The Glam Era

The 1970s were an intensely tumultuous time, with various cultures and subcultures coming out into the open at once. Cynicism abounded as militant feminism, Civil Rights, the Watergate scandal, and when the Vietnam War wound down in the early 1970’s, financial recession and energy shortages had emerged. Confrontation and revolt receded, and young people began to turn to private goals and a concern for self. Interest in the occult demonstrated the escapism that was a reaction to the explosive sixties. These influences gave designers new ammunition, and the public was eager for the latest fashion wave.


Dressing to shock was popular, and the Punk and Glam movements took it to an extreme.

Color and fabric choices were unlimited in this decade. Plastics, leathers, fabrics, wood and countless other more bizarre materials were used to create and decorate footwear. Very few shoes were actually made of plain leather during this period. Combining several different colors and materials became a very popular trend.


The Seventies - Women's Shoes

Platform and wedge heels dominated this decade. Some of the platform soles sported stiletto heels, and the stiletto made a brief reappearance on high fashion footwear in 1979-80. Wedge heels were popular from 1975 but disappeared only three years later. 

Boots in all styles and all heel heights were popular. Early in the 70’s, the heels became dangerously high and often sported platform soles as well. This trend provoked fears from the medical profession that the spines of the fashionable world would be irrevocably damaged. To complement the fashion of extremely short hot pants, boots reached the thigh. Color was of supreme importance and so the boots were painted with psychedelic colors, and they could be decorated with appliqués of suede fruit and flowers. Women also wore cowboy boot by 1975.

By 1975, the shoes lost the high platforms, and the wedge heels became lower and lower. By the end of the decade, an elegant high heel returned in a light and strappy form. Flat and heeled brogues move into the daytime fashion trends, as do loafer and man-styled oxfords, which were acceptable for wear with tailored business clothing. Athletic shoes became of extreme importance in the late 1970’s. A craze for jogging brought on its own shoes, which were satin covered canvas or leather in bright colors that matched tracksuits. 


The Seventies - Men's Shoes

Platform soles, which had been introduced for women’s wear in the sixties, were accepted into men’s fashion by 1972. By 1975, this trend had continued to add wedges to the male wardrobe. This fashion, however, was short lived. By 1978, platform and wedge soles had all but disappeared for men’s wear. The conservative set continued to wear oxford and loafer styles with business suits and for formal occasions. 

English mod styles and the American West influence footwear. Daring young men wore low boots with business and leisure suits. These boots had high blocked heels and exaggerated square toes. The conservatives followed suit, but with only slightly raised heels and squared off toes. Bright colors such as red and navy became popular, usually with exotic leathers or patent leather, or combinations of materials. Cowboy boots continued to be worn, some with high heels and elaborate embroidery and decoration. Motorcycle and army boots also appear in the later part of the decade. By 1975, toes had again become pointed, and the year 1978 brought winkle pickers back onto the scene. Basketball Shoes, high-topped lace up shoes for athletics, hit the scene this decade and continue to be popular into the 1980s.

Fashion was becoming more and more segmented with different groups adopting different trends. Punk, a style popular in the late seventies, was a fashion intended to offend. Functionless zippers appeared on both clothing and shoes. The Doc Marten boot began its relentless rise as the symbol of urban rebellion. Those worn by skinheads sported steel toecaps, and punks painted them bright colors.

The History of Shoes: Superstition

Footing 

When a baby was born, feet first, this was referred to as "footing". Unless the legs were rubbed with bay leafs, the child was destined to become crippled by an accident. Footers were however bestowed with special healing powers.