Remember back in the early 2000s when Crocs first came out and they got made fun of mercilessly for being ugly? People who owned them swore up and down that they were super comfortable. I think for a while after that, they were staples at TJ Maxx and Marshalls alongside last season’s Ugg clogs, lol. Well, Crocs have made a comeback in recent years. My elementary school-aged kids love wearing them. Everyone else at school wears them, too, and the little “Jibbitz” things that you clip in to personalize them are practically a currency for playground trading now. (Pro tip: You can buy a variety pack of them off of Amazon for way cheaper than you’ll get them in stores.)
Well, Crocs executives are really seizing this moment of triumphant comeback. They’ve licensed numerous properties such as MineCraft, Disney, Lisa Frank, and major league sports organizations like the MLB, NHL, and NBA. There’s even a limited-run Hocus Pocus Croc for Spooky Szn. Capitalism, baby! Another such limited-edition Croc that’s getting a bit of attention are ones designed in “Classic Cowboy Boot” style, complete with an alligator skin look, silver embroidery, and silver spurs. Welcome to Croctober, y’all!
The shoe brand Crocs has announced a truly cursed design just in time for Halloween.
Crocs debuted a limited-edition “classic cowboy boot” last Thursday, offering up a cattle-trail version of the devastatingly comfortable but sartorially controversial clog. The shoe’s signature Swiss cheese-style slide looks like black alligator skin, while silver embroidery decorates the sides. Not missing a detail, these Crocs come complete with detachable silver spurs.
The Colorado-based footwear company would not say how many pairs of the kicks it plans to produce, but the boots are set to go on sale on Oct. 23 and will cost $120.
The idea for the Crocs cowboy boot came up in January, when members of the brand’s design and product development team were brainstorming their “Croctober” plans. Taking a cue from the herds of Crocs-inspired memes on social media, the company reportedly green-lit the design almost instantly.
“That meeting took us about 12 minutes,” Crocs chief marketing officer Heidi Cooley told The New York Times. As to why the company was willing to lean into the absurd idea, she explained: “We don’t overthink it.”
Hey, if you’re going to market to everyone, you may as well make a play for the, “People who love cowboy boots but also comfortable shoes” demographic. I feel like that’s a lucrative group of people who haven’t really been spoken to yet, ya know? (Insert winky face with tongue sticking out emoji.)
But seriously, as a person who was a freshman in college when Crocs were first introduced and lived through them being the butt of the joke, I think that if you’re going to wear ‘em, you may as well lean into it. A friend of mine recently ordered these “Shrek” Crocs. He’s 42-years-old and wears them with pride. Honestly, I thought those were going to be the silliest Crocs I’d see this season. Actually, you know what? They still are. I’d put the cowboy boots in more of the “absurd” category. They sure are something, alright. Don’t tell my friend, but I think I’d still wear them over the Shrek ones any day.
I can’t see anyone but Ron Desatan being excited about these boots, but I’m sure he would like the white option (to match his other pair).
Horrific. Absolutely…Horrific.
“We don’t overthink it” – I love that! The boots are so ugly they are super cool.
I agree. They made me laugh and smile.
Yep the sure are something alright and that something is pure unadulterated uglyyyy.
I’m wearing birks and my kids wear crocs so I guess it’s true that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Crocs are great for gardening, so light and comfortable, and you just hose them off afterwards.
Horrifyingly fugly.
I’m just thinking about how sweaty my feet would be in those things.
I didn’t have Croc cowboy boots on my 2023 bingo card, but here we are.
As a Texan I have to say that those boots are downright awful. I’m not sure comfort is worth wearing them.
After years of thumbing my nose at Crocs because they’re so ugly and too trendy, I finally bought a pair only because they were on sale, really cheap, and they matched a hoodie I was wearing. I was so pissed when I put them on. They are the most G-D comfortable shoes I’ve ever put on my feet. I actually yelled out “NOOOOOO! How dare you be this comfortable!”
Maybe I can convince my husband to get the boots. LOL
This may be an unpopular opinion but I think Crocs are just ugly and they’ve always looked trashy to me. I dislike that people where them everywhere now. In most social settings.
My hope is they eventually go out of style and become an ironic costume piece that will only be worn to parties themed after this decade. Much like how parachute pants were popular in the 80s and now people look back asking themselves “what were we thinking?” and only wear them to 80s themed parties.
Those Shrek crocs are hilarious! That theme style makes sense. But the cowboy ones look like they just cut off the top of a boot and plopped it on top. They didn’t even try.
The older I get the less ugly they get to me. OMG, I am becoming my Mom!
I have some Crocs clogs with black leather uppers. They are incredibly comfortable and, while not exactly fashion forward, at least subtly nondescript. Crocs stopped making them, so I was thrilled to find another pair for resale online. Yay crocs! It’s nice when an obsession can be accessibly priced.
i will probably get these. My 16 y o daughter collects crocs (she is a year round club swimmer as well as a lifeguard in the summer, so they get plenty of use) Ugly indeed, but very comfy, easy to clean, and kind of hilarious! She has dressed as a cowgirl a few times for various parties, concerts, etc and I certainly wouldn’t invest in real cowboy boots for her, as she’d never otherwise wear them. These just might fit the bill.
the bright yellow ones at least are cozier than the “edgy” black ones but the back strap is too much for me