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There are some shoes that are more than just shoes—they have a personality attached to them. They’re the Birkenstocks of the world. The Doc Martens. The Hasbeen clogs. While most of these have slithered into the mainstream, until recently, I was convinced that Tevas were still a shoe for a certain type of person. Namely, someone sportier and more outdoorsy than I am.
But when I was given a pair of Teva sandals earlier this year, I started to think about how I could work them into my New York City routine, which is largely devoid of sporty clothes and outdoor activities. Over the past year I’d seen people in my Instagram feed and on the streets of New York pulling them off with everything from canvas Alex Mill work pants and a tee to flowing, feminine Ganni dresses. So, come spring, I finally strapped them on (with a pair of gingham bike shorts and a vintage shirt).
On that first day, I rode my new bicycle through Brooklyn, I marched for multiple hours in a protest, and I grabbed a quick bite and drink with a friend—and my new Tevas felt perfect for all of it. Mine are a simple black, with a mid-platform height of 1 1/4 inch (which helps zhuzh them up, compared with the standard flat style), so they are well-designed to be versatile. I also spotted dozens of others out there, though, with bolder styles like colorblocked straps and marigold bodies (of course, the standard issue black pairs like mine are also out in full force). And the people wearing them all looked good.
Suffice to say, I haven’t taken them off since. For beach days? They’re the first thing I set out—that rubber bottom can handle getting wet, but the cloth straps are way more comfortable than those on my all-rubber flip flops. Even on lengthy bike rides through the city—one of my main socially distant activities this summer—they hold up, and are way more comfortable in the oppressive New York heat than my Reebok Club C’s. And on the rare occasion that I get to catch up with someone I haven’t seen in a while, and want to look nice? I’ve always found a way to wear my Tevas for that outdoor meal or to-go cocktail in the park. (For the record, nearly every friend I’ve seen has complimented my Tevas, and since talked about buying a pair for themselves.)
The real treat, though, is that when I want to do all of the above in one day, I never have to bring an extra pair or shoes. I can go from city to bike to beach to dinner, and they do it all, comfortably. As I get ready for a summer road trip, I know that, if I want to pack light and only bring one pair of shoes, I could get away with just my Tevas. I can already imagine all the suitcase space I'll save once I'm packing a carry-on again.
