Man, this whole vintage shoe hunt started when I was digging through old boxes in my storage unit last Tuesday. Seriously, it was like stepping into a time capsule back there, covered in dust. Anyway, I stumbled across a pair of my mom’s old pumps from like, 1985. Real pointy toes, kinda shiny – total 80s vibe. Got me thinking: how do you even pick good 80s shoes these days without looking like a bad Halloween costume? So, I decided to figure it out myself, hit up some thrift stores and vintage spots.
Step One: Digging In & Feeling Overwhelmed
First, I hauled myself over to that huge thrift store downtown. Man, the shoe section was a mess! Just piles and piles of junk. I started pulling out anything that screamed “old school.” Found these weird shiny loafers first. They felt plasticky and kinda gross, honestly. Almost gave up right there.
Getting Serious About The Hunt
Okay, I realized thrift stores were gonna be hit or miss. Switched gears and visited a couple actual vintage shops. Prices were higher, yeah, but man, the quality difference was night and day. I touched everything. Like, the feel matters so much with this stuff. Learned that cheap material screams fake 80s fast.
- Looked for leather or suede. That “pleather” stuff flakes. Bad.
- Checked the insoles. Worn out? Probably too used. Brand new looking? Might be a cheap remake.
- Checked the logos and stitching. Is it sloppy? That’s a modern remake flag.
- Got my hands dirty. Felt inside the shoes for bumps or weird glue.
- Flexed the soles. Too stiff? Probably dead or fake. Too floppy? Also bad.
Five Keepers For Real
After sorting through maybe 50 pairs (my feet are tired just remembering it!), I landed on five styles that really nail the 80s look without being costumes:
- White Leather High-Top Reeboks: Found these buried under some sweaters. Cleaned ’em up real good. Big chunky sole, pure 80s gym flashback. Look great with cuffed jeans.
- Pointy Toe Leather Ankle Boots: Seriously sharp. Got these at the vintage spot. Scuffed leather means they lived a life. Pair these with anything black, instant attitude.
- Classic Chuck Taylor All-Stars (Low): Okay, maybe basic. But the pair I found? Yellowed rubber, faded canvas. That’s the real vintage look, not the bright new ones. Bonus? Comfy as heck.
- Saddle Oxfords: Took some digging! Found brown leather ones, dark trim. That weird strap over the top? Totally preppy 80s school vibes. Cleaned ’em and felt fancy.
- Bright Neon Slip-On Sneakers: Almost passed these up. Hot pink! But they’re vintage Keds. That rubber hadn’t crumbled yet. Real talk: this kind looks killer with super simple outfits. Let them shout.
What Sucked & What Rocked
Learned some lessons the hard way. Fell for some crappy fake Docs – sole fell apart. Tried cleaning some white leather sneakers wrong and made the leather crusty. Ugh. But finding those perfect old Reeboks? Pure joy. Walking out in those pointy boots? Felt like I won the vintage lottery. Takes effort, but nailing that real 80s style without looking silly? Worth every dusty minute in those shops.
