For our anniversary (which isn’t for a couple more weeks), the wife and I recently went online and bought ourselves some Crocs. Quick tangent: while I don’t hate on dudes who wear Crocs, I’m very much from the school of thought that says there is just a small subset of men who can get away with wearing Crocs. And I’m not in that subset. It’s a shame, because they do look comfortable. And for me, 9 out of 10 times, comfort wins over fashion. But 10 out of 10 times, the fear of turning into a woman wins over comfort.
Anyway, when the wife said she wanted to get herself new Crocs (she’s had a pair for a while), I figured I’d take a look on their website to see what they had. Though I knew there were different Croc models, I assumed they all somewhat resemble the Beach Crocs that everyone’s so familiar with. Still, I though they might have some Penn State branded Crocs that I might be able to pull off. Long story short, while looking at their site, I came across these Venture Leather Crocs. And though I was a little skeptical even after reading a few favorable reviews, I got them.
These things are fantastic. They’re like the mullet of shoes: business on top, party on the bottom. Except it’s even better than a mullet, because nobody thinks I’m a redneck as a result of wearing them. It’s the best of both worlds - they’re comfortable like Beach Crocs, but they don’t look like Crocs, so I don’t live in fear that my man card will be revoked.
But it’s more than feeling comfortable, I feel empowered. I feel like I’m beating the system. These shoes make me want to go to my employer and ask if I can wear Crocs to work. And then when they say “no,” I’ll giggle. I’ll giggle because I’m already wearing Crocs to work. I win.
I’ll stop short of saying they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned, but they’re far and away the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned that I can wear to work. And though they’re a bit more expensive than I’d prefer, and they’ve yet to prove that they’re durable, I highly recommend them to guys out there wanting comfortable work shoes. And for clarification, I don’t recommend real mullets.
August 28th, 2008
This post if full of win. Congrats Omar, I am glad your man card remains undefiled.
I am of the school that no one, save it for people working in their garden should wear crocs (as in “classic crocs”) but your crocs do look more like, as you said, a shoe.
A mullet shoe.
August 28th, 2008
CROCS?!!?!?!?
i might have expected this of you, omar (because of your earlier posts about your fashion knowledge), but The Wife?!? what a sad day.
has becky been brainwashing you guys or something? please tell me you’re not going to buy the little trinket things that people stick in those shoes.
i cannot wait to hear what Onj has to say about this.
August 28th, 2008
For the record, the wife primarily wears hers around the house. And she joins me in my quest for comfortable shoes. Looks aside, Crocs are pretty comfortable.
And now that you mention it, I might buy little trinkets for mine.
August 28th, 2008
You might could use some nifty little bow-biters for your specific style of crocs–little ninjas, perhaps?
August 28th, 2008
What no one here has addressed is how romantic it is to go Croc hunting for your anniversary…I mean, how are you going to top that when your actual anniversary comes around?
August 28th, 2008
Omar just blogged about shoes.
Are you SURE that doesn’t…oh, I don’t know…negate a point or two from your man card? Or does it add more points because you are confident enough in your manhood that you can blog about shoes?
What is a man card, anyway? Is it like a dance card, and you wear it around your wrist like girls in the 1800s at dances? Or is it yet another piece of plastic for the wallet where you accrue points as you spend?
August 28th, 2008
“the mullet of shoes”—-hAAAAA!!!! that is my new NEW favoritest FAVORITE sentence.
i bet you pull it off with gusto.
we want photos!
August 28th, 2008
“The mullet of shoes” is, like, the best line evah!!
I’m not down with me wearing the regular crocs, but yours are awesome!
YAY! Omar is still a man!
August 29th, 2008
cad- I can’t take credit for omar’s sensible, sole-saving purchase, as I have been too busy trying to brainwash the Crocs people into making mattresses and office chairs.
and wynne, if only this were the first time he had blogged about shoes. sadly, it’s not.
August 29th, 2008
Am I the only person who would really enjoy witnessing you GIGGLING?
August 29th, 2008
The wedding quiz awaits your genius mind…
August 29th, 2008
I see. He has blogged about shoes at least twice.
But he still would not buy the women’s shoelaces.
(And for the record, the only difference between women’s shoelaces and men’s shoelaces is that women’s will be at least 10% more expensive, and more cheaply made. That’s all.)
August 29th, 2008
And Omar, don’t bother to enlighten me about the man card. I did a little research, and
I found one.
August 29th, 2008
“They’re like the mullet of shoes: business on top, party on the bottom.” I will venture to say that is the best line I have ever read…anywhere.
I am going to go write that one down on a piece of scratch paper and hang it on my bulletin board at work for some midday jollys.
August 29th, 2008
Crocs?!! ugh i hate crocs!! but those don’t look so bad.
September 1st, 2008
Kip wears crocs!
September 1st, 2008
I love technology. (That would be in a mono tone!) (with an emphises on the “G”)
September 1st, 2008
You can wear whatever the heck kinda shoes you want to. Gosh!
September 1st, 2008
IF you got your hair cut at the Cuttin’ Corral like Napoleon there would be no mullets.
Oh- wait. Was this post about hair or shoes???
September 1st, 2008
Napoleon Dynamite would be giggling, too.
September 1st, 2008
I loathe crocs. In them, I see the downfall of society. I see a world full of people with no self respect and a penchant for gardening. I cannot knowingly condone that kind of behavior. I trip people that wear them. Even babies. I’m normally a pretty nice guy, but crocs bring out the worst in me. The bring out the baby-tripper and that can’t be good.
With that said, I think I would wear those Venture Leather Crocs. Those comments above really only apply to the classic crocs. Comfort always wins with me too, even when my man card is on the line.
Now, quickly go and make some t-shirts that have a picture of some crocs on the them with the words, “The Mullet of Shoes” below, before someone else does.
September 1st, 2008
Mullet of shoes is brilliant.
I, like Nancy, would be interested in seeing the giggling. Even more than you wearing crocs.
September 1st, 2008
How much you wanna make a bet I can throw them crocs over them mountains?
September 1st, 2008
If you watch Napoleon Dynamite, it will be summer, year round.
September 1st, 2008
I’ve seriously considered a pair of crocs for my next vacation because we are going to be doing a TON of walking.
So, you’re saying “if you could go back with all the knowledge you have now”, you’d get a mullet????
September 1st, 2008
Wearing Crocs would be even MORE empowering if you were eating a dang ques-uh-dilluh.
September 1st, 2008
Your mom goes to college.
You could sell crocs to save money for your son’s college.
September 1st, 2008
Have you taken those crocs off of any sweet jumps?
September 1st, 2008
When you watch Napoleon all your wildest dreams will come true.
He can tame wild honeymoon stallions!
September 1st, 2008
Crocs are the proud sponsor for tetherball national championship. Wanna play a game with me?
September 1st, 2008
Crocs create liger powers. Gosh
September 1st, 2008
How much you wanna bet I can throw them crocs of those mountains?
September 1st, 2008
May all your wildest dreams come true.
September 1st, 2008
Even if you don’t like NP our amigoship will remain the same Omar.
It’s not like you love home-woven handicrafts. Gosh!
September 1st, 2008
I am hungry Omar. I am magic, too.
September 1st, 2008
I will eat you, Omar.
You smell tasty.
September 1st, 2008
Do you happen to have any A1 on you?
Gosh, I hope so.
September 1st, 2008
Uh oh Omar, I wouldn’t mess with a Liger.
They’s be magical, you know?
September 1st, 2008
These are some of the things bloggers are saying about the film:
-Pedro will protect you from Tori after being first almost EVERY SINGLE TIME.
-That is a stunning movie.
-That is one classic, arty film!
-IT WILL MAKE YOU POPULAR.
WOW! C’mon Omar.
Now, just imagine you’re weightless, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by tiny little seahorses.
September 2nd, 2008
Well? Did it work?
September 2nd, 2008
I’m in shock. Crocs that look like shoes? It opens the glimmer of possibility that maybe, maybe, possibly, although probably not, I could buy myself a pair without feeling like I was compromising all my morals by giving money to a company that is destorying the concept of propriety in footwear. My head is spinning.
September 2nd, 2008
Omar if you watch Napoleon Dynamite I’ll throw in a Miniture replica of the Mayflower.
September 2nd, 2008
oh.my.
I don’t know what to say.
I used to think you were “it”.
The coolest of the cool.
The hippest of the hip.
Now?
I…I…
I think I may vomit in here.
I have to leave.
Not sure if I’ll ever return.
It may take me a long long time to recover.
Next anniversary, throw out the shoes and go on a cruise.
Hey, that rhymed.
September 2nd, 2008
How long have you been married? Just wondering when I should start expecting plastic shoes for an anniversary gift.
September 2nd, 2008
i was chiding someone on not clicking a link on my kaiya wedding post and here i am, not clicking links, either.
venture leather crocs are not as hideous as i once imagined.
September 2nd, 2008
How many pairs or Crocs are in the Napolean Dynamite movie? I guess you’ll have to see it to find out.
September 2nd, 2008
Pedro offers you his protection!
SO, what is it going to be ese?
September 2nd, 2008
Oooomar?
Did a liger catch your tongue?
September 3rd, 2008
I’m sorry the ND thing is being pushed so hard. If you decide to never see it, I will admire your strength of will.
September 3rd, 2008
Who was pushing hard? Tsk, tsk.
I propose we all celebrate by reaching the 50th comment mark.
September 4th, 2008
50th!! That’s like, a comment an hour!
September 4th, 2008
Maybe I’ll build him a cake, or something…
September 4th, 2008
Omar!! Gimme some of your tots!
September 4th, 2008
I made the startling discovery that you can PAINT Crocs!
I’ll have to customize a purdy pair of Ninja-themed ones just for you and your manly-man feet, Omar.
September 4th, 2008
So, we’re pretty much friends by now, right?
September 4th, 2008
wow. I gotta commend you guys, both for your commitment to omar’s comment section, and for your apparently inexhaustible supply of ND one-liners. well played, ladies. well played.
September 4th, 2008
oh, yeah, and haboob!
September 11th, 2008
Everytime a person watches Napoleon Dynamite another one of our little llama friends gets baked into a casserole. Please don’t give in to the peer pressure, Omar. You will never get back those lost brain cells…..and our llama will never again be free of the torturous cream of mushroom soup that’s been dumped over its head.