A Girl And Her Wardrobe

24 Comments

• Kristin L replied 9 years ago

  I'm not sure about the Birks, but I think it'd be worth running by Target just to see them. :)

• Jjsloane replied 9 years ago

  Good question Deborah - I've been toying with the idea too (even though I swore I would not)
  I've been contemplating some too but think I should just fork it out for the real deal

• Deborah replied 9 years ago

  Thanks K, will definitely be taking a look.

  Jjsloan, I didn't think I would like these but I think they would work well for summer with my wardrobe but I am trying to justify the expense.. are they worth it... I don't know.

• Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

  Difficult question to answer Deborah. It depends really, I have worn Birks for years & will continue to do so once their fashion moment has passed, so for me they are worth it :) 

• Echo replied 9 years ago

  I really think it depends on whether Birks work for your feet. They definitely DO work for many people, but some people really do not find them that comfortable. I don't know what I would have done this summer without my Arizonas; they were the ONLY shoes that didn't kill my feet while walking tourist miles in DC. Target's studded version wasn't wide enough/big enough in the straps to fit my high volume feet properly. I know others bought those sandals and loved them, though. But the soft inside of the Birkenstock leather straps was part of the comfort for me, too, so I don't know if Target's version could rival that.

  I wish I had better advice, but it's one of those things that a person can't know until they try. I'd hate to tell you that they're the most comfortable shoes in the world (even if they are for me) and that the Birks are worth the price and then have you find that they don't work for your feet.

• always trying replied 9 years ago

  There are a lot of Birk look alikes out there. I have Muk Luks and have had them all summer.  they are as comfortable as I remember my old Birks from a while back.  tried on White Mountain at Marshalls and they were awesome, but only had white left in my size-and too late in the season for white..but maybe next summer will look into the White Mountain. This Birk trend is definitely NOT in my area, and I can see why.  I like being a bit different so I wear my B look alikes, but they are no way as good as trusty old flip flops and thong sandals reign supreme.   

• replied 9 years ago

  I'm a devoted Birk wearer - 3 pairs.  The knockoffs don't usually have the same footbed, which is what the Birk is all about.  They are a little tough to wear at first, but after that - it's smooth sailing for years per pair. And they can be resoled, too!  The Arizonas are a classic, in my mind:)

• Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

  What Caro and Lisa said. To me the real deal is worth every penny.

• Aquamarine replied 9 years ago

  I'm with Caro. I will always have a pair around, even if I do not wear them out of the house. They are that comfortable for me, so totally worth the cost for the real version.

• Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

  I forgot to add I couldn't get Birks to work for me - the raised toe-part always hurt my feet until I went down x2 full sizes. So I suggest trying them on to make sure the raised part is in the right place otherwise they will be really uncomfortable :)

• Deborah replied 9 years ago

  Thanks for the feedback ladies.  I have never worn them before so I guess there is hesitation in spending that amount of money on them.  The other side to this is that I really do like good footwear and have, for the most part, eliminated non leather footwear from my wardrobe.  It looks like I am going to have to really check them out in person before I can make a final decision.

• Sal replied 9 years ago

  I've only had the originals, I still have a pair but they are painting shoes now.
  I find them very comfortable and extremely long lasting.  They are not fast fashion although they are highly fashionable.  My only complaint is that they make my heels very scaly and rough.  I actually prefer the single strap version to the Arizona....

• Deborah replied 9 years ago

  Thanks for the extra info Caro.  I will see who stocks them in Bendigo, otherwise I will make time on my next trip to Melbourne to have a try on.

  Kiwigal, thanks I like hearing they are long lasting, that in itself makes them worth the price.

• Ariadne replied 9 years ago

  Yes, so worth it!

• Lyn D. replied 9 years ago

  I have a pair already waiting for the warm weather Deborah :)
  I bought Birks. to replace my Summer walking the dog Fit-Flops because the fit-flops don't come in half sizes and I was disappointed with the fit.
  The bonus is that I will be in the latest fashion too!
  I had to wait for my size, but got them on Style-tread with a 'sign-up to their newsletter' discount voucher.
  The possible lack of comfort and non-leather of the Target type would be off-putting for me.

• Deborah replied 9 years ago

  Thanks Lyn, that's a great endorsement. Styletread have my size at the moment. Did you buy your regular size?

  I'm even thinking I may out them on my Xmas list for DH :). I'm thinking they will be especially good from January on as I take extended holidays then and these would be casual wear for me. Given they are not a "need" I could hang out a little longer for them. I'm just weighing up what I want for the season and managing the budget:)

• Astrid replied 9 years ago

  I've only ever had the original Birks, but then they are much cheaper here in Germany. For me it's definitely worth it because the footbed is great and they work for my feet. And they only get more comfortable with time. I agree that they hold up well!

• Melaine replied 9 years ago

  I have a question about birks. I tried some on at the thrift store and thought they were an odd fit. They had a sort of bump that hit my foot right past the heel. It was like an arch support but in the wrong spot. I wore them around the store for a bit but couldn't get used to it. Is that something that sounds like a fit issue or do you have to wear them for awhile? I hated to not get them but they were uncomfortable as they were.

• Astrid replied 9 years ago

  Melaine, they definitely shouldn't be uncomfortable to start with! Are you sure you had the right size? Most people in fashion pictures wear them way too small. They do run a tad big though. I have a size 37 in Birks and a size 37.5/38 in other shoes.

• Laurinda replied 9 years ago

  I love original Birks, and have a pair from 1996 (!) that I just retired. But this summer I preferred to indulge in some trendy color choices, and for less than the cost of one pair of Birks I got a green and pink pair of MukLuks and a silver pair of Mudd Arizona-likes. Sometimes more is more ;-)

  Comfort wise they are about the same, although I notice a little less breathability in the Mudd's. I expect the true test will be longevity, but I doubt I will want to wear the same silver sandals for the next 18 summers.

• Janet replied 9 years ago

  Melaine, when I tried on real Birks, I could not take them off fast enough. I had a similar fit experience -- it is as though they are designed for a foot shaped very differently from my own. This struck me as odd, because I'm normally a fairly easy fit in shoes and my feet are ridiculously non-fussy (although comfort is becoming more of a priority and my heels are getting lower these days). But my feet are slightly narrow and slightly low-volume, so maybe that is part of the issue. Birks seem to work better for a slightly wider, high-volume foot.

  However, I tried on a pair of the faux Birks at Target when they came out here in the states, and those actually felt pretty good. But when I went to look for them in the light metallic, they were sold out in my size everywhere. I just took it as a sign that these were not what I needed in my wardrobe. :-)

• Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 9 years ago

  There were a lot of Birk knockoffs this summer here, and I'd be surprised, Deborah, if you wouldn't find the same in your area. I ended up buying a pair from Payless, part of a two shoes for $25 deal, so obviously not a big investment. The leather straps were a little stiff at first and I got a couple blisters, but they seem to be wearing in nicely.

  I had a pair of real Birkenstock Arizonas the last time they were trendy in the 90s, and while they were comfortable and I wore them for a couple of years they weren't the best shoes I've ever owned or anything, which is why I wasn't leaning toward making the investment again.

  Another alternative is Asos - they had some really cute Birk like sandals earlier this summer, and may still have. I'm on the iPad so I can't look them up and put them in finds.

• rachylou replied 9 years ago

  The ones in the pics are the Target one? They look a whole lot better than the ones at my local Target!!

  I got a pair of not-Birk birks from Topshop at the start of the season. I really love them and have had to put them on rationing. I can't wear real Birks. I don't have a Birk-shaped foot.

• Lyn D. replied 9 years ago

  Deborah, I read that they 'run small' and found a site where the exact foot measurement for size was given and went with that.
  I ended up with a size smaller than my usual and the fit seems just right.