[Minnie]

They were recommended to us by ortho & rheumatology, particularly for foot/arch support for my daughter, on the foot that was so badly injured. I got a pair because my daughter had so much success with them & I have the flattest feet ever. I was tired of waking up, barely being able to walk in the mornings, because my feet hurt so much. Inside of 2 weeks of having the Birks, that didn't happen anymore.

My first pair were just retired after 4 years, breaking in a new pair, although it's not much to break in, as they're the same style as the first pair. I used to hate them but now, because I'm not so crippled up, I don't give a flying purple eff that anyone thinks they're ugly lol. Being able to walk trumps all of that. I loathe socks & am not fond of an enclosed shoe except in winter, so the Gizeh style works for me. *shrug* My old "retired" pair are getting hucked in the trailer for camping trips.

As for the dirtiness of those ones in the picture, there is a cleaner available, someone should point it out to them, lol. You can buy the Birks cleaner & cork sealer or just use some soap/water to give the footbed/shoebed a scrubbing & a suede brush to restore the "nap" of the shoe bed.