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Doc Martens

So how does a foxy chic living in the midst of 1990's fashion dress in the most delicate lady like way they can? By donning a pair of Doc Martens, of course.

First worn by 1960's kids to set themselves aside from their ultra straight parents, the Doc Marten was born of a marriage between an English shoe company and a German company who had invented an air filled sole. Comfortable, practical and hard wearing – they were an instant hit. They moved from the 1960's fashion-conscious skinheads onto right wing racist extremists. In the 1970's they were then adopted by pretty much every gang and tribe going, no matter what their political or musical influences. Doc Martens are now rushing back into style, having been seen on the feet of models such as Agyness Deyn (shown here in the Spring of 2008). But, their real day in the sun was in the clothing of the 1990's. Recognizable by their thick rugged soul and their tell-tale yellow stitching, Docs were everywhere.

I, of course, had a few pairs of Doc Martens. Being a fan of Indie and Grunge music I could not really avoid this fashion fad of the 90's. My opinion of how to wear them was uncompromising and like totally cool. Black Docs were acceptable. Especially if adorned with some sort of graffiti or paint splatter. To really be one of the in-crowd, however, your Doc Martens had to be Cherry Docs or Ox Blood Docs--basically both different shades of red. If you tied the laces tight and threaded them all the way to the top you were “like so bogus dude” and that definitely was not a good thing. No, no, no. To be in my gang you had to thread the laces half way up the boot and leave them loose and you did not, under any circumstances, tie the laces. They had to slop around as you walked around The Gap with your nonchalant, “I am so heart achingly deep you can't possibly understand me” ultra slow teenage walk.

1990's women's fashion saw the eclectic mix of masculine Doc Marten boots with floaty hippy dippy floral print dresses and even tutus. Anything in the dress or skirt family was acceptable as long as it was paired with opaque black or striped tights, sometimes with brightly colored socks on top.

Doc Martens went mainstream around 1995 and even relatively conservative guys in their mid-to-late twenties (ok, I am thinking of my husband here) wore them with their black t-shirts and khaki pants. Now, they wore the shoe/oxford variety as opposed to the full boot. What better shoe to go with your fresh Caesar haircut?

I have to admit that much as I love my 21st Century Ugg boots I do still hold a special place in my heart for my good old Cherry Docs. I wonder if they would look entirely out of place on a slightly overweight, overworked 30 year old???

Link to site: www.drmartens.com