The 1980s

The 1980s was a decade of success and power symbols. This was true also in the fashion of the time. Logos began to take center stage with designers such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Hermes incorporating their marks into their accessory designs. Shoes were also becoming a way to flaunt one’s success.

The classic Gucci loafer became popular in “Yuppie” circles. This loafer was a modification of the classic Model 360. The Model 360 was changed to a stacked leather heel and metal embossed logo with chains across the vamp of the shoe. Customers could choose from various types and colors of leather as varied as pistachio snakeskin to pink lizard skin.

Women began to rise up in the corporate world during the 80s, which led to the introduction of the power shoe. While some designers argued for more simple, demure shoes for women in the workplace, women demanded shoes that showed both fashion sense and power. High heels dominated the shoe scene during this time. The Louis hourglass heel shape came back into fashion along with the cone heel, which tapered to a point allowing for a sturdier, more practical heel.

Vibrant, neon colors entered the fashion scene as well and could be seen in the bright, embellished shoes of the time. Most notably, Manolo Blahnik designed high heels with beaded and braided designs in colors such as canary yellow.

The other side of the fashion coin could be scene in what was deemed the “intellectual fashion” of the 1980s seen in the designs of Tokio Kumagai and Commes de garcons. These designers created shoes that were functional with a surrealist edge, with shoes made to looks like chickens or sugar candy. Designer Vivienne Westwood’s shoes showcased this anarchic aesthetic with her multi-buckled low stack-heeled pirate boot.

Steel toed Doc Martin boots also enjoyed a period of popularity during the 1980s as an expression of the anti-Yuppie look sported by those on the club scene. This plain black boot could be customized by the whim of the owner, from adding graffiti to breaking through the leather to expose the steel toe.