Broad definition for clogs is a pair of shoe designed in open backs and closed toes. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a clog as a “thick piece of wood” and later as a “wooden soled overshoe” and a “shoe with a thick wooden sole.” In fact, clogs for women have platform-type heel with thick and sturdy soles.
Recent clogs for women are made from variety of materials, but traditionally clogs were made from wood, both in part or completely. These unique footwears may vary by culture worldwide, even considered as today’s fashion like Dutch’s clogs, Swedish Träskor or Japanese geta.
The origin of this wooden foot covering is still blurry. In Europe, De Boer-Olij reference was to the high, thick-soled boots which called buskin of the Greek tragedy actors in Antiquity and to the shoes called caligae worn by Roman soldiers. Celtic, Germanic people from Southern and Northern Europe countries were also familiar with these kinds of shoes.
Old traditional clogs had occasionally associated negatively with cheap and folkloric footwear of farmers and the working class because indeed they were worn in heavy labor. In fact, they are still in use today as protective clothing in agriculture and some factories or mines. Another feature is that clogs being worn in different styles of dance as well to produce the unique signature sound against the floor which became the fundamental roots of tap.
Clogs gained popularity as fashion accessories in Sweden during 70s and 80s periods. These Swedish clogs were also designed for and worn by both sexes, usually without socks and considered as suitable attire for the avant-garde man.
In the 1980s and 1990s clogs for women based on Swedish clogs made a fashion comeback and worn in many western countries. Platform clogs or sandals had a raised height of as 6 or even 8 inches right through between sole and insole.
Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf introduced high heeled Dutch clogs on the catwalk with their winter collection of 2007. Meanwhile, Swedish clogs for women made a return once again in Chanel’s and Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection.