Are Birkenstocks Back?! (And If So, Will You Wear ‘Em?)

They’ve been the butt of endless treehugger-from-Vermont jokes for decades, but it seems like Birkenstocks may finally get a chance to hang with the cool kids, if spring 2013 is any indication.

Today’s Daily Beast asks, “Are Birkenstocks Cool Again?”, and eventually answers its own question with a resounding “yes.” So how did we get from this…

The classic Birkenstock Arizona, $79.95 at zappos.com

…to this?

Céline’s new “Furkenstock,” $895 at kirnazabete.com this spring

Citing Céline’s spring 2013 runway, the Daily Beast makes the case: “From that moment it was clear: call them ugly, old-fashioned, or just downright comfortable, Birkenstocks are cool again. Designers such as Phoebe Philo and Giambattista Valli have put their own spin on the brand’s classic styles for spring, embellishing the hippie shoe with oversized studs and bright fur. Last summer Ashley Olsen was spotted in a black pair of the brand’s Gizeh sandals, while Anne Hathaway was photographed in the same shoe one month later. For spring 2013, Birkenstock will capitalize on its current popularity by launching a small collection with J.Crew men—the first time they’ve collaborated with another brand. ‘It’s interesting because we don’t chase fashion,’ Shelly Glasgow, Birkenstock’s director of product development and merchandising, told The Daily Beast. ‘When it comes your way it’s almost like, Oh my god, people think it’s hip.'”

Hip, indeed! The gals behind It boutique Kirna Zabete bought Céline’s mink-lined version for their store (at a retail price of $895, no less) and nicknamed them “Furkenstocks.” W magazine points to Miu Miu’s bejeweled pair as yet another example of the quirky footwear trend, and the menswear blogs informed us that the guys are getting in on the action, too, as seen at Gant by Michael Bastian for spring 2013.

We’ve been begging for more practical shoes for years now…did we finally get what we deserve? Are you guys at all cool with the designer Birkenstocks trend, or is this one you hope will be over with in an instant? Will you wear Birkenstocks come spring? Discuss!