:38 PM
MacMacConnell said...: The Crack Emcee said...
"Look at a young Miles Davis and sort yourselves out."

Yes, the young Miles Davis and many jazz greats were outfitted by the likes of the Andover Shop, J Press and Brooks Brothers, the holy trinity of Ivy League style.

I knew my marriage was going to fail when my wife wanted to buy Birkenstocks.; 8/21/18, 3:50 PM
MacMacConnell said...: "The only people Birks look remotely good on are hot 18-23-year old females in short-short jeans cutoffs. and a tank top."

Birks are incongruent with good taste or looking good.; 8/21/18, 4:06 PM
tcrosse said...: Birkenstocks aren't so bad compared to 1970's Earth Shoes.; 8/21/18, 4:53 PM
MacMacConnell said...: I thought Earth Shoes were cold weather versions of Birks. Had a cost accounting prof who wore earth Shoes, made him walk like he had a cob up his ass. I thought they were some kind of corrective shoes till I saw them in a Lawrence, Kansas head shop window.; 8/21/18, 5:23 PM
MacMacConnell said...: The Crack Emcee

You might be interested, http://www.ivy-style.com/miles-ago.html; 8/21/18, 5:26 PM
William said...: You would think that the standard Birkenstock customer would be against fur lining on their Birkenstocks. Maybe Birkenstocks is reaching out to different customers. Still, you would think that the standard Birkenstock customers would form some kind of organization to protest the debasement of the Birkenstock brand. Maybe the militants could throw blood or red paint on the feet of such wearers. No true Birkenstock customer wears fur.; 8/21/18, 6:24 PM
MacMacConnell said...: "No true Birkenstock customer wears fur."

That's not true, I've been acquainted with many female Birk wears with substantial armpit and leg fur.; 8/21/18, 11:12 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Mac McConnell said...

"I knew my marriage was going to fail when my wife wanted to buy Birkenstocks."

They really know how to hurt you, don't they?; 8/22/18, 2:37 AM
truth speaker said...: Althouse said:(an article with many more photographs of the making of Birkenstocks than you could possibly imagine).

Very cool article and by God! you were right! MANY MORE photographs of Birks being made than I could possible imagine! But still very cool and interesting. I love this kind of stuff.
Thanks!; 8/22/18, 7:47 PM