10 shoe brands everyone had and wanted in the 1990s

Who could forget these iconic shoe brands?

Footwear in the 1990s was known for some funky, chunky and even clunky trends. The footwear was heavily defined by pop culture. If you liked hip hop, you probably wore Adidas. If you liked punk, you probably rocked some Dr. Martens. If you were a dad, you probably had a grass-stained pair of Reeboks.

We looked back at some of the most popular and daring shoe trends of the '90s. Some of these shoes have stood the test of time while others, well, we should all be glad they were left in the decade. Did you wear a pair of pump sandals or classic Converse?


1. Skechers Roadies

Skecher Roadies were the original chunky utility style shoe that started it all and inspired many shoes to come. Roadies were a very tame version of the platform sneaker and at the time it was like nothing seen before. Skechers recently relaunched the Roadies. Do you think they will make a comeback?

2. Converse All-Stars and One-Stars

Converse have stood the test of time. With kids, teens, musicians and adults all wearing them today, they are as essential now as they were in the 1990s.

Converse was originally an elite basektball shoe but regained popularity in the '90s as a casual shoe. They were once worn by famous musicians such as Kurt Cobain. They can now be seen on the feet of Zendaya, Kate Moss and Olivia Rodrigo. What color Converse were you rocking?

3. Reebok Pump Sneakers

The Reebok Pump was released in the early 1990s and changed the game for the sneaker brand. It was made popular by Michael Chang, a famous tennis star. And of course a few NBA legends such as Dee Brown and Dennis Rodman all wore the famous Reebok Pumps on the court.

Did you ever own a pair?

4. Nike Air Huarache

The Nike Huarache was meant for comfort. It was designed for the average person and a good shoe for running and amateur level sports.

The shoe came out in the 1990s and was just one of the many Nike shoes to hit the market that decade. What did you use your Nike's for?

5. Spice Girl-style Buffalo Platform Sneakers

These excessively large platform sneakers were a favorite among most, including The Spice Girls who could be seen dancing in dresses and pumped up by these platforms. How did they not break an ankle while dancing!?

Platform sneakers have made a comeback but will they ever be as iconic as the Spice Girl-style Buffalos?

6. Dr. Marten Combat Boots

Rockers, grungers and angsty teens all wore the Dr. Martens Combat Boots in the '90s. You could see these boots usually worn with ripped denim, patches and jackets. The shoes have a long-lasting legacy and are largely still popular today, usually still worn among teens and adults. The brand now has over hundreds of styles to choose from. Did you ever wear these boots and were you in a band?

7. Steve Madden Slinky

These shoes were a staple for teens, tweens and trendy adults in the '90s. They were simple, chunky and considered very stylish for the decade. The sound of these shoes while someone was walking still stays with us today.

Owning these shoes meant you were considered stylish and downright trendy.


8. Jelly Shoes

These shoes were transparent, often glittery, gummy-textured sandals. Everyone from children to students and adults wore these shoes in the '90s. The shoe was also controversial because it was to have potential health hazards.

These shoes are still around today, but will they ever be as popular? 

9. Adidas Superstar Sneakers

Run-DMC made Adidas Superstars an iconic shoe with their music videos that featured the shoe on their feet. The shoe features a round toe, triple stripe and low top. A recognizable shoe today, The Beastie Boys even wore Adidas on the cover of their 1992 album.

The shoes are still ultra popular as seen on celebrities such as Rihanna and Jay-Z. There is no denying that Adidas Superstar Sneakers were one of the best selling shoes of the decade. 

10. Platform Flip-Flops

Platform flip-flops were everywhere in the 1990s. Most famously on the movie poster for '10 Things I Hate About You.'

Despite the shoe's chunky and sometimes silly appearance, it was favorited among celebrities and fashion icons. If you owned a pair (or two) of these during the decade you were considered cool as can be. 

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34 Comments

JessicaGP81 25 months ago
I had a lot of these! Still love them today!
Jane 25 months ago
Going back further, remember penny loafers and oxfords? 😊
ladydi Jane 25 months ago
The penny loafers and the oxfords!
Yes!!👍
MichaelVegas 25 months ago
I remember Converse and how I could not afford them as they were expensive, and when I played High School Football everyone had to have Puma cleats.
oobusdoobus 25 months ago
in the 90s i wore black converse chuck taylors but in the 70s i had a red white and blue pair. wonder if i can still get those?
lmarantette3 25 months ago
I love Addis’s shoes. Better yet, I love Sketchers!
Buzznansrs 25 months ago
Converse one star & Doc Martens will never go out of style! Like the superstar sneakers but never owned a pair but I have lots of one star sneakers & one pair of Doc Martens boots
top_cat_james_1 25 months ago
Ginger Spice had the biggest pair of the group---What? I'm talking about her shoes!
Michael top_cat_james_1 25 months ago
Mel B was the only reason to even notice the Spice Girls.
Inrodwetrust 25 months ago
Is no one going to mention Shaqs kicks?🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣
nd1irish 25 months ago
My Adidas
Walk through concert doors
And roam all over coliseum floors
I stepped on stage, at Live Aid
All the people gave and the poor got paid
Wufferduck 25 months ago
What happened to PF Flyers?
Buzznansrs Wufferduck 25 months ago
That was a 60s sneaker more I believe that's all I worn as a young boy
Michael Wufferduck 25 months ago
I was goingto say, the only specific shoes that drew my attention were Jonny Quest shoes from PF Flyer. I'd never even seen theshow, just the ads in comic books. But Jonny was cool (for someone under ten)..

I also vaguely remember shoes in the late sixties for scouting. Notfor scouting, but aimed at scouts and the like. Maybe a Canadian shoe. Something about the sole leaving animal tracks, and maybe a whistle
MattSeger Wufferduck 25 months ago
They are still around. New Balance owns them now.
I had several pairs as a kid 👍
CouchPotato987 25 months ago
I had a pair of the Reebok Pumps…They were pretty comfortable…The pump actually lasted quite a long time. I just remember Dee Brown from the Celtics pumping up his shoes during the slam dunk contest. I had a few pairs of Nike Air Max running 🏃‍♂️ shoes too. They were also pretty popular during the 90’s.
JHP 25 months ago
I was a brooks chariot fan myself:)
CaptainDunsel 25 months ago
I'd take a good, old-fashioned pair of Keds over pretty much any of these, any day. But it seems they only make them for women and children any more. The Converse are the closest thing going.
(They go okay with my off-white pants, blue polo shirt and Captain's cap.)
Lantern 25 months ago
I didn't have any of these nor want them. But I had a pair of Candies heeled shoes in the late 70s, popularized in the movie "Grease".
Big3Fan 25 months ago
I wore a pair of Superstars playing high school basketball two decades before the nineties.
Runeshaper 25 months ago
I still wear my Skechers! Not Roadies though lol
WordsmithWorks 25 months ago
Adidas, Jellies, Doc Martens, and Converse All-Stars were very popular pre-90's.
Barry22 25 months ago
Lived in Reeboks in the 80's and the 90's, Also had Adidas and Converse. Does Reebok even exist anymore? I do see their clothes at Wal-Mart.
Moverfan Barry22 25 months ago
I bought a pair of Reeboks for about $20 at Famous Footwear (they were a discount store and I got the shoes on sale). One afternoon, I walked through a puddle on my way to the library and wondered why my feet got wet. When I got home, I discovered that the soles were worn completely through in a couple of places...then I remembered I bought them just after my sister's nineteenth birthday and I'd been wearing them for at least fifteen years!
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