To start off, I am a 17 year old girl--and my mother has worn Birkenstocks for years. She has plenty of pairs, and I used to look at them as weird or basically "not-cool".

However, last summer, I bought the Mayari sandal in stone for myself on a whim because we were passing by a Birk store and they were on sale.  I now wear them often and am looking into another pair of Birkenstocks! I love the versatility of the sandals, I can wear them to the beach, shopping, walking the dogs, hiking, camping.. you name it!

You may be warned that my family and I could be labeled, as another reviewer said, "crunchy" or "granola", and my mother often wears her Birks with SmartWool socks (I'm not quite at that level yet!) but these shoes are great no matter what your style is.

EDIT:  February 2013 and these sandals are still going strong! They are definitely worn (I work at a resident camp, they go hiking with me), but fit like a perfect glove and I wouldn't even call myself a sandal person. (I have, however, bought more Birks since c;)  what are you waiting for? buy these!