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Throwback Thursday: What Wendy Wore in Europe in 1989

June 5, 2014 by WendyB

Twenty-five years ago this month, I went to Paris for the first time.  It was chilly and breezy during my stay. Here I am huddled in my denim jacket, wearing the leggings I wore all over Europe that summer.

paris1989

You can see the front view of the outfit here.

I also went to London, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands during that month-long, post-college trip. It was hot in Spain, so I was able to take a break from the leggings. In this photo, I’m wearing a black mini with a little top I bought in Paris.

spain1989

I wore those rubber-soled shoes throughout the trip. They might have been the only pair I brought along.  I believe they were by Kenneth Cole. That bag looks like a LeSportsac. I thought I had quit those after high school, but I might have gotten it especially for traveling because the nylon is lightweight and durable. I have a big, gold LeSportsac carry-on now.

While I was trying to confirm my memories of the shoes, I was searching for 1980s Kenneth Cole and found these on eBay.

kennethcole vintage

OMG! If those had been my size I would have gotten them. I’ve always loved laced-up, boxing-shoe looks.  In fact, a few hours before I dug up the Europe photos, I’d been peering at Madonna’s flat-soled, flexible shoes in her 1983 “Lucky Star” video, wondering if they were this type of thing or maybe a black version of the strappy, flat shoes she wore in “Borderline.”

madonnashoes

Click for the video.

I bet chic Erika Belle — Madonna’s friend and backup dancer in this and other early videos — would remember!

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Filed Under: 80s style, madonna, Throwback Thursday, travel, vintage WendyB photos

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patti says

    June 5, 2014 at 7:49 am

    I would so wear those red lace-ups stomping around NYC. Bad idea? : 0

    • WendyB says

      June 5, 2014 at 2:27 pm

      Great idea! I really want them too!

  2. stacy says

    June 5, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    you’re too cute! are those THE leggings? love the shoes too. i had a similar pair back in the day — people always joked and asked me if i’m going bowling. but, these remind me more of old football shoes from the 20’s.

    • WendyB says

      June 5, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      Yep, those are THE Danskin leggings!

  3. Suz says

    June 12, 2014 at 4:52 am

    OMG – I had those booties but in black! I wore them to death. They were by an italian brand Ciao! Very eighties. people would comment on the wrestling shoe look but I loved them. Deep deep love. I would wear them to daeth again now. Basically I want all my old stuff back. My 80s leggings were from Zoot (downtown, 8th maybe?) in NYC 😀 I kept those just for the label for the longest time.

    • WendyB says

      June 12, 2014 at 5:00 pm

      Why did we ever give up our old stuff!

  4. Suz says

    June 12, 2014 at 4:54 am

    Wow, I can’t type at all on a phone.

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Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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