Footwear in the 1990s was known for some funky, chunky and even clunky trends. The footwear was heavily defined by pop culture. If you liked hip hop, you probably wore Adidas. If you liked punk, you probably rocked some Dr. Martens. If you were a dad, you probably had a grass-stained pair of Reeboks.
We looked back at some of the most popular and daring shoe trends of the '90s. Some of these shoes have stood the test of time while others, well, we should all be glad they were left in the decade. Did you wear a pair of pump sandals or classic Converse?
1
Skechers Roadies
Skecher Roadies were the original chunky utility-style shoe that started it all and inspired many shoes to come. Roadies were a very tame version of the platform sneaker and at the time it was like nothing seen before. Skechers recently relaunched the Roadies. Do you think they will make a comeback?
2
Converse All-Stars and One-Stars
Converse have stood the test of time. With kids, teens, musicians and adults all wearing them today, they are as essential now as they were in the 1990s.
Converse was originally an elite basketball shoe but regained popularity in the '90s as a casual shoe. They were once worn by famous musicians such as Kurt Cobain. They can now be seen on the feet of Zendaya, Kate Moss and Olivia Rodrigo. What color Converse were you rocking?
3
Reebok Pump Sneakers
The Reebok Pump was released in the early 1990s and changed the game for the sneaker brand. It was made popular by Michael Chang, a famous tennis star. And of course a few NBA legends such as Dee Brown and Dennis Rodman all wore the famous Reebok Pumps on the court.
Did you ever own a pair?
4
Nike Air Huarache
The Nike Huarache was meant for comfort. It was designed for the average person and a good shoe for running and amateur-level sports.
The shoe came out in the 1990s and was just one of the many Nike shoes to hit the market that decade. What did you use your Nike's for?
5
Spice Girl-style Buffalo Platform Sneakers
These excessively large platform sneakers were a favorite among most, including The Spice Girls who could be seen dancing in dresses and pumped up by these platforms. How did they not break an ankle while dancing!?
Platform sneakers have made a comeback but will they ever be as iconic as the Spice Girl-style Buffalos?
6
Dr. Marten Combat Boots
Rockers, grungers and angsty teens all wore the Dr. Martens Combat Boots in the '90s. You could see these boots usually worn with ripped denim, patches and jackets. The shoes have a long-lasting legacy and are largely still popular today, usually still worn among teens and adults. The brand now has over hundreds of styles to choose from. Did you ever wear these boots and were you in a band?
7
Steve Madden Slinky
These shoes were a staple for teens, tweens and trendy adults in the '90s. They were simple, chunky and considered very stylish for the decade. The sound of these shoes while someone was walking still stays with us today.
Owning these shoes meant you were considered stylish and downright trendy.
8
Jelly Shoes
These shoes were transparent, often glittery, gummy-textured sandals. Everyone from children to students and adults wore these shoes in the '90s. The shoe was also controversial because it was to have potential health hazards.
These shoes are still around today, but will they ever be as popular?
9
Adidas Superstar Sneakers
Run-DMC made Adidas Superstars an iconic shoe with their music videos that featured the shoe on their feet. The shoe features a round toe, triple stripe and low top. A recognizable shoe today, The Beastie Boys even wore Adidas on the cover of their 1992 album.
The shoes are still ultra popular as seen on celebrities such as Rihanna and Jay-Z. There is no denying that Adidas Superstar Sneakers were one of the best-selling shoes of the decade.
10
Platform Flip-Flops
Platform flip-flops were everywhere in the 1990s. Most famously on the movie poster for '10 Things I Hate About You.'
Despite the shoe's chunky and sometimes silly appearance, it was favorited among celebrities and fashion icons. If you owned a pair (or two) of these during the decade you were considered cool as can be.
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