Are you a Birkenstock Barbie? How a cameo made 'ugly' Birkenstocks the hottest sandals in town

On one side there's a pair of sleek and sexy stilettos and on the other, an ugly pair of flat sandals with brown soles. Which one do you think is Barbie-approved? Well, Margot Robbie's Barbie approves the ugly pair of Birkenstock sandals to face the real world. 

• As Barbie rakes in over $1 billion at the box office, painting the world pink, Birkenstock is also having its moment, thanks to the Greta Gerwig movie. 
• According to Lyst, searches for the Birkenstock sandals that Robbie wore in the Barbie movie jumped 110% following the movie's release. 
• On Google, searches for 'Birkenstock sandals for women' have increased by 346%.

Birkenstock cameo in Barbie

• Birkenstocks played a significant role in Barbie, essentially posing as a symbol. 
• When Stereotypical Barbie is facing an existential crisis and her Barbie feet turn flat (the horror!), Weird Barbie gives her two footwear choices to venture into the real world - pink stilettos or blush pink strapped Birkenstock sandals. 
• Obviously, Barbie is revolted by the idea of having to wear Birkenstocks but decides to go with them since her feet are no longer molded for stilettos.
• Birkenstocks also act as a symbol that Barbie is entering a less glamorous and ideal world and comfort is something that will help her get through the challenges ahead. 
• The sandals appear once again in the final scene when in the real world, the now-human Barbie visits the gynecologist. 

[ALSO READ: How feminism, frowned upon in China, made Barbie and Aamir Khan's Dangal blockbusters]

Birkenstock doesn't appear to be offended

• Even though Birkenstock was presented in the Barbie movie as something repulsive, the German shoemaker has not shown any offense. 
• In fact, the company is gearing up for an IPO with a valuation of $8 billion.
• Barbie's presentation of Birkenstock wasn't necessarily in a bad light, but just in a way that the brand has always been perceived as - ugly, not fashionable, but comfortable. It has once again stirred the pot on social media, with some saying they are too ugly, and others loving it all the same. 
• As for Birkenstock, it has always indulged its controversial style. In 2022, the company even explained why their sandals looked the way they do in a documentary series literally titled, "Ugly for a Reason".

Barbie may be driving the Birkenstock craze right now, but the sandals have been popular with celebrities even before Margot Robbie wore them. They even found mention in various Western pop culture way before Barbie. One thing is for sure, sexy discomfort may go out of style, but the ugly comfort of Birkenstocks will remain a timeless classic.  

[ALSO READ: The 250-year endurance of Birkenstocks, from Steve Jobs to Gen Z]