New to World of Clogs? Here’s How to Make Your Unique Style Statement

Marilyn Monroe aptly remarked, “Give the right shoes to a girl and she will conquer the world”. And when it comes to blending style with comfort, the type of shoes one can bet upon is Swedish wooden clogs. The clog industry is ever-changing, with every new season pouring in new styles. In this dynamic arena, it is quite bewildering for someone who is new to the world of fashion, particularly shoes, to choose the right kind of shoes. Contrary to the earlier perception, clogs offer a plethora of designs and materials. So, to make it easier for a newcomer into the fashion of clogs, having a passion to adorn the trendsetter clogs, here are five simple and easy-to-implement steps using which one can develop the art of making perfect combinations of dresses and clogs.

Make Fashion Magazines Your Bible

Magazines are full of latest style trends in anything and everything related to fashion. So, follow a couple of good magazines religiously that will help you know what is hot in the market. Taking guidance from there, you can incorporate trendy items in your closet.

Subscribe to Your Favorite Stores for E-mails

Sign up right now for having up-to-date of what is trending. As these stores have the first exposure to the latest manufactured and demanded stuff, following them can be of a great help. One can also avail discounts on them for on various new items.

Follow Blogs of Stylists and Fashionistas

If you will follow the blogs of fashionistas and stylists, you will not only be enlightened about what kind of clogs go well with what kind of attire, but you will also come to know about in-depth knowledge of what kind of materials to look for, what kind of textures and designs are popular and long-lasting. Just follow them and use your own creativity to have a happening collection of stylish Swedish wooden clogs, the most comfortable kind of clogs one can have.

Window Shopping

Although it is an old-school method, yet it is a tested way of upgrading yourself with the latest fashion trends in clogs that are ruling the market. You need not necessarily buy all the stuff, just have a glance so that to get an idea of what would be suitable for you. And you know what, this method will not even cost you much.

Lookout for Sale Events

It is not only important to watch out the latest trends and add to them to your wardrobe, but also one should have an idea of the budget one can afford. Be a smart shopper and the way to do is none other than to look out for sale events. Here, one can get the best things at pocket-friendly prices. The good news is that many of the sale events regularly have Swedish wooden clogs on sale.

Statement-making Footwear for Women

Striking shoes with thick bottoms and clunky heels are fashion staples for women of all ages. Black clogs for women belong to this genre; they embody traditional Swedish craftsmanship and contemporary fashion sensibilities which give them a folksy yet chic appeal.

Why black clogs in specific?

When first crafted in the early 1900’s, clogs acted as work shoes for women and men. Made entirely of wood, the clogs from those times were heavy-duty, utilitarian footwear for both the sexes. As time passed, these shoes traversed countries and continents, undergoing regional modifications.

The most popular kinds were those which had wooden bottoms and leather uppers. For leather, there was cowhide and color options in the leather uppers were limited. Tan and black were common colors then.

While tan leather uppers on the wooden bottom looked well-coordinated and pleasant, black clogs for women and men were more popular.

The striking contrast of the color black against the textured wooded bottoms makes black clogs for women and men a universal favorite.

Some modern clogs have metal stud detailing around the sides. The combination of chunky wooden heels with stud detailing on black leather uppers give these clogs an edgy look.

For those who have a minimalistic sense of style, black clogs for women (without the stud lining) are ideal.

Why clogs (in general) are so popular?

Being one of the most versatile footwear for both women and men, clogs can be worn with any outfit.

For an outing during the day or a soiree at sundown, women are sorted for footwear if they own a pair of clogs.

The wooden heels in Swedish clogs are an iconic feature that not only increases the aesthetic value of these clogs but enhance the comfort for the wearer.

Unlike the conventional pointed heels (stilettos), these clogs are much more comfortable. There are no unpleasant aftereffects of wearing them. Most clogs are anatomically designed so that the wearer can get an optimum level of comfort.

What are the popular styles in clogs for women?

In terms of color, a vast variety of options are available nowadays. Colorful and vibrant clogs adorn the feet of women of all ages. Celebrities are no exception- many leading ladies of Hollywood are spotted in town, wearing the iconic clogs.

Clogs with suede uppers are also very popular. Apart from suede, Nubuck (Leather which has been rubbed to achieve a texture similar to suede) and patent leather are common materials used to craft the uppers of clogs.

Closed front, open back clogs in a slip-on style, sling backs, strappy-buckled clogs are some of the few styles popular among women.

If you do not own a pair yet, then you could start-off by getting a pair of black clogs for women for yourself.

Wooden soles. Trademark of Swedish clogs

What makes clogs popular worldwide? During the past decades wooden clogs became favorite work shoes of restaurant workers, doctors and nurses, and all those professionals who spend long working days on their feet. Known for their benefits for lower back and overall posture of the body, comfortable wooden clogs found their fans worldwide.

Traditional clogs are made from wood and leather, with a special attention to the anatomically constructed wooden footbed that provides an optimal angle for support and posture. This way, the foot is in contact with a natural material that absorbs moisture and allows the foot to breathe. Swedish clog enthusiasts also claim that wooden clogs are warm in winter and cool in summer.

The term clogs refers to all footwear that are made on natural wooden bottoms: clog sandals, clog boots, heel clogs and comfy bottom clogs. Although an additional layer of thick PU is sometimes added for increased comfort and stability, the anatomically shaped wooden sole is still the most important part of all shoes known as clogs.

The biggest historical competitors in the clog world are probably Dutch “klompen” and Swedish “toffels”. Traditionally, alderwood has been considered the best wood for making Swedish clogs, while traditional Dutch clogs typically were made out of alder, willow or poplar wood.

Alderwood is one of the softest hardwoods around and is sometime referred to as a semi-hardwood.  On a hardness scale, it ranks just above pine and poplar. Because it is straight, and still soft enough for any molder knife to cut easily, alder is highly regarded by woodworkers. When stained and lacquered it looks pretty impressive, and at the same time it provides a natural antibacterial climate for the foot. All these characteristics make alderwood irreplaceable material in every clog workshop.

Like alder, birch comes from the family of Betulaceae. On a hardness scale, birch ranks at the top with hard-rock maple, and is often mistaken for maple. Because of an inherent resonant quality. birch is often used for the construction of musical instruments, but you’ll also find it on bottoms of traditional wooden clogs.

Although a type hardwood, poplar isn’t as hard as most hardwoods, with a hardness rating less than that of cedar (which is a softwood). Poplar is very easy to work in almost all regards, which makes it an ideal wood for hand crafting.  

Finally, lime has a fine and even texture, which is preferred for wood carvers. Easy to work, very soft and light, it’s one of the most suitable wood species for hand carving.

Wooden Clogs — The Ultimate Style Statement For Women

Clogs are the latest trend to hit the footwear market, which is being widely adopted by both men and women. Clogs are footwear that don’t have shoelaces; one can simply slide their feet in it. Wood was used in earlier times to manufacture clogs, although in recent times, a multitude of other materials such as leather and plastic are used. But wooden heeled clogs never particularly went out of fashion; they still have the same appeal as they had in the past.

Wood is a natural material, so it is environment-friendly, unlike other synthetic materials used to make footwear.

Wooden heeled clogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. All of them have one thing in common; a wooden base. The wood used for making clogs is generally of high quality, and is coated with waterproofing resins as unprotected wood is prone to rotting on exposure to moisture.

Out of the many variants of wooden heeled clogs available in market, the ones with high heels and leather/linen uppers have the largest impact on the trend of wooden footwear. The combination of materials used in clogs makes it a worthy investment for women who love high heels.

A few benefits of using wooden heeled clogs are given below:

1. Helps in spine alignment: Wooden soles help in retaining body posture and make you stand straight. Wood also gives support to your lower-back, and helps in spine alignment.

2. Durability: Wood is a strong material; hence the clogs’ base will be intact even after long periods of time. This makes clogs the perfect footwear for daily usage as they won’t break easily.

3. Open backs: Clogs are unlike regular shoes or sandals; they don’t have any binding laces or straps built in them. One can easily slide in their feet to wear it. It also gives a lot of breathing space for your feet as the back portion of the clogs are open and have no encasement.

4. Wood as insulator: Wood is a natural thermal insulator, which prevents transfer of heat from the body to the surroundings. Hence clogs can be effectively used in summer to keep your feet cool, and in winter to keep your feet warm.

5. Dry feet: Footwear made of synthetic materials take a lot of time to dry up when they get wet. But wood used in clogs is waterproof; hence they dry up faster.

The Comeback of Clog Boots in the Fashion World

It was sometime in the 1970’s when clogs made a comeback into the world of fashion. Truth be said, they never completely disappeared from the fashion scene and today have become even more sought-after than earlier. Now they have become so popular that a number of variations have come out, one of which happens to be clog boots.

Sizes and Availability

Clog boots are available in different styles and the best part about them are their comfort and style. One can opt for ankle length or even thigh-high clog boots.

They are so comfortable that many ladies prefer wearing clogs boots over their favorite sandals and stilettos.

Clog Boots Today

Clog boots worn now have a modern and minimalistic design; some clog makers however craft stylish clog boots with fringe detailing and studs. These shoes give the wearer an edgy yet classy look.

Clog boots are available in a wide variety of materials such as canvas, leather or suede. Despite being available in a number of colors, the one which happens to be the most popular is black. The next most sought-after colors happen to be brown and tan.

These clog boots are mostly worn with jeans and trousers in the cold winter months. They can however be worn with skirts, leggings or any other casual attire. There is no strict rule regarding the outfits women can wear with them.

Any shoe rack looks complete once a pair of clog boots have been added to it.

Conclusion

When compared to others, clog boots last a lot longer. The wooden sole and high-quality leather ensure both comfort and durability. They also look and make the wearer feel great.

People usually tend to be wary about buying things online because the products which they want are usually not available. This is however not the case with clog boots because there are a number of manufacturers who sell online. These clog boots are available in a number of sizes, designs, materials, and colors as well. Whatever be the shoe size or the style one is looking for, you can be sure to find them online. This why online stores score over conventional ones when it comes to buying clog boots.

You can be sure to find the pair which you have always wanted. So go ahead and buy your favorite pair of clog boots.

Wooden Heeled Clogs: A Reflection of the Dutch Culture

The word clogs is popular among the English, but the Dutch are familiar with Klompen. They are culturally attached with the wooden heeled clogs. Every year they manufacture around 3 million pairs. If a traveller has to take back home a souvenir from Amsterdam then it has to be a painted wooden clog. Even the famous Shirley Temple wore clogs for the first time on celluloid with aplomb in her much appreciated film Heidi, which garnered much popularity among the Dutch.

During the Roman era, Netherlands was a land of mud. The locals followed the practice of pumping out water from mud in order to shrivel up the land. The excessive water pumping and dredging pushed the land a bit under the sea level. To work around a sludgy, and muddy terrain, a specialized and multipurpose footwear was need of the hour. In this way the Dutch feet landed in wooden heeled clogs. Since then, the Dutch have been proudly sporting these shoes. 

Traditionally, clogs were identified with a wooden sole and a leather top, but as the time went by, the whole shoe was being made out of wood to enhance the comfort. High quality timber extracted from alder, and willow were primarily used to manufacture clogs. They were specifically carved out for wedding, and visiting churches. To make them look trendy, the design on top often featured laces and the lace holes.

The Dutch also has a flare for Clog dancing or clogging (“Klompendansen”) and follows it ardently as it is a flag bearer of their creative expression. Also, tap dancing that eventually evolved into a popular American dance form, is an off-shoot of clogging.

In Holland, the wooden clogs are largely worn by farmers, fishermen, factory workers, and artisans to stay away from the harm’s way. The wood provides protection from nails, fishing hooks and razor-sharp instruments that may make a light work of a regular boot. As clogs also help in keeping the feet pat dry, people can easily roam around docks and muddy fields. 

For different professions, specific wooden shoes are being carved out. For fishing purposes, clogs were designed with pointed nose so that they can be used to unclutter the fishing nets. If the work involves digging out peats, then a broader base is designed for the clogs to provide a larger spread over the soggy soil. Ironically, only 12 clog makers are left in the whole Netherlands at present time. The advent of machines has expedited the manufacturing process, but people working in gardens or farms still find pleasure in the old school ways of wearing the hand-made clogs.