I Tried the "Ugly" Sandal Trend, and Honestly, I've Never Felt Cooler

ICYMI, "ugly" fashion trends are officially a thing. Let me start off by saying that even though I wrote the word "ugly," they're not actually ugly. People just started giving them that name because they're tricky to style [1], which makes them polarizing. Overall, everyone just has a lot of *feelings* about them.

The resurgence of the "ugly" fashion trend first started out with chunky dad sneakers, which, if you think about it, are pretty much everywhere now, thanks to stars like Kendall Jenner. I'm a proud owner of a couple of pairs myself! Soon after, everyone shifted to bucket hats [2] and biker shorts [3], which are both a major nod to the '90s. (Again, a proud owner of both and still rocking 'em). And if you've been following along, Tevas and Birkenstocks had a major moment back in 2013 thanks to the appearance of "Furkenstocks" (furry Birks) on Phoebe Philo's Celine runway. The point is, while people may have considered these trends "ugly" in the past, there's been a rise in popularity of these tricky sandal trends yet again. With a touch of confidence and a couple of styling tricks, these trends give off an aura of "I didn't try to look this cool, I just am."

After these sporty sandals made their way onto the runways of high-fashion labels like Prada, Nanushka, Off-White, and Miu Miu for Spring 2019, they've been spotted on street style stars and bloggers everywhere. It's hard not to look around and see everyone from our own editors to people on the streets of New York either wearing a pair of Tevas with tie-dye socks or rocking a pair of Birkenstocks with a midi dress. To show you just what I mean, I decided to try out the trend for myself to officially make the call: can I get behind them or not? Keep reading to see how I felt trying out the four major sandal trends you're sure to see everywhere this Summer.