News: 1759382588

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Microsoft confirms it found a way to make Crocs even uglier – with Windows XP and Clippy

(2025/10/02)


Microsoft has delivered its found a way to make Crocs even uglier by using some of its own software.

Earth’s premier software company [1]leaked news of the Crocs in August. On Wednesday the company [2]confirmed their existence and said its customized Crocs are “inspired by some of the brand’s most recognizable moments, including Windows XP.”

Here they are.

[3]

Microsoft Crocs - Click to enlarge

If you have not averted your eyes, the image above depicts a pair of Crocs styled to resemble the “Bliss backdrop”, the photograph of a green hill and blue sky that was the standard desktop wallpaper for Windows XP.

Crocs corporation calls the icons on the shoes “Jibbitz charms”, little plastic charms that the footwear company sells as add-ons to those who want to personalize their footwear.

[4]

These Jibbitzes reproduce icons for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, the Windows Recycle Bin, and the Office Assistant, aka “Clippy”, that was an early precursor to Copilot.

[5]Microsoft hoping to knock users' socks off with Windows XP Crocs

[6]Nostalgia for XP sells out Microsoft's 2023 'Windows Ugly Sweater'

[7]Get a custom paint job for earbuds at a nail salon, type on a baguette, then build a fountain for your PC

[8]Microsoft intros clothing line that is absolutely not leftover conference swag

Microsoft created these Crocs to celebrate its 50th anniversary, but hasn’t put them on sale. A competition staged on [9]Instagram is the only way to get a pair.

Microsoft has a thing for unattractive clothes, as it often [10]releases an ugly Christmas sweater that, strangely, proves very popular when The Register [11]gives them away to readers .

[12]

The Crocs are a new item in Microsoft’s fashion collection, which also includes a drawstring bag that riffs on the Bliss backdrop.

For what it’s worth, Bliss was the inspiration for Microsoft’s 2023 ugly sweater, suggesting fashion is very much a side hustle for Redmond – unlike Cisco which last year promised to deliver [13]quarterly fashion collections . ®

Get our [14]Tech Resources



[1] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/microsoft_reportedly_about_to_unleash/

[2] https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/10/01/microsoft-marks-50-years-with-limited-edition-crocs-shoes-nodding-to-windows-xp/

[3] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/10/02/supplied_microsoft_crocs.jpg

[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aN5NQvBCKIK3zPZ6F9b-EgAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/microsoft_reportedly_about_to_unleash/

[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/30/windows_ugly_sweater_2023/

[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/27/computex_oddities_2025/

[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/13/hardwear/

[9] https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRcPVijRHK/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

[10] https://www.theregister.com/2018/12/14/microsoft_windows_95_christmas_jumper/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/28/ms_paint_sweater_competition/

[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aN5NQvBCKIK3zPZ6F9b-EgAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[13] https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/12/cisco_fashion_retail/

[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/



I want some of whatever chemicals...

CorwinX

... the "designers" of these things were high on at the time!

Must have been pretty trippy.

Re: I want some of whatever chemicals...

blu3b3rry

I imagine the chemicals cause you to hallucinate that everyone is writing a letter and needs your assistance.

Re: I want some of whatever chemicals...

JLV

What I don't want is to have these thingies come to my mind next time I hallucinate. Eye bleach, please.

ffs...

xyz

do they come with copilot, telemetry and autoupdate?

Do you put the left one on your left foot and vice versa until an update changes the order around and do you need an M365 licence to wear them?

Re: ffs...

Dan 55

do they come with copilot, telemetry and autoupdate?

No, but the ones in 20 years will. People will think it's great they've only got copilot, telemetry, and autoupdate.

b0llchit

Can I have my eyes back? Please?

Click to enlarge

that one in the corner

You could have disabled that option, for the safety of readers with glitchy touchscreens...

Ancestry

Flightmode

>…the Office Assistant, aka “Clippy”, that was an early precursor to Copilot

Only in the same way that Mozart was an early precursor to Del Tha Funky Homosapien.

Don’t go blaming Clippy for Copilot.

Anything free is worth what you pay for it.