Last winter my friend went on a clog-buying spree. As the boxes piled up and the obsession grew, it became so ridiculous that I had to document it. But the post ended up never being published. Now seems like a great time to share what she and I discovered about clog boots.

There were SO MANY clogs that came and went—boots, sandals, mules. Annie started ordering them in my size too and we had a couple try-on sessions. Then she started getting them for her daughters… I’m not sure how many pairs she decided to keep. I’m afraid to ask.

Swedish Hasbeens Zip it Emy Clog Boot

The original “need” was a pair of mid heel clogs. Annie ordered a variety of styles including these Swedish Hasbeens. Aside from being very pricey, she found them to be so big in the ankle that even with wool socks she could still fit two fingers into the back of the boot and her foot almost slipped out of the boot when walking. She ordered her usual size 37. The website said they run small and to order one full-size up, but she ordered her normal size and they were too big. And that’s before any stretching that is normal with a leather shoe. Also, Annie said she ordered them in blue as well as black and found the black ones were a little bit bigger than the blue ones even though they were both 37s.

The Hasbeens that I tried on were all so narrow on my wide feet that I did have to size up one full size. So, a big thing we learned is that based on the brand, sizing is VERY inconsistent.

Free People Bungalow Clog Boot | Darker brown version

The next batch included these Free People clog boots. Annie liked these better than the Swedish Hasbeens because of the adjustable strap. I prefer a more sleek silhouette.

Patricia Nash Rafael

Eventually Annie found these Patrica Nash clogs which she said were a big improvement from the Swedish Hasbeens boots. The price was way better too. The only problem was deciding between green, natural, black and navy!

If I were to buy another pair of clogs, I think I would definitely get a pair of clog boots next. (Or maybe some classic black Doc Marten boots?) Here’s my round-up of the ones I like now.

1. Swedish Hasbeens 60s Boot
2. Frye Odessa Chelsea
3. Maguba Auckland

1. Troentorp Boot
2. Sandgrens Boot
3. Lotta Emma Clog Boot

It’s amazing how well my #lowbuy experiment has gone so far this year. I first heard about the idea from Signe at UseLessWardrobe.dk. The goal is to commit to a year of limiting clothing purchases, to buy second hand, sustainable or not at all. It has really changed the way I think about new purchases and how I spend money in general. Here’s everything I’ve added this year:

JANUARY

Leopard Sweater | J. Crew (used from Poshmark) $39

I bought this sweater over a year ago (full retail: $89.50) and decided I didn’t love the way it fit so I returned it. Then, in January, I found it on Poshmark and decided it was a good deal and would be a good addition to my wardrobe. I had been wanting a leopard sweater for a while. It turned out that the seller had machine-washed it (on gentle, but it was hand wash only) and had shrunk it. I decided to not make a big deal out of it. I kept it and never wore it. I’ve since donated it. Such a bummer, but it really reinforced the idea that buying clothes does not me happy.

FEBRUARY

No additions.

MARCH

High Heel Clog in Tan | Lotta from Stockholm $81

These clogs were a really good purchase. I already had one pair of clogs, low heel, in navy and wanted a higher heel in a lighter color. I waited a long time before finally decided to buy this second pair of clogs. I really adore clogs and wear them all the time. It feels good to choose something you love even though it isn’t necessarily trendy, and to learn what your true style is. This was my first time purchasing from Lotta and I would highly recommend them! #cloglife

High Rise Cheeky Strait Jeans | GAP $40

Another thing I had been wanting for a while is a pair of white jeans. I looked a a lot of options, ordered and returned one pair from Madewell and then tried these from the GAP and they were perfect. I am happy to see styles moving from skinny to strait. I love the silhouette of the high waist and wider, cropped leg. And they are so comfortable.

APRIL

No additions.

MAY

No additions.

JUNE

Striped Tee Dress | Old Navy $21

Okay, so, as soon as stores opened up, I went shopping with my daughter and although I had previously pinned this on my wish list board, it was kind of an impulse buy. Did I need another dress? No. Another navy colored dress? Definitely no. But I love it. And I reach for it all the time, which in my opinion is the best indication that something was a good choice.

The Haul | Nordstrom Rack $86

So, everything had been going great… then I went to Nordstrom Rack with a friend when they first opened back up. I grabbed a bunch of things, then learned I couldn’t try anything on, so I decided to just check out and try them on at home. I paid for my haul and then they stamped my receipt, “FINAL SALE.” I could have died. I had no idea they were having a clearance sale. I wasn’t paying attention. I was not happy. I didn’t feel excited that everything was 50% off. I just felt sad, like, I didn’t need any of this stuff and I don’t even want it in my closet. So, I accidentally added a Nike sports bra, a Calvin Klein bralette, 4 Madewell t-shirts, a white Madewell cardigan and a pair of camouflage pants! They all fit me fine and I will use them, but I wish I had never gone on that shopping trip.

That’s all. That’s what I added. I am amazed how little I bought, and more so, how little I wanted to buy! It has been such a transformation. (Granted, the pandemic was a big contributor to my not shopping)

I now know, that when I really focus on what I truly want, and what clothing is really me, it’s very minimal. I enjoy the good choices, and I enjoy what I already have.

A follower once told me, “As long as you repair the soles before it wears through to the wood, and take good care of the leather, they will last forever.” The fact that this person was Swedish just further convinced me. After wearing my Troentorp DaVinci clogs for about a year, I knew they would need to be resoled soon. Not wanting to be clog-less, I waited until I had a back-up pair. I purchased my Lotta from Stockholm High Heel Classic Clog pair in February, right before COVID-19 hit. At that point I didn’t go to the cobbler because I thought they were closed. I had actual real fear of dropping them off and the business closing down for months, or forever, with my beloved clogs trapped inside. When I finally did take them in to the oft-recommended Camody Shoe Service, I learned they had been open the entire time. Shoe repair, considered by many to be  archaic or obsolete, was deemed “essential.”

Here’s the fun part. My $99 clogs cost $61 to resole. I didn’t have a choice. The repair man tried to dissuade me. I don’t think he had any idea how much a person could love a pair of clunky old shoes. Clearly he was unaware of the wildfire that was the hipster phenomenon of #cloglife. I left them with him, not at all confident he would return them to me the way I imagined. We agreed he would sand down the wood to remove the scuffs and marks but would not varnish them with shiny shellack. But what if he used some weird colored rubber? I did not feel sympatico with the gentleman but decided to trust him anyway. Two days later I retrieved them and was thrilled! They looked perfect. It still seems crazy to have paid so much but isn’t it better to repair and reuse? To commit yourself to the stewardship of a good pair of shoes?

Around the same time I bought my second pair of clogs, I made a purchase from Nordstrom: a pair of white Classic Dr. Scholl’s. My mom wore these when I was a kid and I had at least one pair back then and I’d been thinking about getting a pair for a long time. The only question was, “What color?” I decided on white. A few days later, a Nordstrom box arrived in the mail, (my new Dr. Scholl’s!) as well as a box from my mom. “What is this box from my mom?”, I wondered. An identical used pair of Dr. Scholl’s. I am not kidding. I had mentioned that I wanted them and she said she might have some and I forgot all about the conversation. The new ones are the photo on the left. The used ones (only a few years old, not form the 70s or anything) are on the right. Same color. Same size. Came on the same day. Like the universe was telling me, “You don’t need to buy new stuff. There’s plenty of perfectly good stuff already out there.” It was freaky. But so cool. Such an affirmation of my commitment to #lowbuy. I sent the Nordstrom ones back.

This year has been a complete 180 on shopping for me. The less I buy new clothes, the less I want them. I have been so completely content with what I have. And more and more I am really clear on what I like. Having less and maintaining a minimal, curated closet is so satisfying.

RESOURCES:

How I got started with clogs

By the way, if you need to adjust your Dr. Scholl’s buckles, this video is a life saver!

To learn more about the Low Buy Challenge, check out Signe’s site.

#cloglife

I finally ordered this pair of clogs, the Lotta from Stockholm “High Heel Classic Clog Tan” on March 11th and they arrived, all the way from Sweden, on March 21, so 10 days. (I might have checked the tracking number multiple times…) I have been pondering this purchase for a very long time, being very intentional about what I add to my wardrobe.

#lowbuychallenge #2020wehaveplenty #useless_lowbuy2020

I almost didn’t buy them. Before I did, because I would be paying for shipping both ways, and didn’t want to buy the wrong size, I emailed the company. They emailed me right back!

Hello,

I’m wondering how narrow these are. I usually wear a US 8.5 because my foot is sort of wide, but fit well in a 38 in Troentorp and Birkenstock.

Thank you,

Leigh

---

Hi Leigh!

Thank you for getting in touch!

The general width of the widest part of the highwood shoe is 8cm (the ball of the foot) and the narrowest part (just by the heel) is 6.5 cm. Depending on the size of the shoe, this will vary by a couple of millimetres but is generally similar.

The general width of the widest part of the Lowwood shoe is 9cm (the ball of the foot) and the narrowest part (just by the heel) is 7.5 cm.

This is not the best style for a wide foot. If you would like a high heel, the Highwood clogs will fit better than High Heel Classic even if the base is exactly the same.

Do let me know if I can do anything else for you!

With kind regards,

Sol

I sort of decided then I wouldn’t get them. But then they kept calling to me. My desire for them never went away. If I was going to buy one new thing this season, it was a second pair of clogs. So, about a month later, I measured the width of some of my narrower shoes and decided that the “highwood” clog would fit me. Oh, my gosh. When they arrived and fit me perfectly, I was so thrilled! I really like to live on the edge. Haha. I love them and they are everything I have been wanting: classic style, brown leather, mid heel. (They are only $76.38 + S&H and run true to size.)

Before this pair, I bought the Troentorp Da Vinci in Dark Blue. I’ve had them for a year and a half and have worn them so much that I need to get them resoled. I was advised by a fellow clog-lover, “if you get them resoled before you get down to the wood, they’ll last a lifetime.” I had planned to take them to the cobbler right after I received the new pair but then we went into lock-down due to COVID-19. The Da Vinci are amazing. I love that they make me taller without being a high heel. I knew that my next pair would be a higher heel and the “High Heel Classic” are more like a mid-high heel and they are equally comfortable. My favorite thing about clogs are wearing them while I’m cooking. It’s no surprise so many chefs wear them. There’s something about them that give me confidence in the kitchen. But I do get nervous about spilling food on the new ones.

I’ve been wearing them for about a week now—mostly indoors. Yesterday I wore them to go to the grocery store. They are so comfortable, needing no break in period. They are so perfect.

Here are the ones I got plus three others I considered. I hope you have a chance to get yourself a pair if you’re looking.

Lotta from Stockholm  |  Sandgrens

No. 6  |  Swedish Hasbeens

My only purchase this year: a J.Crew sweater from Poshmark

I don’t know exactly what day in January I officially committed to doing the “Low Buy Challenge” but here we are, one week into February and I feel like I’ve done well so far.

In my last post I talked about why I was doing it, who inspired me, and what clothes I currently have in my Fall/Winter closet. (Spring/Summer items are packed away.) I think the next step is to discuss the rules I’ve created around when and if I add something.

1. Wait. That’s right. Try it on in store or look at it on line, but don’t buy it today. Pin it on my Pinterest “Wish List” board. If I still really like it in a week or a month, I can get it.
2. Ask myself if I need it. Will it fill a hole in my wardrobe? Do I already have something similar? Is it truly my style? Will it get a lot of wear? Is it on my list?
3. Try to buy second hand or get it from a friend.
4. Shop sustainable brands. Consider spending a little bit more to support more responsible manufacturers, and invest in a quality item that will last longer.
5. Don’t shop to avoid uncomfortable feelings or boredom. Find an alternative outlet.

Setting this goal for myself has been surprisingly freeing. I thought it would be harder. Some of the things I’ve done have made it easier. For one, at the beginning of the year I did massive email clean out. I unsubscribed from all unnecessary emails, especially clothing stores. I threw away coupons and sales flyers and any other enticement to buy stuff (when I don’t need stuff!) Another thing that helped: resisting the urge to get rid of  clothing I don’t wear. I know now that this can create a vacuum that makes me want to run out and get new items. If I think I should get rid of it, I put it away in my off season bins. If I still feel the same in the Spring, I’ll donate it. The third thing I did was spend less time looking at fashion blogs and social media in general. If I read posts, it’s from people who encourage slow fashion. This growing online community is like a support group and it really helps! Check out #2020wehaveplenty and #useless_lowbuy2020

The longer I go without buying clothes the more I feel like I don’t need to. I like the clothes I have. I don’t need new ones. Besides, I like knowing I have a stash of allowance money that keeps getting bigger. The more I have, the less I want to spend it.