Remember the Bert and Ernie "Rubber Ducky" song? It won't leave my head now that I know the name of the company behind these cutesy espadrille slip-ons (it's Rubber Duck, in case that wasn't obvious enough! lol). Eik Ottoson, the line's creator, first started selling his shoes in Denmark, Germany and Scandinavia and, after making a dent in the European market, took his company to the U.S., where it's become popular among everyone from the college student crowd to the indie rocker set and the Hollywood "it" kids. Which could explain why Rubber Duck shoes are sold in such trendy shops as TopShop, Urban Outfitters, and Kitson and American Rag in Los Angeles.
For Spring 2008, they've reinvented their Drillo collection, which consists of flat espadrilled constructed with a patterned sole, natural rope for extra cushioning, and cotton fabric in funky patterns like zebra print, cheetah print and toy soldiers (it literally looks like there are miniature GI Joes on the shoes) — all in eye-catching colors (purple, pink, yellow, turquoise and more). Sure, you wouldn't wear them with a Sass & Bide dress, but they're great for those super casual "tank top and shorts" days (or for trips along the boardwalk). Just don't try running in them (they're really meant for laying in the cut, not frantically dashing from place to place). And a bit of advice: they tend to run slightly big, so you may want to try copping a pair one size smaller than what you'd normally wear.
$30 each. Visit http://www.rubberduckbrand.com for stores