How to Wear Clogs

Choosing Your Clogs

Select clogs made of high-quality leather and wood. When shopping for clogs, look for high quality, durable materials, like solid wood and thick leather or suede. When constructed of high-quality materials, clogs can literally last a lifetime. Therefore, not only will they look and feel better on your feet, high-quality clogs are a great investment for your wardrobe. While clogs made of high-quality leather and wood will cost more, you’ll be able to wear them for much longer than those made with cheaper materials.

Choose a flat or low heel clog for daily wear. Because clogs have become increasingly more popular in mainstream fashion, there are a lot more options on the market. As a result, you’ll have a lot more platform and heel height options to choose from. To help you choose the right pair for you, consider when you plan to wear your clogs and how much you’ll be walking. That way, you’ll be able to assess whether a flat-soled pair, high heel, or wedge would work best for you. For example, if you plan to wear your clogs for daytime weekend activities, such as brunch with friends or running to the farmer’s market, you’ll likely want a more traditional clog height with a flat or about a 1 inch (2.5 cm) platform sole. If you’re purchasing clogs to style for fashionable evenings out with friends, you may want to go with a trendier style, such as a high-heeled suede clog or a wedge style.

Go up a size if your toes feel cramped. Clogs are generally made of hard, sturdy materials, such as wood and thick leather. As a result, they tend to have a little less give in the toe area. While other styles of shoes may stretch a bit as you break them in, this isn’t always the case with clogs. Therefore, if your toes feel like they’re banging up against the end of the clog, or if they feel a little cramped, you may need to go up a half or full size. Clogs are also designed to fit your feet more loosely than other styles of shoes.

Pick styles that will go best with your current wardrobe. When shopping for clogs, it can be helpful to keep in mind what you plan to wear them with that you already own. While generally considered more appropriate for laid-back, bohemian styles, there are plenty of clogs on the market these days that can be dressed up or down. Therefore, you’ll likely be able to find a style that suits your personal style and will go with items you already own. For example, if your wardrobe largely consists of simple, timeless, and chic pieces, such as black dresses, skinny jeans, and crisp white shirts, you’ll likely want to choose a pair of clogs in a classic leather or suede in neutral colors, such as black or tan. If you like to experiment with fashion styles and have more of an eclectic wardrobe, try a pair of clogs with a higher heel and gold hardware. While still versatile like the classic platform clog style, metal hardware and a higher heel lets you experiment with a trendy, more modern style.

Choose a seasonally-appropriate color and style. These days, both classic and more modern clogs come in a variety of colors and styles. With so many options, it can be difficult to assess which color and cut of shoe you should buy. To help you decide, consider not only what you’ll be wearing them with, but also what time of year you’ll be wearing your clogs the most. While classic black pebbled leather can appear a bit harsh for summer, for example, clog-inspired sandals in a flexible lambskin tan leather are a great option for warmer temperatures. Classic closed-toe platform clogs in a saddle brown shade can generally be worn all year round.

Select a polyurethane sole for activity-ready clogs. While clogs are traditionally defined by their wooden soles, some contemporary styles come with polyurethane soles made to look a bit like wood. While they tend to be less durable and generally won’t last as long, polyurethane soles may be more comfortable to walk in and are great for activities like gardening. Polyurethane sole clogs also tend to be less expensive. Therefore, while they may not last as long as traditional wooden-soled clogs, your financial investment will be less.

Styling Your Clogs

Choose a statement piece on top to balance out your outfit. Because clogs are generally made out of heavier materials, they tend to add bulk to the bottom of your outfit. To keep your outfit from appearing too bottom-heavy, try styling your clogs with a statement piece on top to draw the eye up. For example, pair your clogs with a simple pair of pants, such as slim-fitting jeans, a white v-neck tee, and a 70s-style fringe or embroidered jacket. Adding statement jewelry, such as a collar necklace or vintage-style chandelier earrings, is also a great way to balance out your outfit.

Add open-toed clogs to your spring-ready outfit. Open-toed clogs are a great option for shoes that help you stylishly transition from winter to spring. While traditionally thicker materials make clogs appropriate for a wide range of temperatures, an open-toed style will keep your clogs from looking too heavy and help make your outfit lighter and ready for spring. Try pairing your open-toed clogs with a midi dress and denim jacket for an instantly stylish and comfortable transitional outfit. For an effortlessly pulled-together look that will take you from a warm day to chillier nights, try pairing open-toed heeled clog slides with cropped jeans, a simple top, and an unbuttoned long-line blazer.

Style clog wedges with a mini skirt for an instantly fashionable look. If you’re looking for an on-trend way to wear your clogs, take a cue from many popular influencers today and style your clogs with a mini skirt. While pairing these two pieces may seem risky, you can keep this look classic and stylish by choosing a mini skirt in a high-quality material, such as suede, leather, or a thick natural cotton. Add a chunky sweater and tights for a fall-ready outfit that’s completely on-trend. To avoid overdoing it, style your mini skirt and clog wedges with a simple top and accessories.

Wear simple leather or suede clogs if your outfit makes a statement. If your outfit has a lot of colors, patterns, or anything that makes more of a statement, wearing more ornate clogs, such as clogs with embroidery or large hardware, could make your outfit a bit too overwhelming. Instead, try a more toned down clog in a classic shape with simple materials, such as a neutral leather or suede. For example, if you’re wearing a midi floral dress or flared pants with a statement jacket, choose a classic leather closed-toe pair, or try a simple clog-inspired leather sandal.

Try Mary Jane clogs with softer fabrics and colors for a demure look. If your personal style tends to be more demure, try styling Mary Jane clogs with a softer look, such as a delicate silk dress or a pastel-colored top and jeans. While clogs are not generally considered delicate, Mary Jane style clogs tend to appear more feminine, making them a great option for softer looks. To avoid looking too young, however, avoid Mary Jane clogs with any frilly or ornate details. Instead, make sure that the clogs are simple and chic. Try your Mary Jane clogs with a pair of light ripped jeans and a simple white peasant top for a relaxed, weekend-ready look. Add a wicker or straw market tote to wear your Mary Jane clogs for a picnic with friends or to your favorite weekend farmer’s market.

Pair platform clogs with flared jeans for an easy, cool 70s vibe. Platform clogs were incredibly popular in the 1970s, and have seen a resurgence in popularity again in recent years. To exude that cool and effortless 70s vibe without looking like you’re wearing a costume, keep the rest of your outfit simple and avoid wearing too many other 70s inspired pieces. For example, pair your platform clogs and flared jeans with a simple silk floral top or plain white tank. Avoid adding stereotypical 70s accent pieces, such as a fringe purse or a flowy kimono, as these may make your outfit appear a bit too gimmicky.

Style clogs with hardware accents with modern pieces. If the bohemian look generally associated with clogs isn’t your style, try styling clogs with metal hardware with chic, modern pieces. The metal hardware will instantly update and elevate the clogs, and pairing them with a simple, chic outfit will further modernize your look. For example, try pairing sleek black clogs with gold or silver nailhead hardware with simple black trousers or jeans and a crisp white button-down shirt.

Pair clog-inspired sandals with your favorite summer dresses and skirts. If you want to wear clogs in warmer temperatures, try pairing clog-inspired sandals with your summer-ready outfit. While traditional clogs can be a bit heavy for hot temperatures, clog-inspired sandals are a great lightweight alternative. These sandals tend to maintain the clog-style wooden sole but are lightened-up with a strappy upper material. Style your clog-inspired sandals with a flowy, high-waisted skirt and a crop top. Clog-inspired heeled sandals are also a great way to dress up a simple summer maxi dress. Reader Poll: we asked 721 wikiHow readers, and 73% agreed that the best shoes to wear with skirts and dresses are heels, so if you're wearing a dress, a clog-inspired heeled sandal could be perfect. [Take Poll]