Run, Lita, Run!

How many pairs of Lita boots were too many to own in the mid 2000s? I think I had about 5-6 variations at one point. Solestruck was my e-commerce retailer of choice, shipping these beauties from Portland, Oregon to Australia. A city I’d visit many years later and love, a few years after their sad demise. Today I think I have 2 pairs ‘archived’ at my parents’ house in Sydney. I’m pretty sure my favourites were the black leather style with metallic pink spikes on the back, which came in handy to kick away disgusting dudes at Marion’s hens night.

Curved heeled variations with gold spangly sequin-like material were worn on stage. And I think I still I have the hot pink faux pony fur ones.... because they didn’t get destroyed on Oxford St like a few others…

Apparently they’re still for sale in 2020.
https://jeffreycampbellshoes.com/products/lita

I recall them somehow being ‘comfortable’ but maybe my early-20s self was delusional and just ignored the pain for the sake of some insane height and Gaga vibes? 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ We’ll never know. But one day I will wear them again. Probably ironically. Probably for Halloween.

If you’ve never worn a Lita, you don’t know the pure confidence of running in heels. They gave you a different sort of height, a different sort of propulsion and weirdly, made you really great at taking photos with your leg kicked up in the air behind you. They were chunky, but dainty. Tall, but stable. They bridged gender, size, style profile and age. Honestly, they were almost unbreakable and extremely diverse.

I don’t think there is a 2020 version of a Lita, and I don’t think there should be. This shoe will go down in a weird part of history as the iconic sidekick to Tumblr and side fringes. A shoe that so many people had, without any concern for everyone dressing the same. I’ll definitely keep mine in the archive for as long as I have space. Did you keep yours?