Sunday Shoe Spectacle - Fitting Shoes

Thanks so much for the tremendous feedback on my 1940s beachwear post. I'll have another post coming later this week about the location where the photos were taken.

But now, welcome to another of Sunday Shoe Spectacle! Today I have some tips on shopping for and fitting vintage shoes. This is a revival of a post a wrote back in 2012 when I first started blogging.

The Lady Eve - Glamourdaze

- Are you looking for a particular style to meet the requirements of a particular period of time? And if so, what style? Be sure to do your homework so you know what you are looking at when you start shopping. Many sellers are very knowledgeable but sometimes dates and style names can be listed incorrectly.
- How often do you plan to wear the shoes? If you want a pair of shoes to wear every day, vintage might not be the way to go. But for special occasions, a day in the office, or a night out with the girls or certain types of reenactments they might be just the thing.
- What condition issues should you look for (and avoid) when shopping for vintage shoes? Cracking, scuffs, worn out insoles, broken straps, etc. Avoid leather that looks and feels brittle. Some issues can be fixed with a bit of leather conditioning or polish while other can not.
- What about the details? Heel height, pretty details like bows or buckles.
- And most importantly, how do you know what size shoe to buy?  

So how do you know what size vintage shoes to buy?

It's true that shoe sizes haven't changed too much over the years, unlike clothing sizes. A size 7 vintage shoe, for example, will be roughly the same size as a modern size 7. As a general rule, dress shoes do run a little narrow. And this is especially true of most vintage shoes the market today, so you will want to keep that in mind if you have wide feet like I do. If you have the option of trying a pair of shoes on before you buy them, excellent. But when shopping online, obviously you won't be able to. Keep in mind that the majority of online shop owners will not except returns for shoes that don't fit properly. Don't be afraid to ask for more information!

So, to avoid heartaches and headaches alike and know your measurements! 

To figure out your measurements - Stand on a piece of paper and have a friend trace the outline of your foot. Take a measuring tape and measure length of your foot from the tip of your big toe to your heel, then across the ball, or widest part of your foot. Check out this helpful video

Shopper's Tips - To ensure a good fit, measure of a pair of your own comfortable shoes across the ball of the foot (the widest point), and from toe to heel. Take both of these measurements on the inside on the shoes. A flexible ruler is helpful. Compare these measurements to those of the vintage shoes you think you want to purchase. It's a good idea to measure a pair of shoes that have the same heel height as the pair you're shopping for. If you like your shoes to fit snug or a little on the loose side, take that onto account.

Condition issues - As with any article of vintage clothing, whether it's a hat, a dress, or a pair of shoes, expect some kind of wear. Occasionally you will see NOS - new old stock, or "dead stock" - items in near mint condition. Excellent condition can mean a higher price.

When looking for shoes, take a look first at the soles and then the heels. If no pictures are provided ask to see some so you can see how much wear there is. Check for cracks or other flaws to the soles and heels. If you plan on wearing them for more then the occasional photo shoot this is important. You want to make sure the shoes are sturdy and safe to wear. Worn out insoles can easily be replaced. Scuff marks are no big deal but if there is cracking anywhere on the shoes that could be a problem, particularly with leather shoes as they can become brittle with age. Leather conditioners can help but in some cases the shoes may be beyond repair. Check the buckles (if there are any) and other details such as the stitching or decorative bows to make sure they are secure.

Ask yourself - If there are flaws, can you live with them, considering the age of the shoes of course? Can they easily be fixed? (A bit of polish or leather conditioner, new insoles, etc.) Is it worth the extra cost to have them fixed? If you answer "No" to any of these questions you should probably keep looking.

When in doubt, ask for help!
Don't be afraid to ask questions. When looking for vintage shoes online, I found the way shoes measurement were listed to be a little inconsistent, at least on Etsy. One shop will measure the widest point on the inside of the shoes and other shop across the bottom. Once I knew what I needed for my own measurements, I asked shop owners to clarify how their measurements were taken. Each and every person was extremely help I must say!

Remember, the hunt for the perfect pair of shoes is all part of the fun! :) I hope you find this post helpful.

Vintage Ad Browser

Vintage Ad Browser

"The Footwear of Tomorrow"

Welcome to another Sunday Shoe Spectacle! Are you ready for a fabulous pair of vintage shoes? I thought you might be!! I was looking through one of my 1930s Boot and Shoes Recorder magazines and look what I found. This wonderful full page ad featuring "the Footwear of Tomorrow."

The shoes on this page all feature something called Lastex, "the miracle yarn that makes things fit." And you know what else? I happen to have a pair of shoes that are very much like those in the magazine! Squee! OK, they don't have the stretchy material but they have a similar futuristic design to them. How cool is that?

I love the little winged flare on these shoes! I can't say I'm all that crazy about the "elf" toes of the one pair pictured in the ad but they sure would be neat to see in person.

It's difficult to read but it looks like these shoes are marked Trisco. Can't make out the rest.  These are the epitome of late 1930s/early 1940's style. Stylish peep toes, scalloped vamp, and 4" high heels! And of course, they are too small for my feet. Why????? Ugh, well like the tiny pair I featured last week, these decorate a shelf in my sewing room.

Would you like to write a guest post about vintage shoes for this blog series? If so, please feel free to contact me! Do you have a favorite pair? Favorite source for shopping for vintage or vintage style shoes? What would be your pair of "vintage dream shoes?"

That's all for now! I hope all my friends here in the states have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!! (I'm having sale on Etsy to celebrate! Use the code SPECIAL20 to save 20% off your purchase, excluding silk fabric. I'll be adding some new items soon so stay tuned.)

Two of a Kind or Mother and Daughter Shoes

Welcome to another Sunday Shoe Spectacle! Today's post features two pairs of very similar shoes in my personal collection. I've had both pairs for a few years now. You may remember the pair with the bows from this post when I wore them with my Sew For Victory dress. I don't wear them all that often as I have a hard time keeping sling backs on my feet. They other pair are far too tiny for my feet! But they are a great example of a pair of stylish shoes for a young teen.

To give you an idea of the size difference the pair on the right with the bows are about a US 6 1/2. But they look huge in comparison! They are marked "Air Step, Magic Sole." The tiny pair are marked "Magic Stride by Gregory & Read." It is rather magical that these shoes are so similar, don't you think? (If anyone has tiny feet, they are listed for sale in my Etsy shop.)

It's a shame this pair doesn't fit me! But that's OK, they look nice on the shelf in my sewing room. :)

Sunday Shoe Spectacle - Notes on Evening Shoes

Today's post in my Sunday Shoe Spectacle series .... Notes on 1930s evening shoes.

Source - Etsy

The last word on evening shoes is that they must be dyed in brilliant colors of contrast with the evening gown you are wearing. The shoes themselves are sandalized and open. The platform is the thing because of the height it lends when you go formal, every last one of us wanting to be of regal stature then.  

If you are wearing a black formal, spice it with evening slippers dyed cyclamen. Bright green evening shoes will make a white evening dress doubly enthralling. An if it is a print you are wearing, choose the very brightest color in it and have your shoes dyed that shade.

Source - The Dallas Morning News, February 13, 1939

Source - Etsy

Sunday Shoe Spectacle - Guest Post with Dolly Creates

Welcome all, to another Sunday Shoe Spectacle! I'm thrilled to see that this is fast becoming a popular series for my little blog. Reading your comments and emails has been lots of fun, please keep them coming! I'm super exited for today's post! It's the first time having a guest blogger here on Emily's Vintage Visions and I'm hoping to have several more in the future.

So, please welcome Esther of the lovely blog, Dolly Creates!

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Hello there, I’m Esther from over at Dolly Creates. I am so happy to be participating in Emily's Sunday Shoe Spectacle series! 

 

Today I would like to talk about the ins and outs, the benefits, and (of course) the beauty of vintage shoes! I wear a size 11, so that makes finding vintage shoes pretty tricky, but I have managed to snag a couple of pairs! I’ll start off with details and pictures of my little shoe collection, and then move on to the wordy bit afterwards.

First off is this gorgeous pair of 1940s oxfords; I purchased them from Two Old Beans on Etsy earlier this year. [As a side note: if you haven’t checked out their shop, you need to! Jessica and Ellen have an amazing stock of vintage clothing and accessories, and they add new stock daily. Tell them I sent you!] But back to the shoes - they were brand new, made of leather, and an amazingly perfect width that fit my wide feet! These have become my most favorite pair of shoes that I own, vintage or otherwise. I wore them aboard the battleship USS Alabama when my family and I were on vacation down South, and ended up getting very sore feet, actually! But that seemed to be the breaking-in that they needed, and ever since they have been as comfortable as bedroom slippers! :)

The second pair I own are these stunning red, white and blue 1940s pumps. These beauties do not fit, unfortunately, but being they were such a good price and an irresistible style, I bought them anyway. I purchased them from Blackbird Antiques NC on Etsy last year. They are made of faux leather, and feature blue and white striped accents on the toe.

My third pair of vintage shoes are these 1940s slingbacks. They are not my size, but rather a more common size 9 narrow. Made of leather, and in almost brand new condition, they are rare beauties! I only wish they fit me! They are currently for sale in my Etsy shop.

• The ins and outs of vintage shoe shopping

I find that the most important thing in your “shoe wardrobe,” if I may call it that, is to have a pair or two of comfortable, yet clearly vintage-style shoes. They can be quite a trick to find, especially if you have larger or smaller-sized feet than average! My go-to pair is the Quarter Oxford from Shoe Embassy. They are definitely the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, and look downright cute, whether paired with a fancier dress, or a casual dress and bobby socks.

Of course, every girl needs (and wants!) some heels as well, but it is vital to have some comfy shoes to fall back on. There’s nothing like suffering for 10+ hours at an event with uncomfortable shoes! Granted, sometimes the beauty of a certain pair of shoes outweighs the discomfort and we wear them on said occasions anyway, but…. ;)

There are quite a few reproduction shoe companies out there that offer loads of gorgeous vintage styles! I can’t really say one way or the other which I prefer; vintage or vintage reproduction shoes. Either one is a great option!

• Things to look for when shoe-shopping

Some of this can depend very much on one’s personal preferences, but I tend to have certain things that I look for. The first thing that comes to mind is what the shoe is made of; my favorite material is leather, most definitely. Faux leather looks lovely, as does canvas and other synthetic materials, but all of those materials wear out markedly faster than leather. With leather, when you scuff your shoe, a little polish practically “heals” it without any trace afterwards. Faux leather, on the other hand? You’ve got yourself a permanent cut. Canvas and other similar materials are great, but can get dirtied irreparably. That being said, I still would definitely buy a faux leather shoe, if the style and the quality was good. Just keep an eye out for cheaper shoes, and try to avoid them since they wear out much too fast! I previously owned a pair of oxford pumps from Modcloth, and after 9 months or so of average wearing, they were not only scuffed beyond looking nice, but also had a crack all the way across one of the soles. The moral of the story is that if you buy the best shoe you can reasonably afford, you won’t be disappointed!

Secondly, if you are fairly new to vintage shoe-acquiring, I would recommend sticking with colors that match many of your vintage garments. As much as I would have loved to have purchased pink shoes, green shoes, etc. in the past, I opted for the basic colors to start with. Black, brown, cream, and perhaps a basic color that you tend to have a lot of in your wardrobe. That color for me happens to be red! :) I seem to have no shortage of red dresses, so one of my early shoe purchases was in fact, bright red shoes! Of course, once you have established a good basic shoe wardrobe, then it’s time to branch out into the fun stuff. ;)

Thirdly, and this is a bit of a personal taste subject as well, I highly recommend sticking with 3 ½” or lower heels. Since I am 6’ tall, I stay under 3” to avoid looking like the basketball player that everyone thinks I should be, but obviously for shorter gals, that doesn’t present a problem at all! The main reason to avoid the stiletto-style heels though is the problem of strain on your feet; there is nothing like high heels to really cause problems! For long-term reasons, as well as the simple ease and comfort of wearing, I would definitely recommend sticking with low to mid-height heels.

Fourth and lastly, although this only pertains to actual vintage shoes, pay close attention to the measurements! Vintage shoes can tend to be on the narrow side, so be sure to examine the measurements of any shoes you might want very carefully. Be sure to go by the actual shoe size rather than the size a seller might say that they fit.

• What would be my dream pair of vintage shoes?

Definitely a pair of WAVES oxfords. I am about to start making a World War II WAVES seersucker uniform, (including the hat!) so to find a pair of those shoes would be absolutely incredible. But then, let’s face it; to find a pair of vintage shoes that fits well is always going to be thrilling! :)

I hope this post provided some helpful information and inspiration! I deeply enjoyed writing it, and I would like to thank Emily for having me on her blog! 

Have a lovely week, and happy shoe-hunting! :)

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Thank you Esther for this lovely post! Would you like to write a guest post about vintage shoes for this blog series? Would you like to collaborate in another way? If so, please feel free to contact me! You can email me at vintagevisions27(at)gmail(dot)com

Sunday Shoe Spectacle

I've been doing some thinking about what kinds of posts I'd like to have in 2016. Brittany of Va-Voom-Vintage and Jessica of Chronically Vintage have both written excellent posts about scheduling your blogging and boost traffic to your blog. Both ladies have some great ideas! (See Brittany's post here and Jessica's post here.) One point these ladies made is the importance of having regularly scheduled posts. In a perfect world I would love make my living by blogging and sewing. I envy those of you who are able to do so! But alas, I like many work a 9 to 5 job and don't always have the time to devote to my blog or to my sewing projects that I would like. However, there is a handy little Blogger feature that certainly makes my blogging experience a bit easier. Blogger allows you create a post and then schedule it to be posted on a day and time of your choosing. You'll find this feature, when you click to create a new post, on the far right-hand side of your screen under Post Settings. I use this feature all the time. The vast majority of my blogging is done in the evenings or on days I'm not working but I like to have my posts go up in the morning.

So, while I may get behind on sharing project up dates you can be assured that my (somewhat) regular posts such as Great Hair Fridays and monthly Behind the Seams will be here when you expect them. With that in mind I'd like to introduce you all to a new monthly post I'm calling Sunday Shoe Spectacle!

 
On the first Sunday of the month I will post about one of my favorite topics, shoes! I have a few pairs of my own vintage shoes in mind to share as well as some museum and auction finds. In addition to actual shoes, I have a stack of 1930s shoe magazines that I plan to scan and post articles from.

If you own a pair of vintage or antique shoes, have a favorite museum pair, or can think of any shoes related topics please let me know. I would be happy to highlight them!

Royal Vintage Shoes Review

Hello everyone! I hop you all had a wonderful Christmas!! Did Santa bring you everything on your vintage wish list?

Today I have a special review of a pair of shoes from Royal Vintage Shoes. Some of you may be familiar with this company but for those who may not know about it, a little background.

Royal Vintage Shoes is the sister company of American Duchess and brainchild of Lauren, the wonderfully talented blogger and designer for American Duchess footwear. Royal Vintage offers a curated collection of historical reproduction and vintage style shoes representing the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The shoes for sale are made by different companies but are offered in an easy, one-stop shopping location for the vintage shoe enthusiast. Forget spending hours searching the web for vintage style shoes! Now you can go to one site and shop until your heart's content! 

Telsa Vintage Suede Oxfords by Chelsea Crew

Personally, I have found the website to be very user friendly. You can search by your favorite decade or style of shoes, such as pumps, T-straps, and more. Communication is great and the shipping is fast and very reasonable. I even decide to join the Royal Vintage Shoes affiliate program, which is super easy to do. It gives me the chance to earn a tiny commission (which I can put towards shoes of my own) on any sales from purchases made using the links I provide. (You can read more about the program here.) Another nice feature about Royal Vintage Shoes is the chance to earn Royal Reward points for each of your purchases! After creating an account you can save and use your points for a future purchase.

The shoes I am reviewing today are Telsa Vintage Suede Oxfords by Chelsea Crew. I'm always a little hesitant to order shoes online. I have weird feet, in my own opinion, and tend to stay clear of unfamiliar online brands. I have heard from many people that Chelsea Crew shoes can run narrow. Since I had never tried a pair before I consulted the size size and thought it best to order my normal size. Royal Vintage shipped my shoes and they arrived very quickly. However, I found the Telsa's did in fact run narrow, at least for my feet. So after filling out the super handy return form, with a note about exchanging for a different size, back they went. Again, communicate was great and shipping super fast!

My new pair are a size 38 and fit great. They even have room for insoles which is an extra bonus. These are a nice vintage style pair of shoes at go great with both vintage style and modern clothing. I do wish the toes were a bit more rounded but that is really my only complaint.

The color is called wine, which I think it pretty accurate, though in person they appear a touch more purple then the pictured on my computer screen. I've worn them many times and find them comfortable. They look great with both pants and skirts for a vintage look. I found they were an almost perfect match with my me-made 40s skirt. It's one I made back in 2012 and was patterned from my 1940s brown suit, you've seen the suit a few times on my blog as it's a favorite of mine. The skirt was among my first attempts at taking a pattern from a vintage piece of clothing. My sweater, shown in my last post, was part of a vintage sweater gold mine a found at a near by thrift store! Some one must have cleaned out grandma's closet because I purchased 5 fabulous vintage cashmere sweaters all in one swoop!

I am very pleased with my experience shopping at Royal Vintage Shoes and I know you will be too!

Outfit Details
Silk Scarf - Fort Anne Antiques
Sweater - Thrifted
Skirt - Made by me
Shoes - Royal Vintage Shoes

I receive a small commission for providing affiliate links to certain products. However, all opinions in this post are my own. Please visit my Sponsors/Reviews page to learn more about my policy.

 

1940s Green Suede Ensemble

Thank you to everyone for your comments on my recent posts. My post blogging myths and perfection was an interesting one to write. And I have to say I have really enjoyed reading other bloggers' responses to Lauren's challenge. It takes a lot of courage to share certain things.

I would also like to thank everyone who has responded to my clothing survey and post about Future Plans. Please keep the feedback coming! The more input I receive the better prepared I know I will be. So far the survey responses have indicated the need for more separates, like blouse and skirts, as well as the desire for more prints. I was surprised by how many people commented that they wanted to see purple clothing. I will have to see what I can do! I'm still very much in the planning and research stage, and will most likely put out another survey later in the year, but any and all feedback is welcome. Please feel free to share the survey with others.

Also, in case you missed my FB post I'm having a spring/birthday sale on Etsy. Everything is 20% off (including the dress you see in this post) with the code "BIRTHDAYSALE".

And now, on to today's post!
Earlier this spring I began a search for a pair of green 1940s shoes. I have black shoes, brown and even blue but I want to diversify my selection of accessories. It was Joanna who alerted me to a particular ebay posting for a pair of green suede shoes. Along with the shoes were a pair of matching gloves and a purse! Too good to be true! I placed a bid and waited. Much to my delight, I won!

The listing said the shoes, made by Vitality Shoe Company, St. Louis, MO, were purchased in 1949 by the seller's mother and worn on her wedding day as part of her "going away" ensemble. The gloves were custom made for her mother and match the shoes and purse perfectly! I was incredibly pleased to find that both the shoes and gloves fit me just right! I sent a message to the seller letting her know the items arrived safely and how happy I was with them. She very kindly wrote back and shared a little more about her parents. Here is what she said.

I am so glad they have found a good home and that they will be worn and enjoyed. ...
Here's the story that goes with the shoes and bag if you want to use it.  These were worn by my mother as part of her "going away" outfit on her wedding day, September 7, 1949. The gloves were custom made for her hands, which are very small so I'm delighted they fit you. She wore these during their honeymoon and for VERY special occasions the first year they were married.  She then put them away in a box with the gloves inside the bag, to keep them safe and they have been there ever since.   She and Dad were high school sweethearts and started dating when she was 15,a sophomore, Dad 16, a junior.  They dated 5 years, were married 60.  We buried Dad on their 60th wedding anniversary, a very sad day.  Their's was a true love match.  Nothings perfect but there was a lot of love.  Mom's Alzheimer's has progressed to the point she can't remember much but she remembers Dad and the loving life they shared.

I believe the stories should be shared so our herstory and history is passed on. If there are any pictures from Mom and Dad's honeymoon, we've yet to find them.  I do have a photo of each of them the year they married and one from their wedding day I just love because hey look so happy. They were married on a Wednesday (Mom was very non-traditional) and they were coming out of the church,(when this picture was taken) just after school let out and all the kids were running down the street headed home (this was back in the day of neighborhood schools).  Mom said the kids were laughing and being kids and Mom and Dad were so happy they started laughing with them. She said it was a very magical day. My grandmother, who was an artist, painted this in amazing detail and color and my youngest daughter has it hanging in her home. 

It's always nice to know the story behind the vintage and antique items I wear and collect, but this one story will always stay with me. You can bet I will treasure these items for years to come.

Outfit Details

Dress - Facebook trading page

Bracelets - Local antique shop

Necklace - Was my grandmother's

Stockings - Bobby's of Boston warehouse

Shoes, gloves, purse - Ebay

Picture from the ebay listing

18th Century Silk Beauties

Snow, snow, shovel, shovel, snow and more snow. That's been me life in New England lately. I can't complain too much, it's great for snowshoeing! I had a very productive sewing weekend. My plaid jacket now has sleeves! The hood is attached too. :) All that is left to do is finish off the hem and add buttons and button holes. (Sorry, no pictures at the moment.) I also made another blouse using my Hollywood pattern. It's finished too with the exception of buttons and button holes. Can you tell what I don't like to sew? :)

Anyway, today as I was scrolling through my blog feed and FB I came across a link for a recent French auction. What caught my eye at Thierry de Maigret were these 18th century silk beauties. Gowns and shoes, oh my!

Look at these silks!!

Robe à la française 1750-1760 Source

Robe à la française 1750-1760 Source

Robe à la française 1750-1760 Source

How can you not love this?! How pretty this would be for a spring event! This whole thing reminds me of a very tastefully decorated Easter egg. I just wish there was a front view.

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

 Look at the use of fabric on the side of this gown.

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

I'm not a huge fan of peach but this gown with it's stripes and floral pattern is pretty darn delightful. The auction listing also provides a nice view of the petticoat.

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

 Only the front portion of the petticoat is trimmed as that is what would be seen under the gown.

Robe à la française 1765-1770 Source

Another beautiful robe à la française 1770. This one with pretty pink trim and a button front stomacher.

Robe à la française 1770 Source

 And then there are shoes. First this pair with embroidery and spangles!! Ooh spangles!

Source

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Here is another great example of 18th century shoes in silk with a diamond pattern. I posted about these before here and here. Light blue and sea foam figured silk shoes seem to have been rather popular. They are the colors I've seen the most.

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