Posted By Pia Sooney on Feb 23, 2014 | 3 comments

Junior year I tried out for Starettes, the school dance team which made absolutely zero sense…seeing as I was a pretty terrible dancer.

I went out and bought some spandex “pants” (shudder) and wore a tank top with the obligatory off the shoulder sweatshirt over it.

There was no need for me to run out and buy a pair of shoes because I already owned two pairs of these:

Capezio “JAZZ SHOES.”

Lots of girls in high school wore these, and not just for auditions, musical theatre class or for some big Bob Fosse routine.

We wore these to Algebra and American History.

I had them in black and an attractive elephant gray color, and would pair them mostly with scrunchy socks and skirts.

One of my favorite outfits ever was my Forenza black mock turtleneck, black and white check skirt, knee-high socks and my black jazz shoes.

I could dance and shimmy down the school halls like I was in a music video.

They were the most comfy shoes ever! Soft like buttah, and oh so flexible since they did indeed have a purpose, besides looking cute with my black and white check skirt.

As comfortable as my jazz shoes were, looking back they certainly weren’t the most fashionable things I ever put on my feet…

So flat with no heel, my 5’2 self looked extra short and stumpy when I wore them.

But I was ready to burst into the “Maniac” scene from Flashdance at any given second.

Jazz shoe seems to be making a comeback — dancing their way back into our 80s-loving hearts. Check out these pretty leather oxfords currently featured on Zappos, they look awfully familiar…don’t you think?

These would be super cute with rolled up jeans or a long skirt a la Andie from Pretty in Pink.

Finally. Get your “Maniac” moment in!