One night last winter, rapper Eve stepped out in a pair of Manolo Blahnik Timberlands [2]. Soon after, Jennifer Lopez strutted through her "Jenny From the Block" video in the hot hybrid boot followed by Destiny's Child Beyonce Knowles rocking them in the "Bonnie & Clyde" video with Jay-Z. The limited edition re-launched boot [3] from a decade ago quickly sold out and second-rate copies began to pop up in shoe stores throughout Manhattan. The "tims" are done for another decade but there are some other choice footwear inspired by dressed down favorites to replace it. Manolo followed up with a just-released sporty pastel colored mules with lacing reminiscent of Converse sneakers. Sigerson Morrison recreated the flip-flop in bold bright colors with a perfectly proportioned kitten heel. And, Christian Louboutin took the hippie out of the Birkenstock sandal with his sexy Birkenstock [4]-inspired stiletto for spring. Welcome to neo-vintage. Vintage satisfied a hunger for original pieces from lost eras, wearing what your Mother and Grandmother wore as kids, for example; neo-vintage is about feeding the desire to reclaim our childhood innocence through re-interpreting iconic pieces into modern adult coolness. Step into the future with an eye on the past.
- Jenny Moda
Photo: Sigerson Morrison spring 2003