The Biggest Shoe Trends of the Decade

2007 - Luichiny "Talon" Platform Sandals

1).Platforms and wedges are popular styles that come and go on a fairly
regular basis, but every so often something comes along in the shoe
world that's far bigger than any passing fad or style. It could be a new
style, a brand, or an event, but it changes the way we think about shoes.

2).Ugg Boots You could refer to the first decade of the 21st century as the
"noughties," or the "naughties," or you could skip those uncomfortable
terms altogether, and just refer the last ten years as "the decade of the
Ugg boot."
Though the now-ubiquitous style of sheepskin boot has been popular in
Australia for decades, and UGG Australia boots began heavily hitting
U.S. streets in 1998, it was after the turn of the century that the style and
the premiere brand really entered the consciousness of America's
mainstream.
In 2003, UGG Australia was named "Brand of the Year" by Footwear
News magazine, and despite the fact that every year fashion editors have
declared Ugg boots to be "so last season," both the popular brand and the
generic style have seemingly not lost a step.
3).Crocs Shoes

Colorful clogs from Crocs

A savior to some and a scourge to others, Crocs colorful foam clogs first
started decorating the horizon in 2003, though it was several years
before they actually became a full-fledged trend. But once they did
everyone from celebrities to doctors, and toddlers to the elderly donned
the plastic shoes that promised comfort as well as fun.
It wasn't only their unconventional and controversial looks that made
headlines; the Crocs brand also garnered a lot of negative attention after
reports began surfacing that children were being injured when their foam
shoes had become caught in escalators. Though Crocs certainly aren't the
only shoes that have been involved in such incidents, and some of the
events actually involved imitation Crocs, the brand has become the
target of several lawsuits and safety warnings.
Despite the negative press, fans of Crocs continue to cite them as some
of the most comfortable shoes they've ever worn, and the Crocs RX line
has earned the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical
Association.

4).Heelys

Heelys shoes feature pop-out wheels in

their soles, that allow the wearer to skate as well as walk.If you're of a
certain age, or you don't have children under the age of 25, then this
choice might seem a strange one to you, but America's youth and their
parents know all too well about the shoes that look like sneakers, but roll
like skates. Patented in 2000, Heelys brand shoes feature pop-out wheels
embedded into their soles, and wearers of the popular shoes can change
from walking or running to skating with a simple shift in weight.While
the concept obviously delights kids, as well as many adults, safety
concerns have caused several schools and shopping malls to ban the use
of Heelys shoes.
5).Premiere Shoe Designers Christian Louboutin shoes at the launch of his
new fall collection at Barneys New York on May 7, 2008 in Beverly
Hills, California.The twentieth century certainly had its fair share of
famous shoe designers, but premiere shoe designers of the noughties
achieved an unprecedented, rock star-like status. Public appearances and
collection debuts saw fans standing in line for hours for a chance to have
their shoes signed by the likes of Manolo Blahnik and Christian

Louboutin.
Some of these designers have become household names thanks in part to
popular shows like "Sex and the City," while others have garnered
legions of fans through unsolicited celebrity endorsements. But however
it was that we learned the names of these premiere shoe designers, it was
their shoes (and their lofty prices) that held our attention.
6).Shopping for Shoes Online

Some of the world's biggest online shoe stores actually launched in the
late 1990s, but they did so to much skepticism, as many couldn't believe
that people would actually purchase a product like shoes online.
Traditionalists contended that customers needed to see, touch, and try on
shoes. And while that may well be the best way to purchase shoes, the
last decade has proven that not only will people buy shoes online, but
that they'll do so in record numbers.
Part of the success of online shoe sales certainly lies with the pioneering
companies that helped establish high standards for the new industry.
Zappos.com, for example, was among the first to offer free shipping, as
well as free 365-day returns. This allowed customers to have shoes
delivered to their home or office, and if the shoes didn't fit or meet with
their approval, they could return them at their convenience.