Worst Shoe Trends of 2008
December 31, 2008 by Kori Ellis
Filed under Shopping for Shoes
It’s New Year’s Eve. Time to celebrate with friends, set goals for the upcoming year, and reflect on 2008. When it comes to footwear, there were plenty of hot shoe trends that we all loved including animal prints, glossy patent leather and anything purple. However, 2008 also featured some shoe trends that we’d like to quickly forget.
Gladiator Sandals
They started out innocently enough. But before we knew it, gladiator sandals were everywhere. And they were getting taller and taller – and I’m not talking about the heels. These sandals were crawling up the leg and pretty soon knee-high (and higher!) gladiator sandals were on the runways and the city streets. Unfortunately, it looks like gladiators are back again for Spring 2009. Hopefully, this time they’ll stay under control with simple styles and basic silhouettes.
Open-Toe Booties
One of the hottest (and perhaps the most illogical) trends of Fall 2008 were open-toe booties. Boots and booties are supposed to keep your feet warm in cold weather. Therefore, it doesn’t make much sense to have your toes sticking out. But it seemed every shoe designer was hot for open-toe booties, and consumers were as well. Maybe I’m a little old fashioned, but I’ll save the open-toe shoes for spring and summer.
Architectural Heels
Designers went crazy with architectural heels and art noveau designs. They were modern, hip and totally not wearable. Interesting, sometimes. Practical, absolutely not. From cut-out heels to heels that didn’t even exist, these shoes were far too trendy for their own good.
Military Boots
I’ve never been a fan of military boots for women. They are clunky, junky and just plain ugly. This year when ladies were pairing military boots with feminine dresses, it was enough to make this girl gag. Hopefully in 2009, military boots stay were they belong – on military men.
UGGs and Crocs
These boots and shoes would probably be on my list every year. Though UGG did put out some decent styles this year, the UGG Cardy Classic won’t seem to die. And as for Crocs, I’m not sure what to say, other than they are really just gardening shoes and should stay in the garden! I don’t want to see them on the streets, and I certainly don’t want to see them at nice restaurants.
I wish you all a Happy New Year. And here’s to plenty of peep-toe pumps, sexy sandals and patent boots in 2009.
Wow, I couldn’t agree with you more on all of them…particularly Crocs. Who the hell decided garden shoes were cool. I think I know the scenario: some really cool teenage girl is grounded because she came home at 5am with hickeys all over her neck. Because she is normally really stylish, her mom knows to punish her, the best way is to insult her style…by making her wear garden shoes to school. To save her reputation, she tells everyone she saw it in Vogue. Because everyone is scared of her, they believe her and follow suit…because of the internet, it catches on and society dies a little.
OMG can you please link this on the myspace group for “Funny Shoes”?? I love this.
http://groups.myspace.com/MyUglyShoes
Brooke, I posted them over there. Thanks!
And Darcie, yeah I’m guessing that’s exactly how the Croc trend got started
Happy New Year.
Hi Kory.
I like gladiator sandal. One of seductive shoes.
and the military boots, you’re right, they must stay on where they belong, unless they are modified with stiletto heels.