Beyond Boston: a conversation about clogs

Do you follow the IG account, Muleboyz? 

Started in 2019 by two men’s fashion vets, it hails all things heels-out in men’s fashion, from the wild Nike Shox mules from Martine Rose to the fuzzy-wuzzy Marni clogs that every rapper picked up at the height of the C-19 Panny.

But what you’ll see most on the page are Birkestock’s flagship clog, the Boston, and various derivations of its bulky, almost ugly shape. The shoe became omnipresent after collaborative models with Rick Owens and Concepts (located in Boston lol), and it’s easy to see why. 

It gave fashion-curious men a comfortable, non-toe-bearing alternative to an Adidas soccer slide. 

When you ask most folks about their opinions on men bearing any part of their feet, the response often implies that they (or the men in their lives) don’t care for their feet. Patriarchy and toxic masculinity have left so many men with ugly, gnarly, stinky, unkempt feet, and well, yeah, no one wants to see those. 

And while more men have — and should — put more effort into foot care, the mule presents the opportunity to sidestep some of that baggage (as long as your heels don’t look like blackboard erasers… you know what I mean). It’s low effort, discreet chic, but still high impact. Come fall, you throw on some socks, pair them with cords, and you have a great transitional look. 

My recollection of the Boston has definitive 2000s prep school associations: guys in cargos, young women in oversized college sweatshirts and frayed denim minis, both wearing brown or tan suede clogs. Very Hollister, very Mischa’s O.C., a moment! 

While that ethos is still at the core, the Boston has come a long way to ditch that ivory tower sensibility to adopt a more street-style vibe that calls everyone into its supportive embrace. 

And with that widening of the lens, the clog has been embraced by many brands as a critical offering for all folks, much to my delight. I love being able to chuck a shoe on and off when cycling through outfits or just getting home from an afternoon at the shops.

I’ve listed some of my favorite Boston alternatives below. This list doesn’t include the traditional Croc (it’s a no from me, I just can’t get there, no further comment, case closed), and doesn’t include more vibe-y options like the Salehe Bembury X Crocs collab, YZY slips ons, and the like. 

The list below steers toward the timelessness of the Boston clog itself: able to work in the home and office. To look nice when seeing your grandparents. To flex at a cafe or trendy natural wine bar serving a barnyard-y red that you’re too chicken shit to say you don’t like (it’s me, hi). 

You can steer it preppy, arty, or minimalist, but these options have a refined core to keep you sure-footed, secure, and confident in any space. 

Our Legacy — Camion Mule

This is the only mule on the list with no heel strap, but it’s so glamorous that you don’t need one. This is a mule version of the Our Legacy’s ever-popular Camion boot (every guy into fashion has a pair, and he should, because it’s one of the most versatile boots around… a topic for later). The shape is chic and butch: a generous block-like heel with exposed wood on the sides; a masculine squarish toe covered in luxurious fabrics like magenta suede or black calf hair. The Camions immediately dress up a pair of ripped jeans and a shirt. They add an earthy roundedness to slick wool trousers. Get these now.

Birkenstock — Tokio

I became obsessed with this offering from Birkenstock years ago after seeing a street-style photo on Instagram of this impossibly hot, unthinkably stylish Japanese man. Soon after, Birkenstock resurrected variations on the style in designer collabs for Jil Sander and Dior. Still, it’s only in the last year or so that they’ve released the Tokio in the U.S. at scale (and with some options for color/fabric). It’s everything people love about the Boston, but it has that added strap for safety and stability (it’s no wonder I’ve seen it worn most by food industry hotties).  

Birkstock’s main line only has them in black and white right now, but if you’re feeling spendy, their upscale 1774 line has options in blue, off-white, black, and pink suede that are delicious (and on sale at Farfetch in select sizes). 

Officine Creative — Introspectus / Amenabar / Agora Clogs

The minimalist girlies went wild for the Jil Sander X Birkenstock Tokio clogs from a few seasons ago — so much so that they sold out fast and went for pretty silly prices on resell sites. I, fortunately, got mine when someone was having an “everything must go, I’m moving to a new country” sale on Grailed. I wish that seller well.

Officine Creative must have seen that fervor when drawing up their version, which is almost identical save for a slightly narrower toe box, and an elasticated heel strap (instead of a buckle). Whether in suede or leather, the slimmer silhouette keeps the shoe somewhere between crunchy and chic (a great place to be). I found the insole to be a little slick upon the first few wears barefoot, so consider wearing it at home for the first few wears or hitting the insides with a little high-grit sandpaper to give you a little traction. 

Vinny’s - Strapped Mule

This is a basic mule shape with a strap thrown on. That’s not shade! The beauty here is in the simplicity - no bells or whistles, just a functional shoe. Vinny’s is more well-known for loafers, emerging with the crop of post-Aime Leon Gore brands that capitalized on the so-called “post-sneaker” world. Lord, help us.

Signs indicate this style won’t be in their fall lineup, so I recommend scooping them up now during the will-it-ever-end Ssense sale. If those colors aren’t speaking to ya, head to Nordstrom or HBX.

Camperlab - Traktori Clog

Baby, these are STOMPERS. These are kick-a-bitch-to-the-curb shoes. Thick, heavy, and sturdy, they can really go the distance when someone else won’t, and you need to take out the trash. Angela Bassett needed these in Waiting to Exhale. If they’d existed back then, you know Wardrobe would have had Kimberly Elise in these when she was giving Steve Harris’ character every bit of what he deserved. #IYKYK

I bought my light blue pair on a bit of a whim, hoping they’d give me the fun of a summer sandal with the flexibility and stability of a working shoe or gardening clog. These hit all the right notes. Great in the rain, easy to clean off, tough as nails. Check out orange, black, or the great burnt toffee shade above if a powder blue isn't your scene. They also make this in a boot for winter, but I think the clog is sufficient enough, as long as you’re not plodding through sleet. These are not insulated, so sock up come November.