Today's post New Vintage Reproduction Shoes for Fall 2017 from VintageDancer.com.
New 1940s reproduction shoes for fall
It is almost August yet fall shoes and clothing is entering stores already. I always love to see what’s new before I am ready to shop for a warmer wardrobe. This is especially true for shoes. This past week I received a double surprise. The Hotter loafers I have wanted for ages were re-stocked and Royal Vintage Shoes launched pre-orders for several new vintage reproduction shoes inspired by the 1910s to 1950s. Woo hoo!
Let me show you why I am so excited about both of these brands:
Royal Vintage Reproduction 1940s Shoes
“Claire” 1940s Oxfords
Both Royal Vintage Shoes and I are located in Reno, Nevada so it’s easy for to me wander over to their headquarters and get an early peek at their new fall line. They only have a few samples in (and not in my size) so while I couldn’t try them on I did get to inspect them well (always very high quality) and talk about the history of each shoe. I brought along my 1942 Sears catalog to see just how accurate these designs are. First up is the Claire Oxfords in white, brown and black.
Original early 1940s oxford (back) and reproduction shoe in the front.
Royal Vintage used an original pair of early ’40s black perforated oxfords for the Claire reproduction shoes. The detail on these is amazing! I had always associated perforated (very small holes) design with 1930s shoes but they were still in style to the mid-1940s. All the holes allowed air to circulate and keep the foot comfortable all day long as well as add extra design to an otherwise simple shoe. This kept the price low during WW2 when buying new shoes was a luxury purchase.
1937 white perforated oxfords
For those who do ww2 re-enacting you will be glad to know these oxfords conform to CC41 civilian dress regulations as well as “military dress” shoes. The brown color is an army brown or saddle brown that is unique to the 1940s. It has a bit more of a red tint than today’s saddle brown. The white oxfords are my favorites. They were designed with 1940s nurses, WAVES, waitresses and other white uniform dress codes in mind. They also work extremely well for mid to late 1930s oxfords too.
I am jumping up and down excited about them because I was in desperate need of pure white oxfords for all of my 1930s summer clothing. Do you know how hard it is to find pure white? Not ivory, not tan, not nude. Just white. It’s horrendously difficult. I am so thankful to have these shoes now (or..well.. in September when they start shipping pre-orders.)
White Claire oxfords placed over my 1942 catalog- Brown, white and black were the three main colors of early 1940s women’s shoes
Royal Vintage Saddle Shoes
Susie saddle shoes in blue, brown and black
The next new fall shoe for Royal Vintage is a classic saddle shoe. It is modeled after a vintage 1940s Spalding Oxford including the tan-red rubber sole. The red sole remained popular in the 1950s to so you can wear them for any decade from the late 1920s to the mid-1960s. Read about the history of saddle shoes.
1940s Saddle Shoes- “Susie” in brown over 1942 Sears saddle shoe catalog
Vintage Spalding white saddle oxfords and the new Susie saddles in black and white
The Susie saddle shoes are made of all leather with a rubber sole. Unlike the plethora of cheap women’s saddle shoes on the market currently, there is a serious lack of quality saddle shoes, especially in colors besides black. Brown and white saddles were the most popular combination in the 1930s and 1940s. Blue and white were less common but still trendy in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Black and white are usually associated with ’50s teens however they were worn from the 1920s to 1970s equally. It is nice to have all three color options in your wardrobe to represent each decade as well as coordinate with any modern outfit you have (they look fabulous with jeans.)
** For the gentlemen. I am still on the hunt for quality men’s black and white saddle shoes. If I don’t find them soon I may be manufacturing them myself. Stay tuned for more info in the few two months.
Royal Vintage Rosie Boots
Rosie 1940s leather work / outdoor boots
The Rosie boot is the first of many vintage reproduction boots Royal Vintage plans to make each fall. I love that they choose an all leather work /outdoor/winter friendly design to begin the collection. These were modeled after an original pair of double buckle calf height work boots.
1942 winter double buckle boots
While I didn’t find an exact pair in my catalog collection I did find a pair of ur lined winter snow boots with the double buckles. It doesn’t surprise me that I didn’t see these boots in my catalogs since 1. very few boots were featured and 2. this boot style is more for heavy work or outdoor recreation. A specialty catalog such as Abercrombie and Fitch would be more likely to sell them.
Just like the name suggest these will work great for all “Rosie the Riveter” costumes as well as seasonal mud / snow/ rain boots with an authentic vintage design.
American Duchess 1910s Pumps
Molarie Shoes by American Duchess. Circa 1900-1925 reproduction. Original in the center.
1927 Colonial or Tongue pumps
1913 Colonial style pumps
Sister company to Royal Vintage is American Duchess where the focus is on historical pre- 1920s designs. They have one lovely new shoe that sparked my love of the early 20th century. Moliere Edwardian Shoes are inspired by low heel pump shoes of 1900-1920s. I saw the original shoe that the Moliere shoes was modeled after minus some adjustments to the buckle. It is still period correct. The extra large tongue and accompanying shoe buckles were inspired by 18th century Colonial shoes. The tongue was most often shaped into points. In the late teens they were usually worn inside for dinner, dancing and light uses. In the 1920s they were worn as regular dress shoes on a daily basis. They look very sharp with beautiful cocktail dresses.
The Moliere comes in black and ivory. The straps open up so you can place your own shoe buckle on it (or a fluffy velvet bow clip would also look good.) I have a few in my collection I am eager to try out with them.
Hotter Loafers
Hotter’s Blue and White Loafers
1947 loafers side by side with the Hotter loafers (original color is brown but I edited it to show what a blue would look like)
The final vintage reproduction shoe I want to show you were never intentionally a reproduction shoe and as far as I know wasn’t replicated from an original. Yet it is a class penny loafer design that has yet to go out of style since we first saw them for women in the late 1930s. The Dorset loafer was part of Hotter’s spring line but Hotter just added a few colors for fall. I have wanted a pair of classic loafers for a while now because I need slipon shoes to jump into in the morning and start chasing my children around. There is no time for laces! They pair well with A-line skirt, high waist pants, overalls and house dresses. Loafers were usually worn with socks or bare legged. That’s another great benefit of “casual shoes” like loafers.
1944 Loafers and Socks
Hotter shoes were kind enough to send me a pair for review. (Thanks, Hotter!) I debated between the brown and the blue/white two tone loafers. Both were worn in the 1940s but the brown is much more common. Although I chose the blue/cream I think I may also order the brown. They are really fabulous, extremely comfortable and spot on accurate.
All Hotter shoes are well made in Britain, have a soft cushion insole, and most styles come in wide widths. I am on the border between regular and wide and the regulars fit me ok. I have learned in the past the shoes run 1/2 size large so I ordered a 1/2 size down. In case you are scared of shipping costs to the USA don’t worry. New customers can get 40% off plus free shipping to the USA. Use code VINATGE40 That’s a great deal!
More Fall Shoes
More and more shoes (and clothing) will be entering the online stores in the next few weeks. I add them to the website as quickly a possible so you always see the newest shoes. Take a look at the newest 1940s style shoes here or all decades here.
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