
1970s · 1970s · French
Designer
Yves Saint Laurent
Production
ready-to-wear
Material
cotton canvas
Culture
French
Movement
Hippie / Counterculture
Influences
Spanish espadrille tradition · Mediterranean rope-soled footwear
These espadrille sandals feature navy blue cotton canvas uppers with cream and tan striped ribbon trim along the edges. The traditional rope-soled construction uses natural jute braiding for the platform sole, creating the characteristic rustic texture of Mediterranean footwear. Long navy cotton ties wrap around the ankle for secure fastening, extending from the heel counter. The low wedge heel provides modest elevation while maintaining the casual, vacation-appropriate aesthetic. The striped detailing adds a nautical touch typical of 1970s resort fashion, when espadrilles gained popularity beyond their working-class Spanish origins to become fashionable summer footwear among the international jet set.
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Lineage: “Mediterranean rope-soled footwear”
These shoes trace the hippie trail from Mediterranean authenticity to American appropriation. The espadrilles are the real thing—traditional rope-soled canvas flats with ankle ribbons that actual Spanish fishermen wore, adopted by 1960s bohemians seeking earthy credibility.
Lineage: “Spanish espadrille tradition”
These shoes trace the hippie trail from Spain to France, carrying the DNA of dropped-out leisure across borders. The penny loafers, with their burnished leather and worn-smooth soles, speak to the American preppie-turned-bohemian who discovered Ibiza, while the canvas espadrilles with their jaunty striped trim and ankle ribbons are pure Left Bank weekend—the Parisian intellectual's nod to Mediterranean simplicity.