Honestly, the 1970s was a mess. A beautiful, chaotic, high-altitude mess. If you look at photos of your mom or grandma from 1975, you aren't looking at "vintage style" in their eyes—you’re looking at a survival strategy for walking on four-inch wooden blocks. 70's shoes for ladies weren't just an accessory; they were a structural engineering feat that defined an entire era of liberation, disco, and let’s be real, a lot of rolled ankles.
People think the 70s was just one long Saturday Night Fever montage. It wasn't. The decade started with the crunchy, earth-loving leftovers of the late 60s and ended with the sharp, aggressive disco-glam that paved the way for the 80s. In between? We got everything from clog-dancing to roller skates.
The towering reality of the platform
Platforms. You can’t talk about this era without them. But here is the thing people get wrong: they weren't just for short people. Everyone wore them. By 1972, the "buffalo" or "tower" platform was everywhere. Brands like Biba in London and Terry de Havilland were pushing the limits of how much cork and wood you could strap to a human foot.
De Havilland, often called the "Rock 'n' Roll Cobbler," was a massive deal. He wasn't making shoes for the mall; he was making shoes for Bianca Jagger and David Bowie. His designs used snakeskin and metallic leathers, often featuring a curved heel that looked like it might snap but somehow held up under the weight of a thousand dance moves.
But why?
Psychology matters here. After the rigid structures of the 50s and the "little girl" shift dresses of the 60s, women wanted to take up space. They wanted to be tall. They wanted to be loud. A pair of 70's shoes for ladies with a three-inch sole and a five-inch heel didn't just add height; it changed how you walked. You didn't stroll. You marched. You swayed.
The disco effect and the strappy sandal
When the mid-70s hit and disco took over the airwaves, the chunky, heavy clogs started to feel a bit too... heavy. If you’re trying to pull off a hustle at Studio 54, you need to move.
Enter the strappy sandal.
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Specifically, the famously minimalist designs of Roy Halston Frowick, known simply as Halston. He paired his flowing jersey dresses with delicate, spindly heels that looked like they’d disappear if you blinked. This was a massive pivot. We went from the "clomp-clomp" of the wooden clog to the "click-click" of the sophisticated stiletto-adjacent sandal. These weren't the thick platforms of the early decade. They were refined. They used gold kidskin and thin ankle straps. It was about glamour, not just height.
Earth Shoes and the "negative heel" craze
Shift gears for a second. While the disco queens were risking their lives on stilts, another group was doing something weird. They were walking downhill while standing on flat ground.
I’m talking about Earth Shoes.
Invented by a Danish yoga instructor named Anne Kalsø, Earth Shoes featured a "negative heel." Basically, the heel was lower than the toe. Kalsø claimed this mimicked walking in sand and was better for your posture. By 1974, these things were a cult phenomenon in the States. They were ugly. Seriously, they looked like a duck’s foot made of brown suede. But they represented the "Back to Nature" movement that defined the hippie-to-yuppie transition.
It’s a weird contrast, right? You had women in NYC wearing metallic gold platforms, while women in Berkeley were wearing brown suede shoes that made them lean backward. That’s the 70s for you. It was a decade of total stylistic contradiction.
Clogs were the unofficial uniform
If you went to college in 1976, you owned clogs. No debate.
The Swedish clog explosion was spearheaded by brands like MIA and Bastad. They were practical. They were loud on linoleum floors. Most importantly, they worked with the silhouette of the time. Think about it: if you’re wearing massive, wide-leg bell-bottoms, a dainty little ballet flat is going to get swallowed by the fabric. You need a shoe with some "heft" to keep those hems from dragging in the mud.
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- The Look: Natural leather uppers.
- The Base: Solid alder or lime wood.
- The Sound: Rhythmic, heavy, unmistakable.
The birth of the modern sneaker
We can't ignore the gym. Or the track.
Before the 70s, "sneakers" were basically Keds or Converse All-Stars—flat canvas shoes that offered zero support. Then came 1972. The Munich Olympics happened. Nike (then a fledgling company) introduced the Cortez. Suddenly, 70's shoes for ladies included "jogging shoes."
Farrah Fawcett famously wore a pair of Nike Senorita Cortez on an episode of Charlie’s Angels, skateboarding in a red sweater and flared jeans. That single image did more for women’s athletic footwear than a decade of advertising. It made sneakers "cool" for everyday life, not just gym class.
The 70s gave us the Adidas Stan Smith and the Puma Clyde, too. These weren't just for sports; they were becoming part of the street style lexicon. It was the first time women really felt "allowed" to wear athletic gear as a fashion statement in a mainstream way.
Why we are still obsessed with 70's shoes for ladies
Trends rotate, but the 70s just won't leave. Look at high-end runways today—Gucci, Saint Laurent, Celine—they are all cannibalizing the 70s.
We love them because they are bold. Modern footwear can be a bit boring, honestly. Everything is a knitted sneaker or a beige mule. The 70s offered personality. There was a sense of craft, even in the mass-produced stuff. The contrast stitching, the patchwork leather, the massive buckles—it all felt intentional.
Addressing the comfort myth
Let’s be honest: a lot of these shoes were death traps.
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The wooden soles had zero flex. If you’ve ever tried to walk down stairs in authentic vintage wooden platforms, you know the fear. It’s like strapping two-by-fours to your feet. Modern "70s style" shoes are way better because we’ve figured out EVA foam and cushioned footbeds. We get the look without the orthopedic bill.
How to spot authentic 70's footwear
If you’re hunting in thrift stores or on eBay, you need to know what to look for. Genuine 70's shoes for ladies have specific tells:
- The Label: Look for "Made in Italy" or "Made in Spain" or "Made in Brazil." A lot of high-quality 70s leather came from South America.
- The Lining: Plastic or "man-made" linings were becoming common, but the best ones used real leather interiors. If the lining is flaking off like old paint, it’s probably a synthetic from the late 70s.
- The Shape: Look for the "square toe" or the "almond toe." The super-pointy stiletto is more 60s or 80s. The 70s liked a bit of bluntness at the front.
- The Heel: Look for the "pitch." 70s heels often have a very thick, blocky base that tapers slightly toward the top, or a straight-up "brick" profile.
The DIY and Craft Movement
People forget that the 70s was a huge era for DIY. Leather-working was a massive hobby. You’d see women wearing hand-tooled leather sandals with floral patterns burned into the hide. This wasn't just about buying a brand; it was about the "vibe." This folk influence led to the rise of the Espadrille.
Yves Saint Laurent is credited with making the wedge espadrille "high fashion" in the early 70s after meeting with the Spanish manufacturer Castañer. He asked them to put a heel on a flat ribbon-tie shoe. They did. History was made. Every summer since 1970, women have been wearing some variation of that shoe.
Actionable advice for the modern collector
If you want to incorporate this look today without looking like you're wearing a costume, balance is everything.
- Don't go full retro. If you’re wearing huge platforms, don't wear them with 24-inch bell bottoms and a fringe vest. Wear them with a modern straight-leg jean and a crisp white shirt. Let the shoes be the "loud" part of the outfit.
- Check the glue. Vintage shoes from 50 years ago will likely have dried-out adhesive. Before you wear them out, take them to a cobbler. They can reglue the soles so you don't have a "blowout" in the middle of a sidewalk.
- Invest in wooden clogs. They are the easiest 70s staple to pull off today. Brands like No.6 Store or Swedish Hasbeens make modern versions that look exactly like the originals but won't give you splinters.
- Look for patchwork. Patchwork leather is the ultimate 70s signifier. A pair of boots with shades of tan, brown, and cream leather is a timeless way to nod to the era.
The 70s was a time of transition. It was the bridge between the "old world" of formal dressing and the "new world" of sneakers and comfort. Whether it's the height of the platform or the soul of the Earth Shoe, we are still walking in the footsteps of that decade.
Next time you see a pair of chunky boots or strappy gold sandals, remember they aren't just shoes—they’re pieces of a 50-year-old revolution in how women decided to stand their ground.