My Mum gave me a pair of her original 1970s sandals in the mid 90s and although they were already two decades old they were in pretty mint condition back then. Unfortunately, my Carole King favoured style has unwavered and they’ve been worn pretty much through every summer since so have now seen far, far better days!

I can’t really complain as they saw me through the skinny days, single days, my teens, twenties, loved up, thirties, pregnant, married and beyond days and, if I can get them re-heeled to a decent enough standard, they shall see me through some more! But… They are definitely, and have been for some time, on their way out. With that in mind, every year I look around to see if I can get something I like as much as my old faithfuls…

Every year I buy something but never quite manage to find something I love as much as these. Perhaps it’s their authenticity to their decade but new shoes just never have matched up. Last year I bought Moheda Betty clogs and though it has to be said I adore them, they just aren’t a patch. This year however and I might just have cracked it! Might!

After re-igniting my passion for the 70s footwear fashion when I saw ‘Beautifu’ the Carole King musical last month I was determined that this year would be the one that I found me another pair of sandals! I wish I knew where the wardrobe department bought the actresses clothes because they are amazing and the sandals SHE wears are perfect but… Being little old me I’ve just had to scour the high street to find my perfect pair. Luckily I didn’t have to look for too long!

I fist came home from shopping Saturday with a pair of Dune JANI (£65) in tan leather and thought I had got THEM! But… After a quick ponce around the house in them I soon could tell they were not the ones for me. They look great, absolutely. But… They were SO uncomfortable. I knew exactly what would happen to them if I kept them and sitting at the back of my wardrobe was just not going to happen to yet another pair of shoes. So! Off I traipsed back up the city (as we say in Norwich) to make a return and look around again!

Take two!

And I was in! Clarks was my next stop and I absolutely fell in love with their new style Ledella Trail! They say they’ve taken inspiriation from the 70s and boy have they! They really are the real deal and I tried them on just to make sure and YES! They feel it too! Double comfort! Double style! Double 70s!

With all those doubles it’d be rude not to have bought both colours eh?!

I got them in Grenadine Leather!

And in Black leather!

Now while it IS early days and I’m sure I won’t love them as much as my old originals, I think they’re a pretty good up to date retro option! The heels aren’t little wedges like my old ones and look more like clogs but because they’re not actually wood, just very good lookie likies, they aren’t hard as you put your foot down and do offer a bit of give as you walk. This is something that drives me away from clogs even though I like the look. To top it all of they have a sort of bouncy, soft inner and feel amazingly comfortable! This is why I bought them in two, I feel that confident that they will be my summer shoe of choice!

Good old Clarks! What do you think of them?

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