This is the shoe everyone was wearing the year you were born, from 70s wedges to 00s UGGs

Shoe trends come and go – and then come back again. It’s called the circle of life, baby, and it’s a fact that fashion is cyclical. There’s no better indication of this than looking back through the years at the shoes everyone was wearing.

Take loafers, for example. They were all the rage in 1957 before being overshadowed by boots in the early ‘60s, only to come back into fashion in 1976, as worn by Goldie Hawn. The same is true for pumps, slides, platforms, clogs, peep-toes, and, yes, even UGGs. No prizes for guessing which era the immediately recognisable sheepskin shoes were on trend… We’re just thankful that comfy trainers are so in right now.

To see the last 65+ years in footwear, scroll through to see all the vintage shoe trends (featuring some famous faces from Jackie Kennedy to EmRata, all but confirming that year’s ‘It’ shoe), plus what shoes everyone was wearing the year you were born!

1957: Loafers

Loafers were all the rage in the 1950s. They were comfortable, practical, and totally preppy when worn with bright white socks.

1958: Saddle Shoes

Both men and women were a fan of the saddle shoe, which was similar looking to what one wears at the bowling alley.

1959: Evening Shoes

In the decade of glamour, it was imperative for your footwear to be just as fancy as your evening gown. Hence the rise in popularity of jewel tone heels in silk and satin.

1960: Opera Stilletos

In the late ‘50s to early ‘60s, the stiletto was the cornerstone of any fashionable woman’s wardrobe.

1961: Tennis Shoes

Playing tennis wasn’t the only time you’d see people sporting a tennis shoe. The lace-up, thin-soled and often white trainers were worn by men and women, both on and off the court.

1962: Ankle Straps

A model for Vogue magazine pairs a trendy ankle strap sandal with a colour-coordinated stylish ensemble.

1963: Pointy Toe Flats

Then First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, is escorted through an airport wearing a pair of chic, but practical, pointy-toe flats.

1964: Modernist Boots

The popular and edgy boot took on heels in the ‘60s for a two-in-one shoe that worked with all kinds of outfits.

1965: Thigh-High Boots

The era of boots continues, this time with a style that was worn up to one’s thigh, as seen here on actress Brigitte Bardot on a visit to London.

1966: Ankle Boots

Mini skirts and mini boots: The 1960s were nothing if not about challenging the norms.

1967: Kitten Heels

Ahh, kitten heels. Brigitte Bardot wore the classic style, which was comfortable thanks to the little heel but dressy due to the pointed toe.

1968: Socks With Shoes

American actress Natalie Wood was pictured outside her house wearing long, white socks with matching shoes – a popular, albeit unusual, pairing in the ‘60s.

1969: Go-Go Boots

Go-go boots – like the bright-orange pair that American star Paula Kelly wore to the 41st Academy Awards – were popularised in the mid-‘60s and remained a trend through the end of the decade.

1970: Knee-High Boots

In the ‘70s, other boot styles, like these suede knee-highs worn by actress Ali MacGraw, were also all the rage.

1971: Clogs

Singer Carly Simon (of ‘You’re So Vain’ fame) wore a suede version of the popular style while out in London.

1972: Calf-High Boots

Actress Vanessa Redgrave dressed up her calf-high boots with a miniskirt and sweater, accessorising with a cute beret.

1973: Slingbacks

English model and actress Jean Shrimpton wore these black shoes with pantyhose and a matching patent-leather dress. P.S. Chanel relaunched its classic slingbacks in 2015, and the style remains popular today.

1974: Mary Janes

Mary Janes were popular among kids, like Jodie Foster pictured here on the TV show Paper Moon, and grown-ups alike.

1975: Block Heels

Jackie Onassis was still a style icon even after she left the White House. She, along with her stepdaughter, Christina, wore these block-heel loafers as they touched down in Greece. Like kitten heels, the block heel had a sensible height but still worked for dressier occasions.

1976: Loafers

Goldie Hawn gave these slip-ons a Victorian feel with her ruffled shirt and velvet dress.

1977: Trainers

Geraldine Chaplin (yes, Charlie Chaplin’s daughter!) wore trainers behind the scenes of A Wedding, which she filmed with fellow actress Mia Farrow. Even her son got in on the trend!

1978: Wedges

Jane Fonda wore her wedge sandals with socks and a pantsuit.

1979: Slouchy Boots

Pairing slouchy boots with long coats or dresses was a popular silhouette in this period, exemplified perfectly by Meryl Streep.

1980: Buckle Details

The ‘80s ushered in an era of edgier shoe trends, as seen here on Gloria Estefan, who wore black leather boots with buckle detailing while performing at a concert.

1981: Pumps

Diana Ross wore the classic pump, which was also an ‘80s office-attire staple, during this CBS television special with Michael Jackson.

1982: Ballet Flats

There’s no better fit for a princess than a classic, bow-adorned ballet flat. The style was a must for Princess Diana’s visit to the Isles of Scilly off the coast of England.

1983: Peep-Toe Shoes

Vanessa Williams wore peep-toe shoes onstage at the Miss America pageant. The silhouette had a comeback from the retro and pinup era of the ‘40s and ‘50s,

1984: T-Strap Shoes

Actress Jane Seymour (far right) wore a satin version of the famous T-strap style.

1985: Patent-Leather Heels

There’s nothing that screams the ‘80s like patent leather, and Tina Turner knew what was up when she wore these pumps while performing at Madison Square Garden.

1986: Satin Shoes

Troy Beyer (from Dynasty fame) wore the ultimate ‘80s look at this celebrity fashion show: big curls, a prom-esque taffeta dress, and, of course, matching satin slippers.

1987: Flats

The comfortable flat shoe was a fixture on the red carpet, as seen here on Jamie Lee Curtis.

1988: Embellished Heels

The ‘80s were all about head-to-toe embellished looks, and Whitney Houston’s rhinestone-studded ankle-strap shoes perfectly coordinated with her glittery Grammys ensemble.

1989: Brogues

Madonna paired the flat shoes with ankle socks, denim shorts, and a leather jacket during a dance-a-thon.

1990: Pointy-Toe Flats

Demi Moore kicked off the ‘90s with these pointy flats, which she wore to the premiere of Dances With Wolves in California.

1991: Platform Sandals

Also making a big splash in the ‘90s were giant platform sandals, as modelled by Naomi Campbell at Chanel’s SS92 show in Paris. Everyone wanted a pair of these shoes, no matter how unsteady they seemed.

1992: High-Top Sneakers

Actress Sharon Stone was spotted wearing a casual look at LAX.

1993: Combat Boots

With the ‘90s came the rise of grunge culture, and combat boots were a common sight on the red carpet – as seen here on model Christie Brinkley, who wore a pair to the grand opening of the Sony Plaza in New York City.

1994: Stilettos

Sky-high stilettos were also a popular style in the ‘90s, and look! Sandra Bullock is having so much fun wearing them!

1995: Strappy Heels

Diva extraordinaire Mariah Carey made wearing strappy high heels look totally effortless, thanks to a casual flick of her sweater over her shoulder.

1996: Loafers With Horse-Bit Detail

Brandy’s white heeled loafers at a pre-Grammys party in Beverly Hills featured horse-bit detailing, and her mostly white ensemble showed dedication to a monochromatic colour scheme.

1997: Square-Toe Boots

Jennifer Aniston wore these very square-toe boots to a play opening in California. Now, high-fashion brands like Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton are bringing back the style.

1998: Metallic Sandals

Like her cropped tube top and tube skirt, Tyra Banks’s metallic, shiny shoes were also a ‘90s fashion staple.

1999: Two-Strap Heels

The two-strap high heel is still very much around today, but it paired perfectly with the simplicity of a ‘90s silk slip dress – much like the one JLo wore to the Teen Choice Awards.

2000: Extremely Pointy Boots

Almost comically pointy boots (like Cameron Diaz’s at a Charlie’s Angels premiere) were really the cornerstone of shoe trends in the ‘00s, and no other accessory went better with them than an oversized belt in the same colour.

2001: Crisscross Strappy Sandals

Delicate straps that crisscrossed over your toes were everywhere in 2001, and Julia Roberts took the hint, wearing these black heels to the Ocean’s Eleven premiere in Westwood, California.

2002: Very Pointy Pumps

Super-pointy toes weren’t limited to boots. Gwyneth Paltrow’s pumps were – like her pantsuit and fedora – another early-2000s fashion fixture.

2003: Bright Shoes That Matched Your Bag

Hilary Duff’s bold yellow pumps coordinated perfectly with her bag, and her hot-pink top completed the look.

2004: UGG Boots

Simultaneously ubiquitous and polarising, UGGs were unavoidable even on the red carpet, where Ashley Tisdale wore her pair to an US Weekly event.

2005: Toe-Strap Sandals

These hard-to-miss straps were wildly popular, and toe-ring sandals are one of this summer’s biggest sandal trends.

2006: Folded-Down Boots

Many celebs – like Gabrielle Union, seen here – paired these slouchy-yet-refined shoes with oversized belts.

2007: Platform Peep-Toes

An iconic shoe trend of the era, LiLo opted for a gold pair, which she wore to a court hearing.

2008: T-Strap Sandals

Those who felt the T-strap high heel was too dressy could opt for the more casual version, a sandal, instead, seen here on Sofía Vergara.

2009: Neutral Heels

Everyone wanted beige and neutral shoes, as seen on Mila Kunis at the Los Angeles premiere of Extract.

2010: Ankle Boots

Spotted: Blake Lively at the Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree wearing a sequin cardigan, a grey minidress, burgundy tights, and 2010’s beloved shoe – the ankle boot. You know you love it, XOXO.

2011: Espadrilles

Kim Kardashian paired her sky-high espadrilles with a ruffled cheetah-print dress cinched at the waist for the grand opening of the Kardashian Khaos store in Las Vegas.

2012: Rockstud Flats

Valentino introduced its iconic rockstud shoe in 2010, and pretty soon, it felt like everyone owned a pair, including Reese Witherspoon.

2013: Glittery Pumps

Zoë Saldana wore sparkly pumps to a screening of Out of the Furnace in Hollywood, using a white dress with a metallic belt to pull the look together.

2014: Lace-Up Detail

Lace was everywhere, from dresses and tops to jackets and, yes, shoes. Here, Kylie Jenner tried the style on for size at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

2015: Slides

Although classic Adidas slides made a huge comeback, more dressed-up versions, including ones with furry or embellished details on the strap, also became popular. Rihanna got in on the luxe-but-casual trend while out in New York City.

2016: Gucci Loafers

Gucci relaunched its classic slide loafers in its autumn winter 2015 show, and by 2016, the style was a mainstay on the street-style circuit and for celebs like Emma Roberts, who wore hers out in Los Angeles.

2017: Sock Boots

The year 2017, for all its faults, also gave the gift of the sock boot. Half-sock and half-boot, these shoes – designed by brands from Yeezy to Fendi – were worn by the Kardashians, Jenners, and Hadids, including Gigi.

2018: PVC

This was the year of see-through footwear, as seen here on Kendall Jenner at the Revolve awards in Las Vegas.

2019: Snakeskin

This animal print absolutely took over the shoe scene this year, and it’s only becoming increasingly popular. Emily Ratajkowski (seen here with designer Zac Posen) wore a pair of bright red boots in the pattern with an elegant black midi dress.

You Might Also Like