Hey! It's That '70s Shoe!

By Heather Won Tesoriero

There's nothing as good for the sole as a comeback classic. When Dr. Scholl's Exercise Sandals debuted in 1948, the wooden slip-ons were promoted as a means to flex the foot, strengthen the arch and tone leg muscles. In the 1970s they peaked in popularity, not as an orthopedic shoe but as inexpensive hippie footwear. Today the sandals with the trademark gold buckle and unmistakable staccato ticking sound are back. "Sales are up 630% from last year," says Alan Johnson, a buyer for Shoes.com "It started in January as a very metropolitan craze. Now they've spread to every corner." Their resurgence was probably boosted by Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex in the City character, who clops around Manhattan in them. They also complement this season's '70s-inspired bohemian chic, marked by peasant blouses and worn-out denim. This year there's a sexy high-heeled variation named the Sassy joining the sleek Original and 1998's chunkier Super. In addition to the old primary colors, straps come in hot pink, turquoise and silver. And the sandals are still affordable: all three models range from $30 to $40. --By Heather Won Tesoriero