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Another sign these are uncertain times in NYC? Clogs are back.
By
Kenneal Patterson
Published Apr 15, 2025
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By
Kenneal Patterson
Published Apr 15, 2025
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Jessie Sheehan, who hosts a popular baking podcast, faced a tough decision on Saturday: which pair of clogs to wear to the annual Cherry Bombe Jubilee, which attracts culinary A-listers like Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray.
The options in her Red Hook closet were plentiful, including her three-strap silver clogs, a set with leopard print or her newest favorite, baby blue.
Sheehan, 57, describes herself as obsessed with clogs. The 10 pairs she keeps in Brooklyn are just a fraction of her collection — the rest are stashed in her home upstate.
“It’s the utility of them, the sturdiness of them,” said Sheehan. “They’re great for walking around town, they’re incredibly comfortable. But they’re also cute.”
She’s been collecting clogs since they had a moment in the ‘90s.
Jessie Sheehan has been collecting clogs since the 90s and currently favors her baby blue ones. .
Kenneal Patterson for Gothamist
Now they’re having a moment again. On TikTok, search #clogtok, a new hashtag for clog obsessives, and your feed floods with wooden soles, peer reviews and try-on hauls galore.
New Yorkers are showing off every style imaginable. There are the classic brands: Troentorp, Sven and No. 6, which add some chicness to the traditional clog appearance. There’s also die-hard “workwear” brands like Dansko and Sanita, typically made from leather, and often with a strap on the back for security.
TikTok users also feud over the most controversial category of clogs — the slippers – which can include brands like Rothy’s, Haflinger or UGG. Another hot topic is outdoor clogs, which sometimes include certain Crocs — yet some say these don’t even count as clogs. Chloe, Balenciaga, Marni and Burberry are among the luxury brands in this year's clog game.
But clog obsessives like Sheehan will tell you it’s not about the brand — it’s about what works best for your feet. For her, that would be clogs from the local company No. 6.
Sheehan’s thrilled that clogs are back in style and is especially excited to introduce others to No. 6. (No, she is not on their payroll, but she says she has inspired friends to buy a pair.) Her love of the shoes is why she’s curated a stream of clog-filled videos on social media amid clips dedicated to creating the perfect pie crust.
Baking podcaster Jessie Sheehan says clogs are sturdy but also comfortable.
Kenneal Patterson for Gothamist
No. 6 , which started as a tiny Nolita shop in 2005 but quickly grew to a well-known online brand, is also riding the clog resurgence.
Founder Karin Bereson said sales have especially skyrocketed in the last few months, though she noticed an uptick starting a few years ago.
Bereson has a few ideas about why clogs are back. For one, she said, people love feeling sentimental, given that clogs have had their moments in the United States in the ‘70s, ‘90s and 2010s.
“People like what clogs remind them of," said Bereson. "They kind of feel like a simpler time, but they don't look too vintage-y.”
It goes deeper than the aesthetic, though. During the pandemic, a slew of Americans cozied up indoors during lockdowns. In 2025, Bereson said, people still want to be comfortable, especially as they brace for what feels like a never-ending cascade of bad news: potential recessions, disease outbreaks, global wars.
“Everyone has a lot of stuff on their minds right now,” she said. “I work in fashion, and I don’t want to look like I’m wearing fashion right now. Nobody wants to look too flashy.”
There’s also a growing awareness around fast fashion, and No. 6 clogs “don’t have a lot of bells and whistles,” she added, noting they’re handmade and last for decades.
Raquel Laneri, a lecturer at the Parsons School of Design who has reported on fashion trends for nearly two decades, said the surge makes sense.
“Clogs have historically trended during either times of economic or political strife,” she said. The shoes' practicality and sturdiness can make a wearer feel grounded, particularly in uneasy times.
Clogs surfaced in the U.S during World War II and in the late-‘60s and ‘70s, when the anti-war counterculture embraced them and other staples like denim. Then they emerged during the ‘90s financial downturn and again post-2008.
It's no wonder they're back in the current moment of economic uncertainty, said Dr. Thomai Serdari, a luxury marketing specialist at NYU.
Serdari said there are signs we are on the verge of “another market collapse." Clogs, she said, signal the practicality people need to get through the threat of a recession.
And now they’re attracting a new generation of fans.
Model Katie Muirhead, for instance, didn’t expect her April 1 TikTok video to blow up when she put out a call for the best pair of clogs.
Muirhead wanted something comfortable, versatile and long-lasting — a pair for a late-night stop at the bodega and a Sunday brunch with friends. “Buy once, buy right” was her M.O. So she used the countless TikTok recommendations to start a 40-brand list and started reviewing the top contenders.
After researching dozens of pairs, Muirhead is deciding among the SeaVees Bodega clogs, Rothy’s, Blundstone, and Plasticana.
“Brooklyn women love a functional shoe,” she said during a recent phone call. “There’s a classic steadfastness with clogs. You’re not getting too dressed up. There’s no pomp around them.”
Tagged
new york city
fashion
brooklyn
shoes
Kenneal Patterson
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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