I Tried the Viral Crocs Cowboy Boots — and They're Actually Kind of Chic

I once declared I wasn't afraid of an ugly shoe, and since I am a woman of my word, I took one for the team and tried out Crocs's latest launch. Earlier this month, the comfy footwear brand announced its Croc-ified cowboy boots, causing a stir among the fashion crowd, in my Instagram DMs, and, well, all over the internet. Even The New York Times joined the conversation, describing the "mutant" shoes as the company's attempt at a "wearable meme."

It's not wrong. When our team first caught wind of the news — and saw photos — we were certainly taken aback. With metallic embroidery, croc-skin texture, and the brand's signature vent holes and uniquely shaped footbed, the Crocs are quite the sight. The rubber, mid-calf boots also come with a removable spur on the back strap, as well as gold star and cowboy Jibbitz charms. Though the brand has debuted a plethora of funky styles over the years, like bejeweled platforms, heeled mules, and Shrek-inspired clogs, it never ceases to surprise us.

Despite some of its bizarre yet buzzy launches, I've often heard people rave about how comfortable Crocs are. I've also seen fashion girlies style — and look very cute in — these rubbery clogs. Of course, I've never owned a pair before, so it just felt right to choose the Classic Cowboy Boot as my first. Go big or go home, right?

I've seen how cool street style stars and celebrities have worn Crocs, but the half-clog, half-cowboy-boot hybrid presented a challenge. Upon unboxing, I was admittedly overwhelmed by the thought of styling these bad boys. But once I threw on some basics and played around with different styling cues, they started growing on me. In fact, I actually found cowboy Crocs to be pretty chic once built into an outfit. That said, I did opt out of adding the Jibbitz charms because they were a little too flashy for my taste, not to mention difficult to attach and remove.

Needless to say, I kept the styling minimal and true to my personal fashion because I knew the boots would do the talking. You'll see they took the lead against more casual basics like my everyday straight-leg jeans, effortless Bermuda shorts, and a structured blazer. Ahead, see how I wore the much-talked-about shoe, and snag your own pair before they sell out completely.