MEMORIES:
Sometimes comfort simply wins out over style. Such is the case with crepe-soled shoes, which pampered the feet with a thick, squishy sole made from a combination of rubber and wool. Orthopedic in appearance, they nonetheless found their place in foot fashion, simply because they were a delight to wear.
They originated in the 40s, where they were embraced by London’s Teddy Boys who made them a required part of their uniform. Flash forward to the 70s and these plush soles found themselves attached to everything from sneakers to sandals and boots. There was seemingly no shoe immune to these comfortable and stealthy soles. If you spent the majority of time on your feet, you had a friend in crepe-soled shoes.
Looking back, it might be hard to imagine that people fell in love with the plethora of colors available, including orange and avocado green, but then again, nobody looks back at the 70s and thinks “man, they really had a refined taste in color.” Besides, crepe-soles were never really about fashion, as much as they were about pampering those feet with some well-deserved comfort.
