I'm 23 years old and I still make a Christmas list every year.
Sure, they answer my loved ones' questions of what gift to give me, but I’ve also found that they function as a time capsule of sorts. As a child of the digital age, I had the bright idea to create most of my wish lists in my notes app or Google Docs, which means they’re forever floating in the cloud for me to stumble upon. I revisit them every now and then, and my favorites are the ones penned by middle-school me.
The desired items from that period of my life are wide-ranging and evocative of the times: One Direction concert tickets and a Niall Horan cardboard cutout (which I did receive, thank you very much), a new Otterbox phone case (preferably with chevron pattern – very 2014 of me), and always clothes, shoes, and accessories that were trending currently and worn by the other girls I went to school with.
I specifically remember one year asking for a pair of Frye riding boots. While it didn’t make sense to my mom for a teen to receive over $300 shoes, I did end up with a similar pair. They were brown, leather, reached to about mid-calf, and I wore them a LOT. However, once the next must-have sandal or sneaker came along, they descended into the shoe graveyard – the section of my closet with the pairs that started to go weeks or months without any wear – and later made a swift exit.
Now, it’s 2024. What did I ask for this year? You guessed it: a pair of brown, leather, mid-calf riding boots, making their second appearance on my wish list ten years later.
When I was getting ready for dinner recently, zipping them up before I grabbed my keys and clomped down the apartment stairs, it dawned on me: all of my most worn shoes this summer are the exact same shoes I wore in the hallways of my middle school at age 13.
Fashion is cyclical. Trends are cyclical. I walked into work the other day with a baby tee, cargo pants, and a bandana around my head, and my ‘90s baby boss couldn’t get over the fact that I was wearing her childhood uniform. The low-rise jeans that haunted early 2000s teen dramas are back on the streets, and my mom’s very ‘80s prom dress that makes her cringe looks current and fun to me. Sure, shoe types like ballet flats or riding boots ebb and flow in popularity, but when it comes down to it, they aren’t inherently trendy. They’re classics, transcending trends and decades.
My most worn shoes of the summer – riding boots, ballet flats, and dare I say it, Crocs – are pairs that were the middle school standouts as well. Though the styling is different, the shoes haven’t changed a bit.
Riding Boots
My pair: The Drumgold Boot from Madewell
Other options: The Kate Pull On Wide Calf Boot from Frye if you’re looking to splurge, or this more affordable Steve Madden pair with fun buckles
How I styled them 10 years ago:
Skinny jeans, a colorful blouse, and a statement necklace. I was 13 going on 30, in the worst way.
How I style them now: On casual days, I pair them with a frilly pair of shorts and a T-shirt. If I’m meeting friends for dinner or drinks, I love a tall boot, long skirt moment with a tank and lots of jewelry, or just a mini dress. There’s something so satisfying about the clacking of a boot heel on the pavement, and they’re versatile enough for all seasons, not just summer.
Ballet Flats
My pair: The Square Mary Jane from Rothy’s
Other options: These cap-toe flats from J. Crew Factory, which emulate the iconic Chanel pair, or this option from Amazon that has great reviews.
How I styled them 10 years ago: A Forever 21 shirt with a Peter Pan collar and a pleated skirt (which I’ve also been wearing again).
How I style them now: A ballet flat with a midi dress on a warm, summer day makes me feel like birds (pigeons) will land on my shoulder, and the local shop owner in my town (the corner bodega man on my street) will gift me a croissant (bacon, egg, and cheese) fresh out of the oven just because. They make me feel very Belle – dainty and girly. If the riding boots are for pounding the pavement, ballet flats are for leisurely strolls and afternoon picnics.
Crocs
My pair (not exact, but close): The Classic Cozzzy Towel Sandal from Crocs
Other options:
I’ve been eyeing this platform glitter pair, but if you want something simpler, their new Mary Janes could do the trick.
How I styled them 10 years ago: Capri sweatpants and a Gap tee.
How I style them now: Probably exactly how I styled them then. These are more of a callback to elementary school if we’re being transparent, but they are my favorite throwback of this list. The word “Crocs” alone elicits a response from everyone – it could be one of pure hatred, great fondness, or something in between. I decided to repurchase a pair a few years ago, and they’re my go-to throw-on shoe when I’m grabbing a bagel or heading down my street to grab a missing dinner ingredient. The outfit is never anything crazy; usually, I just go with a pair of jean shorts and whatever T-shirt I’m already wearing. That’s the thing about Crocs – they kind of speak for themselves (especially when customized with Jibbitz.
What we’ve learned today is that our inner child can speak to us all the time, not just in therapy. The shoes I gravitated to then are the ones I’m still wearing now, and with only a few changes, they still make sense 10 years later.