By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
January 7, 2003
1950s: Sophisticated fashionistas traded in their chunky 1940s shoes for sexy Italian stilettos. But for the bobby-socks set, penny loafers were still the rage.
1960s: While boys were emulating the Beatles by snapping up elastic-sided Chelsea boots, girls wore Mary Quant’s colorful schoolgirl shoes. For their older, hipster sisters, go-go boots were fab.
1970s: Platform shoes were in vogue for both sexes (remember Elton John?), the granola set liberated their feet with Birkenstocks and Olivia Newton-John wannabes (circa 1978’s ”Grease”) slid their feet into sexy Candies slides.
1980s: The preppie look was tops with Bass and Sperry topsiders. Princess Diana lowered the heel standard, and her loyal subjects worldwide followed. And sassy girls just wanted to have fun in their plastic Jellies.
1990s: The orthopedic-friendly Doc Martens were de rigueur for grunge babies and their Generation X parents. Girls paired their boots with slip dresses and baby T’s.
2000s: “Sex and the City” made Manolo Blahnik a household name.
