Pair of women's gray canvas espadrilles with a bright pink ribbon accent. Size 8.5. Trim on outside edge and heel made of braided jute. Bright pink grosgrain ribbon located on center front piece of each shoe. Stenciled design of a start and abstract shape in bright pink located on outer side of each. Textured rubber soles. Slip-on style. This was part of a coordinator-hostess uniform worn by the donor, Marla Lind, an official hostess at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
The 1984 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad were held in Los Angeles, California with 140 countries participating. These Games were boycotted by fourteen countries, including the Soviet Union because of America’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. American Carl Lewis won four gold medals in track and field while Joan Benoit won gold for the U.S. in the first women’s marathon. Mary Lou Retton dominated women’s gymnastics becoming the first American to win the gymnastics all-around competition and the American men won the gold in the gymnastics team competition. With the addition of women’s only events of rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming and the addition of women’s events in track and field, shooting and cycling, women athletes were just beginning to see results from Title IX legislation of twelve years prior. The United States won the medal count with 174.