why you need a pair of 90s sandals & how to find them secondhand

sun's out 🌞 toes out 👡

Hi everyone, how was your week?

In this issue, we’re summer prepping and celebrating what I believe to be the best, the most fun, decade for sandals: the 1990s.

It was the birth of Steve Madden’s slinky platform, the revival of the kitten heel by Miu Miu, the revolution of the mule. Truly a crazy time to be a sandal.

So many of the trendiest sandals we see today are inspired by this era. So why not look for them secondhand?

Go back in time with me as we hunt down iconic models from the 90s 🔮

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90s shoe brands to search for secondhand

First up, here’s a shortlist of brands that were popular in the 1990s. Head to Vinted, depop, Etsy, etc, and type “[brandname] 1990s” in the search bar.

Soon you’ll come across other brands, fall into a time warp and before you know it, you’re in 1995.

Below, 4 classic 90s sandals and links for you 👡👡👡👡

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1. The chic mule sandal

This backless, simple, shoe has been around for ages. But in the 1990s, they were reinvented and became a symbol of the chic, effortless style of that decade.

left: miu miu ss1996 / right: Calvin Klein ss1995

Designers weren’t afraid to play with material and colors, and it shows. Mules came in all shapes and form: denim, wooden, jelly, strappy.

1. Wooden, Miu Miu, 36.5, 100€ 🇪🇺

2. Beige straps, Vintage, size 7.5, $29 🇺🇸

3. Denim, Carlo Castelli, 38, 20€ 🇪🇺

4. Pink jelly, Vintage, 37, 15€ 🇪🇺

5. Straps & buckle, Vintage, 37, 25€ or less heel, Free Lance, 38.5, 65€ 🇪🇺

6. Silver, Bandolino, size 8.5, $119 🇺🇸

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2. The comfy platform slide

Platform slides were huge in the disco era of the 70s and made a big comeback in the 90s, with Steve Madden’s Slinky sandal leading the charge.

our girl, the Eiffel Tower, the year 2000 & her platform slides

Worn by Britney Spears and the Spice Girls, “the Slinky was an instant hit”, says Steve Madden. And I get it: they’re comfy and cool—what’s not to love?

You can read about the rise and fall and rise again of the Slinky here.

1. Tan, Nine West, size 8, $66 🇺🇸

2. Strappy, Vintage, size 6, $78 🇺🇸

3. Brown braided straps, Cole Haan, size 9, $50 🇺🇸

4. Grey, Vintage, 37, 40€ 🇪🇺

5. Black, Free Lance, 40, 75€ 🇪🇺

6. Denim, Prada, 38, 120€ 🇪🇺

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3. The trendy kitten heel

Prada launched their sister brand Miu Miu in 1993 and had an immediate influence on the fashion scene, all the way to the tippy toes with their playful kitten heels.

how creative are these 1990s miu miu sandals?

And then they were everywhere!

1. Straw, Prada, 36, 107€ 🇪🇺

2. Brown, Gucci, 38.5, 255€ 🇪🇺

3. Brown, Free Lance, 36, 65€ 🇪🇺

4. Pink, Vintage, size 7, $41 🇺🇸

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4. The modern square toe

Which immediately makes a shoe a little edgier, don’t you think?

1. Brown, Nine West, size 7.5, $46 🇺🇸

2. Brown leather, Fendi, 37.5, 50€ 🇪🇺

3. Brown leather, Free Lance, 39, 95€ 🇪🇺

4. White, Free Lance, 37, 90€ 🇪🇺

5. Yellow, Free Lance, 38,5, 110€ 🇪🇺

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Funkier finds 🔮

While writing this trouvé post, I found sandals I can only describe as wonderfully funky. I personally wouldn’t wear them, but appreciate their daring, creative designs, and had to share them with you.

shoes should be fun!

1. Rainbow - I love the heel on these

2. Jelly slides - don’t these look like candy?

3. Round heel - I wonder how it would be to walk in these?

4. Patchwork and wooden, giving 70s vibes

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Which sandals are you excited to wear soon?

And what do you think of these era posts?

Thanks so much for being here, and see you next week :)

— Laure

ps: if you enjoyed this post, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with a friend who might enjoy it too 🫶