The tall white walls in the new Crocs store at Destiny USA are an ideal backdrop for the hundreds of brightly colored clogs decorating the store. That’s right, a whole store dedicated to the shoe that people love to crack jokes about and love for their practical comfort.
The smiling crocodile brand of comfortable shoes is available in more than 500 branded stores in 90 countries. Now more of them might be spotted around Syracuse; the Destiny store, in the expansion near TJ Maxx, is Crocs’ first in Syracuse.
Crocs were never meant for the high-fashion shoe crowd that prizes Jimmy Choo and Valentino. Their bulbous design has always made them victim to the sorts of jokes that the VW Beetle faced when it first came out. Despite their dorky look, Crocs have succeeded based on their affordability and comfort.
Since its grand opening in July 20, the store has seen a stream of visitors.
“The turnout was very good, definitely better than we expected,” said Steve Shepard, a Crocs employee in the Destiny store. “We weren’t sure how people were going to react to the store in this area because there isn’t one around.”
Crocs come in more than 300 seasonal looks, including lightweight rain boots, moccasins, flats and sandals, all in a variety of styles and colors. The classic Crocs clogs are available in more than 20 colors; most other styles are produced in a palette of four to six colors or two-color combinations.
All the shoes in the Crocs store incorporate the brand’s trademarked Croslite material. This is a proprietary, closed-cell resin compound that gives each pair its soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities.
“I got surgery on my foot, and the only shoe I wanted to wear were Crocs,” said Aura Espinoza. “My doctor said to be careful with Crocs, because they are so comfortable, I won’t be able to wear anything else.”
Crocs are no longer a unisex product.
Color is one variable that distinguishes male from female designs, especially since Crocs are not known for being unnoticed. Bright greens and baby pinks for women contrast with the camouflage and brown leather options available for men. There are even fur-lined clogs to avoid frosty toes.
“A lot of people weren’t familiar with the other designs that we have,” said Shepard. “People expected just classical Crocs, but right now we’re selling way more of the nontraditional Crocs.”
Before, the Crocs shoes that were carried by local stores were only clogs. But having a Crocs store introduces hundreds of different styles of shoes. Central New Yorkers who do not have enough personality to rock the clog have many options to choose from.
Crocs with heels are available, again with comfort and mobility as the goal. Even the heels are light as feathers, but the magic comes when stepping down. The heels are not something to wear for a nighttime occasion, but more as a daily work shoe that offers women a cushioned lift.
For men, Crocs offers a boating shoe similar in design to Sperry. It has laces, which most Crocs do not, and is made of linen.
The Crocs store inventory is not limited to shoes. There are large casual purses for women, lunch bags and backpacks for children, hats and iPhone cases for all ages, and even sunglasses branded by Crocs.
A fashionista, a middle-aged man or the working professional can find more elegant styles through collections like Crocs at Work. With all these options, there is a Croc for everyone, even for those who say they will never sport the ladybug-like clogs.
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