about peggy and about birkenstocks

The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is grab my phone to open my favorite app TimeHop (okay and to check Instagram but that's not what we're talking about right now). The app shows you what you posted on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram exactly 1, 2, 3, and 4 years ago today, so it's a kind of digital trip down memory lane. Since I'm quite a sucker for nostalgia and everything related to memories, this app is tailor-made for me.

Yesterday, TimeHop told me that exactly a year ago I wrote a column for I Love Fashion News (where I wrote a column every Sunday for two years) about the emerging trend of the Birkenstock. Back then it was still emerging, now it has rightfully landed on the cover of ELLE and on many fashionista's feet. It started with Céline, who sent fur-lined versions down the runway, and I wrote about it then: “surely we’re not going to spend 800 euros on a purple sandal with fur that makes you look like some sort of Hagrid?! I want to accept a lot in the name of fashion and under the banner of art and artistic, but you can also just go too far.”

“I keep repeating myself but any fashionable variation on a Birkenstock, from Céline I don't care who, fur-lined or any ridiculous idiot, I find it really unsexy and ugly and vulgar.”

And I still stand by that. That Birkenstock, stop it with me already. My colleague and beloved fashion guru Peggy thought so too. In episode 1 of Amayzine TV, we heard her say “I keep repeating myself but any fashionable variation on a Birkenstock, from Céline I don't care who, fur-lined or any ridiculous idiot, I find it really unsexy and ugly and vulgar.”

Clear language, you would say. No way to get a pin between it. But what did our eyes see last week, that same Peggy posted a photo on Instagram that she had indeed fallen for a Birkenstock. Huge panic in our Whatsapp group, especially Jet was very offended because not too long ago we had to prevent her with all our might from (ugly) gold-colored Birkenstocks from Givenchy. Strictly forbidden we shouted, and Peggy also shouted the loudest that Jet was NOT allowed to buy them.

But now she has them damn it herself. After much protest from May, Jet, and me, Peggy responded with “Oh dear, I already regret it. I will give them away. Pfff.” She tried to make it right with “but I do have really beautiful Givenchy sandals though” but the damage was already done, the shock had already happened.

The most interesting thing about all this is that we really get used to trends. If you are forced to look at a certain fashion image often and long enough, it can happen that at some point you think, “well, I'll take that too.” Shocking, that’s what it is. Peggy, I hope you made someone else incredibly happy but that we never see you do such weird things again. Signed, your loving colleague.