I’ll be the first to admit it, I turned up my nose at the sight of those big-toed boat shoes that everyone was raving about back in 2002. But, despite their unfashionable appearance, the brightly colored, quirky clogs became a phenomenon.

Crocs — named for the lightweight, super-comfy, slip-resistant material Croslite — are recognized around the globe. People either love them or they loathe them. There are fan clubs and blogs, all dedicated to the shoes that proved many will choose comfort over style.

Today, however, the folks at Crocs are attempting to build a bridge between the fashion-conscious and the die-hard Croslite consumer.

Last spring the company introduced a line of sleek-looking thongs, slides and Mary Janes, all designed from the infamous rubbery material.

For fall 2007, Crocs introduced YouByCrocs, a high-fashion collection of leather and suede shoes and boots, still boasting the same comfortable quality.

While the YouByCrocs label was pricey, about five to 10 times the cost of the boat shoe, they were well-received by fashion connoisseurs the world over.

This spring, Crocs has introduced a sleek line of sandals that certainly caused me to pause.

A high-heel sandal by Croc? Absolutely! And it’s quite cute.

The Cyprus features double straps that crisscross on top of the foot and a trendy 3-inch heel. And yes, it’s all made of Croslite.

If only all high heels could feel so good.

Designers say the footbed conforms to your foot, creating a custom fit, and circulation nubs on the shoe’s insole will stimulate your blood flow.

Keeping in step with fashion, the high-heeled sandal is available in metallics (bronze, silver), as well as scarlet and black.

Another sassy offering from the women’s spring collection is a retro-inspired wedged-heel sandal. It’s available in stylish two-tones like celery and white, fuchsia and white, or mango and canvas.

There’s also a stylish slip-on called the Santa Cruz. With a canvas upper in cool summer colors and a Croslite sole, it’s a great combo of comfort and style for the boat or the beach.

For the guys, there are new designs in canvas boat shoes as well as rubber slides and flip-flops.

There is definitely something stylish afoot at the Crocs headquarters, where new footwear collections inspired by Disney Channel hits like “Hannah Montana” and “High School Musical” are scheduled for release this month.

With collaborations with the National Football League and 75 major colleges, fans of Crocs can also sport their favorite team’s logo in quirky comfort.

Even the most finicky fashionistas just might be caught this summer in a pair of Crocs.