Listen, I love Mario Batali. He's a good-natured, talented chef and I wish him nothing but luck. But that doesn't change the fact that Crocs are ugly and unacceptable.

Still, it has been rainy lately and you don't want to get your nice shoes (and feet) soaking wet. May I present an alternative? They're called SWIMS, and they're from that magical land of innovative design and tall blond people known as Scandinavia (Norway, specifically). What's so genius about them? These sleek galoshes fit over your own shoes so you can just take them off when you get to your destination. Basically, you don't look ridiculous while out and about in wet weather, and once you get inside you can just slip them off. Thank you, Norway, thank you so much.

You can find SWIMS for men and women at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales.