Why Does Fall Make Me Want to Transform My Feet Into Little Hooves?

Hangin' out with my annual clog obsession.

Sep 20, 2025

Hi!

How’s it going?

I feel totally insane and I’m not going to talk about it! I tend to start every newsletter with an acknowledgement of the crazy sh*t happening in our country on a weekly basis, but today I’m just not going to go there.

I was so depressed today that I ordered takeout twice.

It’s called distraction.

So, this is a *distraction newsletter* today.

No deep dives into the state of PR or hot tips.

This one is all about one of my favorite distractions: shopping!

I’m not proud of it, though! I’m going to ponder the themes of overconsumption in all its forms AFTER the eclipse this weekend.

ANYWAY.

Today, I am going to dive into the world of CLOGS!

What exactly is it about the onset of fall that makes me—and probably many other people—want to trot around like little ponies in our little clogs?!

I had my son in September of 2022 and I remember seeing a series of videos at that time where kids were galloping in their Tasman Ugg clogs which had recently made a comeback. (I guess?) They were joking that they felt like a horse when wearing them.

While I was on maternity leave that September, I bought three different pairs of clogs.

But it wasn’t a new thing for me, I realized that I get the urge each fall: I want to buy more clogs. It’s an annual problem!

I specifically remember buying a pair from NINA Z at the Brooklyn Flea in 2011 or so. (What a time!) I still own them. They are still my favorite wooden clogs. And I *still* shop at NINA Z. (She’s based in Hudson, NY now and I love her store.) I’m not sure if she makes many clogs anymore—she does a lot of vintage these days—but I wish she would. I could use a pair with a lower heel like these.

My 2011 BK Flea NINA Z clogs. They totally make me look like I have Miss Piggy feet—if Miss Piggy were a Brooklyn-based ceramicist—but I love these little hooves!

I think fashion likes to pretend that clogs go in and out, but they’re always around—even if they’re just out of view for a moment.

What was that Chanel collection with the black leather and wood studded clogs? I want to say it was Resort 2010 or so. I remember that being a very momentous time for clogs. That Chanel clog was in every fashion editorial and shopping story. I want to say it was also at the same time that Alexander Wang was popular with his under-bellied studded “gym” bags if I remember correctly…and I think Valentino was trotting out their rockstud collection for the first time too. Shopping editorials were throwing words like “edgy” and “punk” around constantly. “Grommets” were a common accessories descriptor. 🙃

I was really close! These are from the Chanel Spring 2010 runway.

I own clogs of all kinds: wooden, rubber, leather, clogs that look like loafers, clogs with shearling insides, silver!, clog boots, cow-printed clogs.

I wore these RE/DONE cow-printed clogs to my bachelorette party in 2021.

So many clogs.

These days my clog collection sits within the “very sensible shoe” camp rather than the “runway stomp” variety, however.

Former me would have scooped these up in a second. Current me cannot hang. I hope a lucky size 37 is reading!

There was a time I was much more adventurous, but post-pandemic-Mom-me has toned things down a lot. And I’m still figuring it out—three years out from giving birth. (It takes a LONG time ladies, let’s normalize it!)

Now, I’m going for comfort and ultimately… fantasy.

Fantasy?

Yes, fantasy.

Comfort and fantasy.

I’ll elaborate…

Do you ever hold a vision in your mind’s eye? Like a daydream? A goal? A scene that is just there, always?

I do!

Mine is a future vision of a country house—my country house. It’s white with a porch. There’s a wild lawn and a small vegetable garden. I’m surrounded by green branches and can hear a creek flushing nearby. I have a studio in the attic where I paint and write. I throw dinner parties in my backyard. I own a small store with unpredictable hours that is named after my son. I have two large, wiry dogs. I wear well-loved jeans, oversized striped sweaters, and…

clogs!

So it could be the targeted ads—but it could also be that when I shop, I often shop for her. For future me. Maybe this is a pathology (???), but I find so much comfort in daydreaming about her. Should I explain how I got to her? The TLDR version is that I’ve done a lot of hippie-dippy sh*t. And the same vision has visited me over and over—for years.

I know I am supposed to love the journey and the present moment. I do. I love where I am right now. And I get nostalgic for the past too. I know I’m not supposed to focus on any “destination.” But I love imaging her because it’s so clear to me what I want and what I am working towards. Getting there is a mystery. And while it remains a mystery, acquiring new things that would suit her make it feel more real or like it could eventually happen. Which sounds ridiculous to write “out loud” because shopping is definitely not going to get me my country house, lol.

There is something about fall that invigorates my daydreams, intensely.

What can I say? I’m a basic B for fall, it’s my favorite season. Where is my pumpkin spice latte already?

I’ve done an audit and these are the (sensible!) clogs I’m thinking about a lot lately:

Calzuro

There is something about the profile diagonal slope of the opening mixed with the split sole and square, clompy heel that is driving me wild for some reason. They’re like…a little off? But in a good way. It’s like if Crocs had a much more sophisticated European cousin. Crocs are so American looking! (Derogatory)

Blundstone

These remind me of something my high school art teacher Mr. Herrick would wear. I think if I end up buying these, I would get them in black (I already own the boots in brown) and wear them exactly like he would wear them: stone washed khakis, a gray roll neck sweater, and a little black wool hat. Why not?

Rothy’s

I have been served an ad for these clogs every 5 minutes on every social media app. It was hard to tell if I was being influenced or if I actually liked these. 🧐 I went to the store in Soho today to find out. I tried on two different pairs. They run a tiny bit large, but overall I thought they were very comfortable and I think they look really good on the foot which surprised me. Sometimes when I wear a shoe with a wider toe bed, the tops of my shoes begin to assault my peripheral vision and then I get in my head and suddenly I feel like I’m clomping around town like The Simpsons or something—embarrassing! But these are actually very good looking. The Soho store did not have the colorway above which is called “Spiced Herringbone.” Are they too jazzy? I’m kind of in a weird place age-wise where I’m like: “OK Carrie—not every single item you buy or put on your body has to have a little twist.” I’ve always been one for a “little twist” in any and all of my fashion choices. I like :::special::: in every sense in every piece. And it worked for me and was great for many years. But I think when you’re 41 and every single thing you put on has a little twist, you start to look too decorated. Garish. Like I cannot stand when people who wear glasses where tons of accessories too. It’s too much! You have to edit. Put something down. I have a hard time with this, personally. I’m drawn to the herringbone, but I should probably buy the soft black which reads more like a charcoal gray in person—which I actually prefer over a true black in a shoe like this. (Cozier!) What turns me off about the soft black version is that the bottom of the sole has this magnified leopard design that spills out onto the sides of the sole. I know it’s not that noticeable and this may seem extremely picky, but it makes the shoe feel less classic and I know it would bother me. AND there is a little electric blue sliver on the back which is a little off-putting and makes them feel sportier than I would like. I prefer no logos, no signals, ever. So if I end up buying a pair, I would do the jazzy herringbone in the end because there is no leopard print sole! Done! :::out of breath:::

Surprisingly, at the store today, I bought a pair of penny loafers in chocolate brown (“Bistro”). I never thought I would be the type of person to wear “stretchy shoes.” But I saw them, they looked cute and I really liked them when I tried them on. They also have the electric blue sliver like the clogs, but as someone who has given G.H. Bass infinite chances to break in and they never do (!!!), I am going to get over the sliver of electric blue for the comfort-factor.

Haflinger

My mother-in-law bought me a pair of these for Christmas a few years ago. A fantastic gift. They are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. Especially for people with high arches like me, these are an absolute dream. When I had them, I only wore them indoors like slippers and I wore them around so much that I got a big hole in one of them. This time around, I wouldn’t wear them as slippers. I’d wear them around town too because I deserve it!

Seavees

I keep getting ads for these too. They’re intriguing in red. But I already own the plasticana gardana clogs from Salter House. How many waterproof garden shoes can a girl without a garden own?!

Sven

I don’t need these at all but I love them so much.

(Vintage) Frye

I wish Frye would reissue these babies already. The eBay girlies would rejoice. I’ve been looking for these for forever. I’ve never been able to find the right version in my size.

Here are some fun socks for your clogs too!