Blurb

The shoes didn't fit. It was an omen.













Friday, July 13, 2012

Remember the Eighties Jelly Shoes?

220px-Woman_wearing_red_jelly_shoes

Yeah. Those things. They were cool looking and came in assorted colors. You could also get glittery ones. But they could leave your feet a sweaty, blistery mess.

Band-aides were my best buds a few days after I wore those things. What was I thinking?

jelly-shoes

Jelly shoe facts:

The shoes were and still are made from PVC plastic. They made a comeback this year, 2012.

They were originally made by a Brazilian company named, Grendene Shoes and introduced in 1981. The shoes made it to the United States in 1982, first in Knoxville, TN and then a year later in Chicago, at a shoe exposition. It was there, that a buyer from NYC Bloomingdales bought 2400 pairs and the shoes branched out everywhere.

And in 1983, the shoes became like totally popular and rad. Totally. Girls wanted them. And you could find them hanging in your local Wal Mart and K Mart shoe aisles for a dollar. Totally rad, man.

In Secondhand Shoes, the MC, Lila, stops off at a K Mart because she’s been wearing a pair of secondhand bridal shoes that are a half-size too small. Check out the following scene:

Aisle five came first. Tennis shoes, dress shoes, jelly shoes, and flip-flops lined the shelves on both sides of the aisle. There were so many different colored jellies. I liked the pink sparkly ones but the black ones matched my ensemble. I grabbed a pair of those.

Gram shoved a pair of red Keds on top the pile I already carried, and a package of socks. “Put those jelly things back. They’re not practical,” she said, grabbing at the black jellies.

“But, Gram—

“Don’t but Gram me. Do you want your feet to be more of a mess than they already are?”

I let a loud short sigh. She had a point. But I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb with those red things on.

Shelly Arkon © 2012

So has anyone ever owned a pair of jelly shoes before? Or, now?

Source of Information:

Wikipedia

Like Totally 80s

40 comments:

  1. NO jellies for me. I'm a practical sort of gal, I'm afraid. (^; I remember this scene. Gram was right!

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    1. I'm the same Lorelei. However, I did own a pair ages ago back in the 80s. And they weren't comfy either.

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  2. The first time I read the passage, I thought it must be something that only the female half of the species knew about.

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  3. I never had a pair of those things...thought they were the ugliest things...

    But, I suppose in a pinch, when you haven't got much time or money, they'd get the job done.

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    1. Beth:

      But they make a lot of sweat and blisters.

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  4. I managed to avoid them. I knew they'd be trouble!

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  5. Let us know when your book comes out. and more importantly, where.

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  6. Oh, yes, I've worn the jellies. I haven't seen them around in a while, though. I'll have to be on the lookout. lol

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  7. Totally missed that shoe fashion. I was too much of a tomboy.

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  8. Oh gosh yes on the deja vu jelly shoes and the blisters and band-aides. I agree totally they were not the most comfortable, but I had a few different colors myself. Loved the piece from your book also on jellies!

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    1. Yes. Those shoes killed the tootsies. And thank you for the compliment.

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  9. Nope. I've never actually heard of this kind of shoe before. :P

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  10. I remember them well. I couldn't wear them. But my girls loved them. There was no way they could get through the summer without at least two pair.

    I expect with a pair of socks they would as comfortable as Keds. But then, who wants to wear socks?

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    Replies
    1. When you're a teen-ager, ankle socks are sooo childish.

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  11. Shelly, I just wanted to say thank you for being so supportive. Your kind word regarding your own experience with algebra helped me while I am dealing with the math course this summer. I am so grateful I have the chance to read your words and be your blogging friend. You are incredible.

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  12. I had a couple of pairs of jelly shoes and a supply of band-aids for the blisters which followed when I was a teen. Funny, the things I endured for the sake of fashion back then!

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    1. Yes. It is. Today though, I just want to be comfortable.

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  13. I remember them, though I wasn't fond of them.

    LOVE that picture at the top! *shivers*

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    1. I never like them either. And the picture is something borrowed. However, I'll be revealing the real bookcover soon.

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  14. I had them! Loved them, despite the blisters. Ow. My daughter has a pair of jelly sandals, which are considerably more comfortable than the old version, but they are built thicker so that they don't cut and rub the same. Hers are clear and glittery. I tried to talk her into a regular pair of sandals, but these are the ones.

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    1. Glad to hear they're made a little better. I buy the Crock shoes for work. Comfy.

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  15. YES! I remember jelly shoes - I loved them!! Now they crack me up and I'm delightfully entertained by any reference to them. Love this post and the reference in Secondhand Shoes!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Kimberly. And those Jelly Shoes are back they say.

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  16. I had those :) hehe, the version with the heel.... oh my, and the way they would smell after a few hours...ooohgud!
    I agree, the Crocs are way better now - I just didn't think of them as descendants of the jelly family...

    Thank you for stopping by my Blog! :)

    English Speaking Zone

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    1. I love your blog, Barbara. Just wished I could visit the 200 plus blogs I follow everyday.

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  17. Oh yes. I had those ugly cheap things. lol Seriously they ripped all the time and made my feet sweat. But they were sure all the rage!Fun memory!
    Cute snippet!

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    1. PK, they were terrible even with pantyhose.

      And thank you for stopping by.

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  18. I love the premise of your novel Shelly! And that was a super excerpt!

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  19. Great piece. I can't wait to read the whole thing.

    I remember jellies, but didn't have any. I sported the grunge look in the 80's a little prematurely for it to be cool. I may have worn combat boots to high school. Or black converse gym shoes?

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    1. You were your own person then. Good for you.

      And you just gave me an idea for a title for the next book in the series. Wanted to stick with the shoe theme.

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  20. im 18 and looove my jelly shoes. my first pair were sandals (chinese laundry) and i loove them. my second pair are orange, wedge but they are full of tiny flower design. the pair im wearing now are pink, the exact ones shown on this page. i didnt know they were so popular and "uncomfortable". i feel like im walking on air.

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    1. Maybe it the feeling of comfortable is different and/or maybe they've changed some since the eighties.

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I'm dying to know what you think.