How could anyone forget the Tumblr era? Faded Retrica photos, galaxy-patterned leggings, gifs of Lana Del Rey from her Born to Die video. It was an iconic time, for better or worse – a moment in internet history that many nostalgic souls still cling to. 

Perhaps that explains why Kylie Jenner posted a picture of herself in a pastel pink wig this year. Or why Addison Rae has been spotted snapping selfies with an iPhone 4. It’s official: Tumblr season is back. It’s as if the clocks rewound a decade, like 2014 never ended, and the world was still holding its breath for the latest updates from King Kylie or Alexa Chung.

There was one undeniable symbol of Tumblr girl status: Jeffrey Campbell’s Lita boot, the platform shoe that dominated the scene. With their thick, sturdy platform and endless variations, they became a staple. But none were as coveted as the all-black pair with gold studs.

Sure, they were bold enough to raise eyebrows, but Tumblr’s media influence turned them into every teenager’s dream. Soon, the most influential It girls of the 2010s couldn’t resist them either. Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, still in their Disney phases, were spotted wearing them. So were High School Musical stars Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. Even the cast of Pretty Little Liars – arguably Tumblr’s favorite TV show – was drawn to the Lita boots, with Lucy Hale and Ashley Benson leading the charge.

Now, ten years later, Jeffrey Campbell took to TikTok to announce the Lita’s return. This time, with a clear target: millennial women who couldn’t afford them as teens, but are more than happy to splurge now. “Finally gifting the Tumblr girl in me,” reads one of the most-liked comments.

It is an inescapable rule of fashion: what was popular a decade or two ago is bound to come back. This cycle has only sped up thanks to the media-driven fashion industry. Just as Y2K fashion flooded social media before eventually dominating runways (with brands like Diesel and Blumarine at the forefront), it seems the same mechanism is reviving the style of the 2010s.

The 2014 aesthetic reemergence appeals not only to the nostalgic dreams of millennials but also to the “forbidden” fantasies of Gen Z and Gen Alpha – too young at the time, or not even born, and now romanticizing that era. And if any single product is destined to serve as the poster child for this resurgence, it’s Jeffrey Campbell’s Lita boot.

Opening image: courtesy Jeffrey Campbell