Chubby Shaming

Dear Birkenstock,

You have hurt my feelings.

As a long-time, devoted Birkenstock wearer, I feel like I am being left out in the cold with your limited edition releases.  Why?  Simple.  Your gorgeous limited edition sandals are only available in narrow width.  This feels unfair and hurtful.  All of us who require regular width Birkenstocks are left drooling with envy.
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The limited edition Birkenstocks that you have unveiled for the Birkenstock Box openings have been amazing.  I would have purchased one of each design, if these special Arizonas came in regular width.  When I saw the sneak peak of your “Sweetheart Collection,” I immediately reached out to Birkenstock Attitudes to inquire if these Arizonas would be available in regular width.  ​

"Sweetheart Collection" NOT available in regular width. Pic by Birkenstock Attitudes

I was informed, sadly, that this would be a narrow width limited edition release only (again).  

Enough is enough.  

I would like to direct this letter to the individual(s) who decided that only women with narrow feet should be given the opportunity to buy your limited edition shoes.  Crunch the numbers, Birkenstock, there are hundreds of thousands of people worldwide that buy your regular width sandals.  It is people like me, who are loyal, life-long customers that would love to get their hands on these rare Birks.  Speciality lux Birkenstocks would fly off shelves in regular width.

All these lovely Birkenstocks are for narrow feet only. Picture from Birkenstock.com

I understand that you are appealing to the fashion world by slimming down the Arizona and only offering it in narrow.  But your trendy fashionistas will only wear the shoe for one season and then move on to the next big trend.  I would wear a limited edition lux Birkenstock for decades, with pride!!  I am already your “Birkenstory” ambassador in the trenches, talking to everyday people on the street about my gorgeous Birkenstocks.  People stop and ask me all the time where I bought my spotted metallic Birks.  Imagine how many people would ask me about an eye catching limited edition Arizona.

This Arizona I would wear with pride for decades, but it won't fit! Picture from Birkenstock.com

Birkenstock, you are not just a trend.  You are the foundation of peerless comfort.  The entire reason that I, and countless other faithful Birkenstock wearers, choose your brand, is because your regular width sandals actually fit.  Even though I have wide feet, I respect fashion and desire fashionable shoes.  And you continue to ostracize people like me by releasing your limited edition sandals in narrow width only.


You are missing out on sales, and possibly losing customers, by excluding women with normal to wide width feet.  If you offered these fashionable limited edition Birkenstocks in regular width too, you would continue to grow your devoted customer list, rather than pushing some of us away.  I have already cheated on you with Fryes and Dr. Martens.  Who’s to say what other brand might enter my closet in the near future?

These won't be in my closet anytime soon. NARROW only. Photo from Birkenstock.

Don’t try to tell me that narrow width Birkenstocks accommodate both narrow and medium widths.  That is a bunch of baloney.  There may only be a few millimeters between a narrow width and regular width footbed.  Yet, every damn millimeter is needed for someone with a wide foot!


Any regular width Birkenstock connoisseur, like myself, knows that a narrow width Birkenstock is simply not up to snuff.  The arch support is in the wrong place, the toe bar is off, and foot “spillage" occurs over the sides of the shoe.  Wearing the wrong width Birkenstock, is like wearing the wrong size bra.  Things turn ugly quickly when they do not fit correctly.  There is nothing comfy or sexy about having a shoe make your wide foot look chubby due to “spillage”. 

These beautiful Birks would cause spillage in narrow. Photo from Birkenstock.

It is like you are chubby shaming those of us with wider feet.  You are indirectly, passive aggressively telling us that our feet are too chubby to be fashionable.  I do not want to be chubby shamed!!


If Birkenstock is known for making two widths, then make two widths available in every shoe that you offer.  Especially your luxurious small batch Birks.  Leave it up to the consumer to decide if s/he prefers narrow or regular width.  


I will not subscribe to “vanity” sizing when it comes to the width of my foot.  I embrace the fact that I have a wide foot and I will no longer squeeze my foot into a shoe that is too narrow.  I have done that far too long in my life and I refuse to do it any longer.  And I am certainly not going to drop $185, plus tax, for a narrow width Birkenstock.  If I am going to pay that kind of money for something unique, then it damn well better fit perfectly!!

I could squeeze my feet into these beauties, but then I would be chubby shaming my own feet. Not cool in Narrow in only. Picture from Birkenstock.

Please do not consider remedying your lack of regular width limited edition Arizonas by simply offering them in a different style, like a Gizeh or a Mayari.  I don’t want another pair of Gizehs or Mayaris in regular width.  While I adore the Gizeh and Mayaris that I do own, sometimes I feel like I have to settle for those models because they are always available in regular width.


I love the Birkenstock Arizona.  It is hands down my favorite Birkenstock model ever.  I wish to build my Arizona collection.  I want access to the limited edition lux Birkenstock Arizonas in regular width.  To me, Arizonas define the Birkenstock brand.  The Arizona is iconic.


Lately, I feel like I have been in a perpetual state of disappointment when it comes to your limited edition releases.  I realize that you are testing the waters with these small batch Birkenstock offerings.  Trying to start a Birkenstock craze, like the Nike limited edition craze.  


I would like to participate in this craze.  I want to snatch up these small batch shoes and beef up my Arizona collection.   I beg you to offer more than just your core collection in regular width.  Brown, black, gray, and taupe get boring after awhile.  


PLEASE,  make your small batch Birkenstocks in *REGULAR* width!!   Or just make one pair in size 38 Regular and send them to me.


Thank you for your consideration,
Gina Mama
​gina@ilovebirkenstocks.com