Something Old, Something New: An 80s Inspired Pump Gets the Modern Treatment

Let's call it a coneback

TGIF, my friends. I’m off to Montreal for a girls' weekend and am very excited to see my dearest woman, who I grew up with in Philadelphia. We meet for a weekend every five years or so, and I can’t wait to catch up with them. Coming from all over, it will be a nice little gathering.

In other news, when’s the last time you thought about Maud Frizon? If you are under 50, probably not much. But if you were discovering fashion in the 80s or of age then to shop, you no doubt coveted a pair of her iconic cone-heeled shoes. Maud was the Manolo of her day, and I clearly remember stealing a pair of satin block-heeled,
lace-up oxfords with a leather toe cap and heel from my mama.

But today’s post is all about that cone heel, as shown in this delightful Antonio Lopez illustration with Fendi and Valentino in 1985. It shows her original take and how it is updated for maximum chic today. In 2017, they made a comeback, and it appears they are back once again as trend cycles speed up due to a cultural clock on crack thanks to TikTok, influencers, and our gnat-like collective attention span.

These on eBay are a size 7. I love how they are styled on an 80s-style coffee table. They are great in red, non?

These are also major, and would look great with black tights and a leather skirt. They feel like old Celine.

If you want to try the look in brand new shoes, there is no shortage of options, but my absolute favorite (and most expensive) version is by Khaite. I’d go with the snake print, but the red and black leather are both fantastic, and I think the slingback makes them sexy. They are more curved than cone, but they do others that harken back more closely, though these feel so much more modern to me. If the pure cone is really what you want, Khaite does a higher take, but I’m not sure I’d wear something that high. Would you?

Next up is this pair from Toteme, another cool chick label like Khaite. These are fabulous and so chic. Also, their boots, both high and low, are BUH-NANAS. Dying. Scroll at your own peril. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

These Jeffrey Campbell pumps are fab in basic black or burgundy for something more affordable, which is a bit more on-trend for the season.

And these from L.K. Bennett, work hard when you’re hard at work. If you’re looking for a neutral, I’d go for these in natural like above, or shall we call it “bone” like they did in the 80s?

The best part? Cones are comfortable—easy to walk on and wear, which is essential at this stage in the game. Let me know what you think of these and if you would cone it up in real life. I may go for those Jeffrey Campbells.

Let the coneback begin.

Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy some friend time, me time, or whatever time you want this weekend. Chat with you next week. XO