Shoes are a necessity, but that doesn't mean they have to be basic. Footwear can make a statement like no other article of clothing. From cave drawings over 15,000 years old, where humans wore animal skins for protection, to today's designs, shoes have come a long way. Designers like Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, and Christian Louboutin create wearable art. Shoes can transport us - like Dorothy's ruby slippers - or confuse us - like Antonio Berardi's heelless boots. They inspire songs like Nelly's 'Air Force Ones' and Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots are Made For Walking', help athletes like Michael Johnson with his Gold Nikes, and keep us warm with Ugg boots. Shoes are essential; without them, we wouldn't have made it far. So, dust off your Keds or Converse and explore our list of the most iconic shoes and important shoe brands. Vote for the ones that have become icons!
About this list
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Converse All Star shoes started production in 1917. They have stayed nearly the same since 1949. People wear these shoes, from basketball players to bloggers, whether they choose a hi-top or a low-top style.
202 - 2
According toSLAM Kicks: Basketball Sneakers That Changed the GameBen Osborne lists Air JordansAir Jordans made Nike the dominant basketball brand. They redefined the footwear industry. Aggressive 'retro-ing' keeps them selling millions of shoes annually.
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The red sole under Christian Louboutin's heels is unmatched. The original red sole was red nail polish. As Christian worked on a shoe,Andy Warhol's "Flowers," inspired the Christian Louboutin Red Soled PumpHe felt something was missing. He saw his assistant painting her nails a deep red. He grabbed the bottle and painted the bottom of the shoes, instantly creating a look iconic in our time.
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These Vans Slip Ons are easy to put on and take off. Wearing them makes you feel cool, like the skaters who started the trend. The waffle bottom keeps you from slipping out.
Source: Vans
81 - 5
Adidas produced the rubber shell-toe and three stripes since 1969. Run-D.M.C. rocked them without laces, making them iconic.
Source: Wikipedia
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Dr. Martens weretheshoe of the grunge trend. The company faced trouble and nearly went bankrupt in 2003. Since then, they have recovered, offering a more comfortable shoe meant to break in easier than the originals. The comeback likely links to the '90s fashion returning.
Source: Wikipedia
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Perhaps the best-known shoes are Dorothy's ruby slippers, worn by Judy Garland wore Dorothy's Ruby Slippers in the 1939 MGM filmWizard of OzWith a few clicks, these shoes sent Dorothy home to Auntie Em.
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We will never forget Cinderella sliding her small toes into that glass slipper. Since then, every girl has wanted her own fairy godmother-made glass shoes.
48 - 9
Thecork base and thick, buckled straps of brown-gray suède have caused a love-hate feeling since 1996, when Margot Fraser began importing them after finding them on a trip to Germany. Since then, hippies and celebs like the Olsen twins and Julianne Moore have embraced them.
39 - 10
Cowboy boots became common in the 1940s and 1950s. Now, they are the go-to boot for many women and men. John Travolta wore them, and Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson also use them; Hollywood loves the cowboy boot.Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson embrace the cowboy boot in Hollywood.
Source: Allwomenstalk
35 - 11
Mary Janes are the favorite style for young girls, but this is not always true.Renaissance men wore these shoes.Some little boys wear them now. British Princes William and Harry wore them in the late 1980s. These shoes remain a classic for everyone, young or old, boy or girl.
Source: Wikipedia
31 - 12
Women wear ballet flats globally as a comfy option instead of heels. Audrey Hepburn made the shoe famous wearing them in Roman Holiday in 1954.
Source: French Girl in Seattle
29 - 13
UGG Australian brand sheepskin booties were popular with college girls who paired them with denim mini skirts. We never fully grasped that trend.Perhaps these boots were hot and cold at the same time.
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Jennifer Grey (in Dirty Dancing) to Taylor Swift, everyone wears white Keds. These wardrobe staples have been worn by all.Dirty DancingTaylor Swift
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Celebrities, heads of state, and musicians choose Jimmy Choos. Royalty loves the brand; Princess Diana favored it.
Source: Jimmy Choo
19 - 16
A 1930s description called these shoes the “hardy perennial” of shoe fashions. They were smart and current then. The trend exploded in the 1950s. School uniforms used these shoes up to the 1990s.
Source: Vintage Dancer
18 - 17
Carrie Bradshaw needs her Manolo Blahniks. Classic styles include the BB Pump, Campari Pump, and Swan Pump.
Source: Wikipedia
14 - 18
We need ankle boots. There are many ways to wear them. Pair them with your favorite jeans or dress them up with a skirt or dress.
13 - 19
According to Hunter Boots,The brand is worn by leaders who forge designs to shield pioneers from elements and bleakest landscapes. Celebrities like Kate Moss and royalty like Kate Middleton choose their Hunter "wellies" when it storms.
6 - 20
Nude heels help any fashionista make her legs look longer. Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Blake Lively love these shoes.Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Blake Lively.
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