All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Kanye West knows a thing or two about cozy footwear. His Yeezy sneaker empire is literally built atop Adidas’ super cushy Ultra Boost soles; he infamously wore too-small “nylon slippers” to rapper 2 Chainz’s wedding; and one of his latest designs—the Yeezy Foam Runner—has as much in common with a pair of Crocs as it does designer sneakers. So, given the rapper-designer’s affinity for cozy kicks, it’s not a huge shock he was spotted this week in some comfortable-looking clogs. The surprising part is that Kanye wasn’t wearing some advanced-level, super-expensive kicks—he was in a pair of Birkenstocks.
Before your jaw drops too far, consider the fact that Birkenstocks are actually kind of cool now! Or, at the very least, they've been embraced by today’s creative types. For some time now, comfort-first footwear (and specifically, Birkenstock’s “Boston” clog style) has been trending up amongst fashion’s inner circle. The German label has also collaborated widely, with sneaker retailers (Concepts), envelope-pushing designers (Rick Owens), and major fashion houses (Valentino). All of this is to say: it’s easy to see why Kanye is wearing them at this particular moment. Of course, in true Ye fashion, he wore the suede kicks with a double-breasted jacket by Haider Ackermann.
The cork-soled footwear originally loved by Subaru owners and Vermont residents is having an interesting time in fashion’s warm embrace. The Boston, Birkenstock’s clog-inspired style, suddenly feels both timeless and of-the-moment—and a co-sign from Kanye West only helps cement its status within the world of modern menswear. It’s not too often that you see Birkenstocks worn with Haider Ackermann (or someone in Calabasas wearing a pair, for that matter), but that is exactly what you can count on Ye for. He’s always been good for a little sartorial subversion packed within one hell of an outfit and this is no exception.
