Weighing in on Cork Sandals

[Shomore]

Continuing from <a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/blog/ut-austins-hallway-of-shoes/">my previous post on UT Austin's Hallway of Shoes</a>, I'd like to highlight another classic shoe that keeps making its way into fashion's annals, a bit to my dismay: the cork sandal.

"Platforms composed of layered Sardinian cork were a practical solution to the wartire shortage of wood, steel and leather. This rainbow sandal exudes the Hollywood glitz that inspired many of Ferragamo's creations."

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/img_0371.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8294" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/img_0371.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>

Cork made its mark thanks to wartime shortages and has been very popular for as long as my young shoe memory can remember.

I was walking past Bloomingdale's in midtown and saw this Juicy Couture cork sandal in a beach display in the window.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-4.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8296" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-4.png" alt="" width="219" height="154" /></a>

Here's a better shot of it in blue.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-11.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8297" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-11.png" alt="" width="314" height="312" /></a>

I'm sorry Bloomie's, but <a href="http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=156766&amp;PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results">$250 for a cork and leather sandal called the "Kipper"</a>??? To me, this is a recession copout sandal that the company is trying to make a bigger profit on, and I just see nada, zilch, zero reason for it to be $250. Cork is not as expensive as other materials, and there is hardly any leather on these strappy shoes.

In general, I'm very against cork sandals. I think they look cheap and cheesy, but to each her own, and perhaps some people think they look lovely and summery. I agree that they scream summer and know lots of people love them, but I could never bring myself to wear them. They remind me of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espadrilles">espadrilles</a>, which are made of rope and have an interesting history. I like to spend my hard-earned money on quality materials, and I do not count cork and rope amongst them. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_(material)">It's said that cork is environmentally friendly</a>, but I still can't get myself to reconsider.

The nice thing about cork, of course, is that it's light. When you have a large platform surface, it can be very heavy, and cork keeps it light. Also, cork is pretty liquid-resistant and impermeable, which is why it's used as a wine bottle stopper. That means they'll hold up against rain pretty well in terms of recovery.

What do you think about cork sandals? Does your shoe gut go <em>ick</em> like mine does, or do you think they're cute and summery and fun? Do you wear them, and do you find them comfortable, light and convenient to throw in a beach bag to switch into after you leave the beach and the flip flops behind? Or would you rather be caught dead than wear them?