There is a dizzying variety of slip-ons in Birkenstock’s range despite its staple of simple materials. From a mix of suede, rubber, smooth leather, and cork, the German shoemaker concocts sandals, slides, and mules with single straps, triple straps, crossed-over straps, back buckles, thick hook-'n-loop straps… the lot. And just when you think you’ve seen them all, Kith cosigns a little-known top-tier clog.
The Birkenstock Amsterdam is very similar to a Birkenstock Boston, the suede clog that was already Birk’s second-most-famous shoe before 2020's cozy cravings boosted its visibility to peak status , except for one essential feature: The strap. And by eliminating that single detail, a classic clog becomes even more minimal.
Well, there’s a little more to it, like how the Amsterdam clog's shape is also slightly tweaked to better become a slipper. It’s not not a strapless Boston though and therefore has all the classic appeal of its predecessor yet is made even sleeker.
This is a top-tier Birkenstock distilled down to only one piece of leather and that textured cork midsole. What could be better? It’s a Birkenstock in its purest form. It’s peak Birk, even.
Oh, and the Amsterdam is somehow more affordable than the Boston — it's about $135 online whereas a Boston runs around $150 .
Kith, already known for beautifully braided Bostons , is aware that it's better to not mess with this bare bones beauty. Instead, the retail giant embraced the “less is more” 'tude by selecting three new neutral colorways — light taupe suede, chocolate brown suede, and slate grey pebbled leather — with small Kith branding debossed on the side for its most recent Birk collab.
Sometimes it really is as simple as that, one small move to give an underrated Birk beauty its moment in the limelight.
Tom Barker reports on all things style- and shopping-related. He previously studied at London College of Fashion and worked in London writing for a mix of magazines before moving to Berlin.
He is the only known member of Berlin’s Ipswich Town fan club and a proud follower of East Anglia’s biggest team. His other interests include early-2000s British indie music, buying new running gear in the hope of finally completing a half marathon, and hot sauce.