Greatest Shoes of All Time

FROM POP CULTURE ICONS TO RETAIL SMASH HITS, FN INAUGURATES ITS ANNUAL LIST OF THE 50 BEST PAIRS IN MODERN HISTORY THAT STILL MATTER TODAY.

Who made the cut? FN debuts its new franchise highlighting the styles that have been shaping pop culture and ringing up sales for decades.

AIR JORDAN 1

Peter Moore’s creation for NBA icon Michael Jordan has stood the test of time, resonating with style-savvy sneaker fans 35 years after its on-court debut. Today, people still get excited for the release of OG updates — especially after viewing the ESPN doc “The Last Dance” — though new colorways and collaborations also move the needle.

FILA DISRUPTOR 2

Its most recent popularity may have come thanks to the chunky “dad” shoe craze, but the Fila Disruptor has been around since 1996. And while Fila has its roots firmly planted in Italy — and the tradition of Italian design — the original Disruptor was actually created by the brand’s design team in New York. The second iteration, which still exists today in mass popularity, came out two years later.

Love them or hate them, there is no denying that Crocs has placed its rubberized footprint squarely in the pop culture canon. Its clog has come to define the “ugly” style trend of the past few years, especially with its Balenciaga collab in 2017. But after selling more than 600 million pairs worldwide since its 2002 inception, the shoe deserves its own holiday (October 23).

DR. SCHOLL’S ORIGINAL

In 1959, podiatrist Dr. William Scholl introduced a wood-soled “exercise sandal,” inspired by a vintage clog he found while traveling in Europe. To it he added the arch supports he had already invented and patented, after working in a shoe shop in Chicago (the foot doctor reportedly carried around a skeleton of a foot). The sandal has had various fashion moments through the decades, including this year with a Kate Spade collaboration.

STUART WEITZMAN NUDIST

The American shoe brand has plenty of greatest hits when it comes to boots, but it's a simple two-strap sandal that has received the most buzz in the past seven years, thanks to its ubiquity on the red carpet. Since the sandal's debut in 2013 (on the heels of Diane Kruger), the Nudist has inspired a whole class of minimalist sandals built to flatter.

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR

It’s hard to imagine that any shoe made more than 100 years ago would still resonate with consumers today, but the Chuck Taylor All Star remains a fan favorite. Periodically, new life has been breathed into the shoe by celebrities — most notably music icons such as The Ramones, Ice Cube and Kurt Cobain. This year, Kamala Harris is showing that the sneakers are even worthy of vice presidential candidates and a smart pantsuit.

G.H. BASS WEEJUNS

The timeless penny loafer originally got its name from a type of field shoe that British sportsmen used to find in Norway when they went on fishing trips there. In 1876, G.H. Bass brought the style to the U.S., adding a little cutout where one could place a penny for good luck. The brand’s latest iteration is a collaboration with sportswear brand Fred Perry (founded by the three-time Wimbledon tennis player).

CASTAÑER ESPADRILLE

The Spanish brand has produced espadrilles since the late 18th century, and even became a nationalized company during the Spanish Civil War, when the government deemed espadrilles a product of military interest. But it was at a Paris fashion fair in the 1970s when Lorenzo and Isabel Castañer met Yves Saint Laurent, who had been searching for a producer to make a wedge espadrille. So birthed the fashion espadrille we see today.

MANOLO BLAHNIK HANGISI

Carrie Bradshaw had a lot of Manolos in her closet, but it was the Hangisi that Mr. Big used for his proposal in the 2008 “Sex and the City” movie. Since then, the shoe has become a staple for many brides, whether in the lucky “something blue” shade, like Carrie’s pair, or a white satin version for walking down the aisle.

STEVE MADDEN SLINKY

The 1994 sandal became the shoe for a generation of girls, tweens and teens, whose “thwack-thwacks” of the shoes against their feet could be heard in school hallways around the world. In 2017, the brand relaunched the style, appealing to the now-adult millennials to wear them a second time around. In 2019, a neon series of the sandals hit Urban Outfitters for the Gen Z crowd.

JACK ROGERS JACKS FLAT

Inspired by Jackie Kennedy's trip to Capri, Jack Rogers’ iconic woven sandal continues to generate intergenerational loyalty, appealing to those with a beachside state of mind. The brand and its sandal celebrated their 60th birthday this year by introducing a comfort version of the Jacks that has repeatedly sold out.

TORY BURCH REVA

In 2006, Tory Burch asked Vince Camuto to help her make a ballet flat that would be high quality but still affordable, with a rubber sole, an elastic heel and, of course, the designer’s giant logo hardware. In the first two years, Burch sold 250,000 pairs, retailing them for $195. By 2013, more than 5 million Revas had sold. “I never thought I’d be famous for a shoe,” said Burch’s mother, Reva Robinson, who was the inspiration. Variations like the Minnie Travel are still available.