Okay, let’s talk about these Birkenstock Big Buckle sandals I got. I picked up a pair, the Arizona style but with those massive buckles. Honestly, wasn’t sure where to start with putting outfits together. That buckle is really… noticeable.
First Attempts – Keeping it Simple
So, the first thing I did was just put them on with what I wear almost every weekend. Grabbed my go-to pair of blue jeans, slightly faded, comfy fit, you know the ones. Pulled on a plain grey t-shirt. Looked in the mirror. It was… fine. Totally okay for running errands or grabbing coffee. The sandals definitely made a statement, even with such a basic outfit. The big buckle just pops.
Then I tried them with black leggings and an oversized sweater. Also okay, very casual, very comfortable. But I felt the buckle almost looked too big compared to the slim silhouette of the leggings. Didn’t love that combo as much.
Trying Something Different
I figured I needed to balance the chunkiness of the sandal and that big buckle. So, I pulled out some different pant styles. Wide-leg cropped linen pants were next. Put those on with a simple ribbed tank top. Now that felt better. The wider leg seemed to work well with the bold sandal. It felt more intentional, less like I just threw on whatever shoes were by the door.
Next, I thought about dresses and skirts. Could these work with something other than pants? I tried a simple black t-shirt dress, knee-length. That was pretty good! Again, keeping the dress simple seemed key. The sandals added a bit of edge to an otherwise very plain dress.
I also experimented with a flowy midi skirt and a tucked-in blouse. This one was okay, but tricky. Had to make sure the skirt length didn’t awkwardly cut off right above the sandals. And the blouse couldn’t be too fussy. A simple silk camisole worked better than a button-down shirt for me.
What Worked Best For Me
After trying a bunch of things from my closet, here’s what I landed on:
- Wide-leg pants: Linen trousers, cropped wide jeans, even some comfortable palazzo pants. These consistently felt like the best pairing.
- Simple dresses: T-shirt dresses, slip dresses, shirt dresses in solid colors or very minimal patterns. Nothing too frilly or overly detailed.
- Midi skirts: Again, simpler styles worked better. A-line or straight cuts, rather than tiered or ruffled ones.
- Keeping tops simple: Basic tees, tanks, simple sweaters. Let the sandals be the main accessory.
I found that trying to match the metal of the buckle to other jewelry wasn’t really necessary. The buckle is such a statement on its own, it kind of does its own thing. Trying too hard to coordinate felt a bit forced.
Final Thoughts
So, yeah. Getting dressed with the Birkenstock Big Buckle sandals took a bit of trial and error. Pulling different things out, seeing how they actually looked on, not just imagining it. They definitely have a stronger look than the regular Birkenstocks. But once I figured out how to balance them, mostly by pairing them with simpler shapes and letting the buckle stand out, I started reaching for them more often. They’re comfy, obviously, but they also add a little something extra to even really basic outfits. Happy I gave them a proper try.
