Sandal Power Is Back

Flippy, floppy, hippie, happy Birkenstocks are back. On the Claremont Colleges campuses, the big, comfy sandals of the ‘60s are padding around as if they never went underground.

Cork-bottomed for that floating sole music. Leathered above in broad bands that echo the theme. Imported. Expensive. Let’s face it, a $75 pair of sandals does shuffle with a certain insouciance.

What happened was this, see: Question authority! was the firebrand cry in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The challenge resounded outside the Student Unions, and finally oozed down to the grass roots, where the toes perked up.

For decades, footwear designers had proclaimed, “Toes are revolting--squeeze ‘em into submission!” Well, toes everywhere huddled briefly in their dark tight shoes. And revolted.

But the movement stalled in the weighty ‘80s, as women tripped to class in heels, and the poor de-feeted toes toed the line--for more than a decade.

But now, tens of hundreds of them (or vice versa) are rejoicing anew. Wriggling out into the air! Breathing free at last! It’s enough to bring a blush of joy to all but the most callused.