I sold Birkenstocks for years.
And when you sell that many Birkenstocks, you learn a few things.
You learn which styles people come back for year after year. You learn which pair becomes the one someone wears until it quite literally cannot be worn anymore. You learn that the person who swears she is not a Birkenstock person sometimes becomes the person who owns four pairs.
And you definitely learn that not all Birkenstocks do the same job.
So when I started putting together The Birkenstock Edit, I didn't want to give you a giant list of every Birkenstock currently available.
That's not really an edit.
I wanted the pairs I'd actually buy now.
The classic. The fashion pair. The statement pair. The slightly under-the-radar one. And, of course, a Boston—or two.
After nearly 20 years of buying shoes for boutiques, this is how I still shop: I don't want everything. I want the good stuff.
So if you're wondering which Birkenstocks are worth buying right now, these are the pairs that made my edit.
SHOP THE FULL BIRKENSTOCK EDIT →
First, Let's Talk About Birkenstock
There are very few shoe brands that have managed to move between practical and fashionable quite like Birkenstock.
For years, people bought them primarily because they were comfortable.
Then something happened.
The fashion world decided Birkenstocks were cool.
Suddenly the Boston wasn't just a comfort shoe. It was the shoe.
Arizonas started showing up with dresses and trousers instead of just shorts.
Big Buckle versions made the classic silhouettes feel completely different.
Designers started collaborating with the brand.
And the shoe that had always been practical became a legitimate fashion decision.
But that's also why shopping Birkenstocks can now feel a little overwhelming.
There are classics, fashion colors, different leathers, different footbeds, big buckles, rivets, wrapped soles, shearling...
So which ones are actually worth buying?
Here's where I'd start.
The Boston Soft Footbed: The Fall Pair
If you only buy one Birkenstock for fall, I have a hard time arguing against the Boston.
There's a reason this shoe has become such a phenomenon.
It's ridiculously easy.
Throw it on with jeans. Wear it with leggings. Add socks when it gets colder. Pair it with trousers when you want an outfit to feel a little less serious.
The Boston somehow manages to look better the less you fuss with it.
And I particularly like the Soft Footbed version for an everyday pair.
If you've never owned a Boston and are wondering whether the trend has already passed you by, I wouldn't worry about it.
At this point, I don't really consider the Boston a trend.
It's a closet staple.
THE FALL PAIR. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK BOSTON SOFT FOOTBED →]
The Blair: The Fashion Pick
This is the Birkenstock I'd show someone who tells me she already owns the classics and wants something different.
The Blair has that unmistakable Birkenstock DNA, but it feels much more fashion-forward.
And that's exactly why it made my edit.
When I was buying for the store, I never wanted an assortment made entirely of the shoes everyone already owned.
You need something that makes someone stop.
Something familiar enough that she understands it, but different enough that she thinks:
Wait. I haven't seen that one.
That's the Blair.
I'd keep the outfit simple and let the shoe do the work—relaxed denim, a white tee, a great sweater or jacket.
THE FASHION PICK. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK BLAIR →]
The Arizona: The Statement Classic
You probably don't need me to introduce you to the Birkenstock Arizona.
It's one of the most recognizable sandals there is.
Which is precisely why I like buying it in a version that feels a little unexpected.
An animal print, interesting texture or different finish takes a shoe you already know and gives it a completely different personality.
This was something I loved doing as a buyer.
If you're going to carry the classic, give people a reason to look at it again.
And personally, I'd rather have one Arizona that makes an outfit interesting than three nearly identical neutral pairs.
Wear it exactly how you'd wear the classic.
That's the beauty of it.
THE STATEMENT CLASSIC. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK ARIZONA →]
The Madrid Big Buckle: The Elevated Classic
The Madrid Big Buckle might be one of the best examples of Birkenstock taking something incredibly simple and making it feel genuinely elevated.
It's still easy.
It's still unmistakably Birkenstock.
But that oversized buckle changes the whole shoe.
This is the pair I'd wear when I want the comfort and ease of a Birkenstock without having the outfit feel quite so casual.
Wide-leg trousers. A simple dress. Great denim. Linen in warmer weather.
It's polished without trying too hard.
And those are usually the shoes that get worn the most.
THE ELEVATED CLASSIC. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK MADRID BIG BUCKLE →]
The Boston Rivet: The Cool-Girl Boston
Yes, there's another Boston on my list.
No, I don't think that's excessive. 😂
Because this one does a different job.
The Boston Rivet takes a shoe everyone already knows and gives it just enough edge to make you look twice.
This is exactly the type of variation I would have been drawn to when buying for the store.
The regular Boston is the dependable one.
This is the fashion Boston.
If you already own the classic—or you just want your first pair to feel a little less expected—I'd look here.
Same easy styling.
A lot more personality.
THE COOL-GIRL BOSTON. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK BOSTON RIVET →]
The Amsterdam Wrapped: The Under-the-Radar Pick
And then there's always the shoe that doesn't get as much attention.
I love that shoe.
The Amsterdam Wrapped isn't necessarily the Birkenstock everyone is searching for, which might be exactly why I'm drawn to it.
It's easy, minimal and a little unexpected.
When I was buying, I always wanted at least one style that wasn't the obvious choice.
Because sometimes the most interesting thing you can buy isn't the shoe everyone on Instagram already owns.
It's the one people ask you about.
The Amsterdam is that pair for me.
THE UNDER-THE-RADAR PICK. ✓
[SHOP THE BIRKENSTOCK AMSTERDAM WRAPPED →]
If You're Buying Your First Pair...
I'd probably start with a classic.
The Boston if you want something you'll wear through fall and beyond.
The Arizona if you're looking for the quintessential Birkenstock sandal.
But if you already have those?
That's when I'd have some fun.
Go Blair.
Try the Big Buckle.
Buy the interesting Boston.
Choose the version that makes something you already wear all the time feel new again.
Because once you have the basics covered, you don't need another basic just because it's practical.
The Buyer Rule I Still Follow
Selling shoes for as long as I did completely changed the way I shop for them.
I don't look at a shoe and ask only:
Do I like it?
I ask:
What job does it do in my closet?
If you already own a Boston, do you need another Boston in almost the exact same color?
Maybe not.
But could a more interesting version replace your loafer some days?
Could the Blair give your basic jeans an entirely different look?
Could a Big Buckle Madrid be the easy shoe you wear instead of a flat sandal?
That's how I'd think about building a Birkenstock collection.
Not how many can I own?
But:
Which ones actually add something?
The Dear Lucy Edit
After years of selling Birkenstocks, I understand why people become loyal to them.
They're comfortable. They're easy. They get better as they become yours.
But what I love about Birkenstock now is that you don't have to choose between the practical shoe and the interesting shoe.
You can have both.
If I were buying Birkenstocks for a store today, these are the pairs I'd want on my wall.
And if I were buying them for my own closet?
Same answer.
SHOP THE FULL BIRKENSTOCK EDIT →
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