Saddle shoes

Clabbergirl · Jun 21, 2011

Ooh and they have the white saddled version too!

Clabbergirl · Jun 21, 2011

Ok great, another shopping obsession!

Anyone seen this over at Flickr?
Over 100 vintage photos of women wearing saddle shoes.

bunnyb.gal · Jun 22, 2011

^How cool is that? Thanks for posting!

crwritt · Jun 22, 2011

crwritt said:
I just noticed these from LL Bean Signature line. Not sure i'd pay $100 on sale though.

Finally found the saddle shoe thread so I thought I'd repost this.

kamikat · Jun 22, 2011

That Flickr is fantastic! Thanks for posting!

LinaSofia · Jun 22, 2011

Yeah I have to chime in, thanks for the flickr, love it!! Also, about the Docs, when I looked them up they only seem to make them in men's sizes?? I couldn't find a women's version anyway, but maybe that was my poor searching skills!

Clabbergirl · Jun 22, 2011

LinaSofia said:
Yeah I have to chime in, thanks for the flickr, love it!! Also, about the Docs, when I looked them up they only seem to make them in men's sizes?? I couldn't find a women's version anyway, but maybe that was my poor searching skills!

Thanks, ladies. And Lina, Docs are for either gender - they are usually in men's Euro sizing, and must be converted to women's sizes depending on what part of the world you live in.

Clabbergirl · Jun 22, 2011

Got more goodies

If you're interested in saddle shoes (and if you're reading this, I assume you are!

), here's a very interesting article written by a journalist in Iowa several years back about a saddle shoe 'uprising', so-to-speak. He went on a search for a new pair when his wore out and discovered how hard they were to get...and what he did about it. He talks about the original Bass versions and Muffy's in our recent years.

But better yet, check out the comparison review (with photos) I found between Bass and Willit's brand. Very thorough. She also owns a pair of Docs that appear later in her photostream.

Seeing all the photos on Flickr did it for me. I ordered a pair of Willit's yesterday! Hope they get here soon.

crwritt · Jun 22, 2011

Clabbergirl said:
If you're interested in saddle shoes (and if you're reading this, I assume you are!), here's a very interesting article written by a journalist in Iowa several years back about a saddle shoe 'uprising', so-to-speak. He went on a search for a new pair when his wore out and discovered how hard they were to get...and what he did about it. He talks about the original Bass versions and Muffy's in our recent years.

But better yet, check out the comparison review (with photos) I found between Bass and Willit's brand. Very thorough. She also owns a pair of Docs that appear later in her photostream.

Seeing all the photos on Flickr did it for me. I ordered a pair of Willit's yesterday! Hope they get here soon.

The first link is interesting. I like the doc Marten saddles in the second link, though I don't quite get the
argyle socks and leg irons.

Miss Moonlight · Jun 26, 2011

I'm wondering if there was - in the 40s-50s - an age at which it was no longer considered appropriate for a gal to wear saddle shoes? I always see them primarily on the under 30s, or so it looks.

flyfishark · Jun 26, 2011

Here's a vintage pair from Dexter...with lug soles. Since I only know vintage Dexter for men, I have no idea how available this shoe is, or if it is still being made. Maybe some is familiar with it.

LizzieMaine · Jun 26, 2011

Miss Moonlight said:
I'm wondering if there was - in the 40s-50s - an age at which it was no longer considered appropriate for a gal to wear saddle shoes? I always see them primarily on the under 30s, or so it looks.

They were predominantly a college-girl style, but they were also a comfortable, practical everyday shoe that was popular with housewives and others who had to be on their feet a lot -- and the ones who did wear them beyond their college-age years tended to be those who had worn them when they were younger. The big saddle-shoe craze of the '30s really caught on around 1936, and women who were high school or college-age then might well have still been wearing them years later just because they were so comfortable. A forty or fifty year old woman in 1936 would likely not have been wearing them, though, because they were primarily an athletic shoe in her youth, and she likely would have continued to think of them in those terms.

Of course, one can't make dogmatic rules in terms of something like this, because there were always exceptions. Whatever the style that "nobody would have worn" at such at such a time, there's evidence that someone, somewhere did.

Miss Moonlight · Jun 27, 2011

Thank you, Lizzie.

moonmatrix · Jun 27, 2011

I boughtmy sadle shoes from Bass. Bad idea all around. Very comfortable and I loved them but after only a very few wearings the sole on the bottom front cracked right through tothe sole. Tried to contactthem several times, no response to the faulty shoes or and recognition to resolve said problem. Beyond unhappy with the company and my shoes. For 80 plus dollars this should not have happened and they could have at least acknowledged my complaint to replace them. I will never order from them again after this. I could have gotten this quality from payless.

Clabbergirl · Jun 27, 2011

Good to know about the Bass. I've read reviews on show sites and some were favorable, some not. Several have commented about the soles. I wonder if this is a quality issue or a quality control issue with the making of the soles.

Gracie Lee · Jun 27, 2011

Did you purchase your Bass shoes recently? I got a pair about a month and a half ago that I've since worn several times, both casual walking around and swing dancing, and I still love them. Is it possible that they've corrected the issue? I'll report back after I've worn them more, too.

Clabbergirl · Jun 27, 2011

Got my pair of Willit's on Friday!

I am so happy with them - they fit perfectly. There has been virtually NO breaking in period. I threw on a pair of socks and wore them all of Saturday and Sunday without a problem. I am in the process of gradually moving house so there was a lot of walking and stair running too. Love these things. I have unashamedly worn them to work today!

lolly_loisides · Jun 28, 2011

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thay look fab Clabbergirl! In fact I bought a pair of Willits (because of the link you provided on flickr!) a couple of days ago & I can't wait for them to arrive.

p.s. love your tattoo.

moonmatrix · Jun 30, 2011

Bought them in may. I hope I can take them to a shoe repair place and have new soles put on. An extra cost but they are worthless as is.

Miss Moonlight · Jun 30, 2011

What era? I've never seen saddle shoes with a heel like this- always flat traditional or a wonky wide 70s heel. The eyelets make me think they're newer.

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