The first time I saw a pair of Crocs, I was dumbfounded by their blatant hideousness. Their garishly bright colors and gaping holes made me question their apparent popularity. Nevertheless, my parents bought me a neon pink pair. I begrudgingly accepted their offering, slipping the weirdly pliable sandals onto my unexpecting feet.
That summer, I began to realize the utility of the initially unappealing shoes. The squishy material was soft and comfortable on my feet, the waterproof quality allowed me to carelessly splash in the nearby lake without fear of ruining my shoes, and the bright colors spruced up any outfit. Unfortunately for me, however, my love for Crocs reached its peak just as the rest of the world was getting over its temporary fascination with the funky shoes. Feeling pressured by the immensely judgmental glances of my peers, I retired my pair and slipped back into my New Balance sneakers.
Flash forward to the present–my senior year in high school–and my inner child rejoices as I witness the resurgence of my favorite shoes. No longer rejecting the unattractive yet utilitarian footwear, a handful of students have been spotted sporting Crocs both in and out of school.
Sadly for those students, however, the administration has recently banned the wearing of Crocs in school, with the exception of free dress days. Furthermore, the shoes have not fully returned to their initial popularity, and many Stone Ridge students still respond to them in an intensely negative manner. One such student is Lizzy Young, ’16, a notably fashionable senior who I spoke to about the issue. “Quite honestly, they’re hideous,” she says, using her visceral reaction to the shoes to inform her overall opinion on them. At this moment in our conversation, we were overheard by Juliette Howard, ’16, another senior who felt inspired to jump in, saying “I used to think [Crocs] were ugly, but I wore a pair for one day, and they were super comfortable!” This short interaction between two Stone Ridge students essentially summarizes the entire Croc debate: style versus practicality and comfort.
As I talked to various members of the community about the issue of Croc popularity, I was repeatedly advised to talk to Annie O’Connor, ’16, and McKinley Polla, ’16, two Stone Ridge seniors credited with initiating the Croc fad here on campus. Conveniently finding them together in the senior lounge, I asked them their opinions on the matter. Both students brightened immediately, their excitement revealing itself through ecstatic smiles and laughter.
During the interview, Polla described her appreciation for Crocs’ utility, crediting her experience as a Stone Ridge athlete as the spark for her Croc passion. “I always wore them before and after sport games because they have holes that allow your feet to breathe,” she says, making yet another good point about the shoes’ usefulness.
O’Connor also talked about the practicality of the shoes, while interjecting her thoughts on their appearance and style. “They never went out of style for me,” she says, as “ I have been wearing [them] at camp every year for the past eight years, and I started to wear them outside [of camp] because they are so easy to slip on. And they are pretty stylish.” O’Connor follows this last sentence with a laugh, revealing that she is not truly under the illusion that Crocs are fashionable. Sometimes, however, comfort precedes fashion–a fact that is seemingly true for O’Connor and Polla, who have confidently worn their Crocs for many years.
While I am certainly excited that Crocs are getting more of the positive attention they deserve, I also realize that us Croc lovers cannot seek validation in the form of others’ approval. Instead, we must find the confidence within ourselves to wear what we want to proudly, to ignore skeptical comments, and to embrace the Croc lifestyle that we have chosen–nay, that has chosen us. In the end, the decision to wear Crocs or not is highly personal, and it is up to each individual to make that decision for his or herself.
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