Maybe you can’t remember what you wore last week let alone a decade ago, but for some of us, the shoes we once bought, and especially the ones we wanted to buy, aren’t so easily forgotten. And it seems designers are thinking along the same nostalgic lines, too. Isabel Marant has just announced the relaunch of her iconic wedge sneaker, the so-called Bekett, a pumped-up suede style that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and had a fan club that included, back in the day, Beyoncé, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Bosworth and Miranda Kerr.
And these aren't the only shoes that are just as popular now as they were then. After Sex And The City: The Movie, Manolo Blahnik’s sapphire-coloured satin pumps became the ultimate ‘something blue’ for brides thereafter. And what about the fur-lined loafers from Gucci? You might not have bought the actual pair, but if you have a backless mule in your wardrobe then you, my friend, fell prey to the trend.
The decade’s move towards a more casual approach to clothes - with the dawn of ‘althlesiure’ - can be tracked, step-by-step, in its shoes. It started off full-pelt glam (Valentino’s Rockstud pumps) and slowly but surely moved into sandals, loafers and, eventually, trainers, rounding off the decade with bulky trainers like Balenciaga’s Triple S. Here are the 11 pairs you may, or more likely may not have, forgotten from the last 10 years.
SEE: All The Shoes You Wanted To Buy From The Last 10 Years
1 of 11Isabel Marant Bekett Sneaker
Something strange happened in 2012, when all the cool-girls and models suddenly found themselves drawn to a hi-top wedge sneaker that, whisper it, was actually comfortable to wear. Isabel Marant's Bekett is celebrating its 10th birthday this year with a reissue, but don't worry, its velcro straps and chunky sole are still very much present and correct in 2021.
2 of 11Manolo Hangisi Silk Satin Pumps
After Carrie et al reunited on the silver screen, Manolo Blahnik's Hangisi pumps, the electric blue pair our heroine uses to christen her walk-in closet (sigh), became the ultimate wedding shoe.
3 of 11Saint Laurent Tribute Woven Leather Platform Sandals
Solange Knowles, Julia Roberts, Lucy Liu, Lauren Conrad and Kate Beckinsale were all paid-up members of the Saint Laurent Tribute fan club. Could they be any higher?
4 of 11Valentino Rockstud Pumps
You could once judge a fashion editor's glamour level by whether or not her feet were adorned with the tell-tale golden squares of Valentino's Rockstud pumps. P.S. JLo cracked out a pair just last year so they're still going strong.
5 of 11Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats
It girls everywhere rushed to get their mitts on Charlotte Olympia's oh-so-sweet flats (the so-called Kitty). Alexa Chung was their poster-girl circa 2014.
6 of 11Balenciaga Ceinture Leather Ankle Boots
The first heavy-duty boot that earned must-have status? Balenciaga's Ceinture, with its chunky sole, cool cut-outs and giant buckles.
7 of 11Christopher Kane X Crocs
In the most unlikely (but brilliant) meeting of fashion and function, Christopher Kane collaborated with Crocs for SS17. The marbled creations, studded with metallic rocks, became the ultimate 'ugly' shoe.
8 of 11Gucci Princetown Shearling-Lined Leather Loafers
Gucci's fur-lined slipper created an entire genre of footwear (backless mules) and crowned its creative director, Alessandro Michele, the accessories king.
9 of 11Balenciaga Triple S Sneaker
Trainers haven't been the same since Balenciaga's Triple S. Worn by sneakerheads the world over, from Bella Hadid to Pharrell, they had immediate sell-out status.
10 of 11Off-White X Nike
They popularity, however, was rivalled by Off-White x Nike, a collaboration that saw the classic Air Jordan, Dunk and Vapor sneakers get the Virgil Abloh treatment.
11 of 11Bottega Veneta Lido Sandals
In his short time as creative director of Bottega Veneta, Daniel Lee has created hit after hit in the shoe department, from his mesh-chain pumps to these woven mules.