Boots in the 1940s

~landgirl~ · Dec 3, 2006

Did ladies where longish boots in the 40s?

Miss Sis · Dec 3, 2006

I haven't seen any that are civilian. I have two pairs of sheepskin lined ones but they are only ankle height. One pair are brown suede laceups with a little heel and the other brown leather, flat with zips up the front.

I will look in my books of contempory photos and see what I can find.

Tourbillion · Dec 3, 2006

Not really, there was an earlier thread on this.

Apparently they wore their shoes with rubber booties over them. It wasn't stylish to wear boots, except possibly ankle high booties.

If you are an outdoorsy type and don't wish to appear stylish, there is this option (modelled by my great aunt Dot):

I'd venture to say that one reason that pants are popular now is that women got tired of freezing their legs off all winter long now that it is no longer acceptable to wear long skirts by day.

Lauren · Dec 3, 2006

I have a pair of those boots! They were for outdoorsy things like hiking and riding. I don't believe they really hat boots per se- more like things which would go over your boots. I think Decodoll posted a pair a long while back that she has with fur on it- they were some lovely ones!

Lauren · Dec 3, 2006

found it!
From this thread

decodoll said:
One more pair.... I almost forgot these because they were put away for the summer. One of the very rare occasions on ebay when you think you are going to have to pay a bundle for something (and are very willing to!) and it goes for almost nothing!

Polka Dot · Dec 3, 2006

Tourbillion said:
...now that it is no longer acceptable to wear long skirts by day.

Really? Long skirts aren't acceptable for day?

Tourbillion · Dec 4, 2006

Long, as in calf length yes, but floor length? It is not really done mostly. How often do you really see floor length wool skirts these days?

During WWII there was fabric rationing, so they had to wear shorter skirts. Wearing a really long vintage 40's skirt isn't accurate unless it is an evening skirt. You can stretch the rules if you want, but most 40's skirts were just below the knee (and cold during winter!).

As for today, we don't have rationing, but manufacturers are so cheap that I would not be surprised if mini skirts and shorts aren't the "in styles" for years to come. Anything that is full or longish is made out of the cheapest fabrics like cotton gauze.

Anyway, the only long boots photo I've ever seen from the 40's is a fetish ballet boots photo.

My question is why were boots so out of style?

jitterbugdoll · Dec 4, 2006

I just won a pair of these on eBay

Which were sold with the pair of shoes found inside--nothing like winning two pairs of 1940s shoes at once lol:

BonnieJean · Dec 4, 2006

Jitterbugdoll, I'm so jealous! You always find the cutest boots! I've been looking on eBay for a while for some nice vintage-y winter boots and not having much luck. I did see a couple of pairs tonight, but not my size. Apparently a lot of people had tiny narrow feet back in the Golden Era. I just wish some company would re-make nice over shoe boots for ladies to wear over their heels--and with a bit of fur on top! Bring back those rubber over shoes!

jitterbugdoll · Dec 4, 2006

Jitterbugdoll, I'm so jealous! You always find the cutest boots! I've been looking on eBay for a while for some nice vintage-y winter boots and not having much luck.

I've actually been searching on and off for a couple of years (hopefully they fit, as they will match my faux seal coat and hat)--I've seen a lot more lately, so keep searching! The weather here doesn't really warrant winter boots, but I figured I needed a pair for when I travel to colder climates lol

LizzieMaine · Dec 4, 2006

I was lucky enough to snag these recently --

No fur trim, alas, nor any bonus free shoes inside! But they actually fit me, and just in time for winter!

BonnieJean · Dec 4, 2006

LizzieMaine, since your winters are like ours (if not worse), do you think your feet will stay warm in those boots? Are they comfortable to wear? They sure are cute looking. I'm going to keep looking for a pair for me. Even if they aren't that warm, I figure they're a lot warmer than just my pumps out in the snow. We got 12 inches of snow on Friday (its still here

) and I really need a pair of good boots. I've got a pair of Northern boots for snow shoveling and other outside work, but it would be nice to have a dressy pair to go to town in. I guess the key thing to remember is to keep on the hunt and not give up finding a pair of boots. Looks like you and Jitterbugdoll are ready for winter weather!

LadyDeWinter · Dec 4, 2006

LizzieMaine, I have almost the same but my boots are overboots. I was very lucky when I won them as I have size 11. Shoes in this size are hardly to get.

Paul · Dec 4, 2006

~landgirl~ said:
Did ladies where longish boots in the 40s?

I can remember in the late 60's and early 70's going to school wearing rubber Wellington but my mum was picking here way through the snow wearing something like these of LizzieMaine has just bought.
I was not until later on in the decade that she had long boots the knee.
The funny thing is that long boots were around in the 60's so it was either too young a fashion for her or for the odd time it snowed could not justify spending the money on herself.

LizzieMaine said:
I was lucky enough to snag these recently --

By the way great boots LizzieMaine.

Click to expand...

~landgirl~ · Dec 4, 2006

Thanks everyone. Love the cute little boots a few of you posted!

I was referring to longer boots, as I love my slouch boots so much in the weather. Ah well, sometimes a gal has to be modern!

LizzieMaine · Dec 5, 2006

BonnieJean said:
LizzieMaine, since your winters are like ours (if not worse), do you think your feet will stay warm in those boots? Are they comfortable to wear? They sure are cute looking. I'm going to keep looking for a pair for me. Even if they aren't that warm, I figure they're a lot warmer than just my pumps out in the snow. We got 12 inches of snow on Friday (its still here ) and I really need a pair of good boots. I've got a pair of Northern boots for snow shoveling and other outside work, but it would be nice to have a dressy pair to go to town in. I guess the key thing to remember is to keep on the hunt and not give up finding a pair of boots. Looks like you and Jitterbugdoll are ready for winter weather!

Well, we've been lucky here so far -- we just came off the warmest November on record in Maine, so all I've needed to use them for is rain boots (these are overshoes, not lined boots, so they're especially good for this.) The bottoms are solid rubber, while the tops have a sort of flocked surface, so they don't have that kind of shiny rubber look of modern rainboots.

I don't think I'll try wearing them for shoveling snow -- I have a pair of heavy lace-up boots I wear for that (goes good with my WW2-vintage Army Mountain Pants). But for the trip to work and back or runs around town they should be fine.

Took me years of searching to find these in a size that would fit -- they're actually a size 12 (!), but they fit over my size-10 shoes just fine.

jitterbugdoll · Dec 5, 2006

I think your new boots are very cute, Lizzie!

Vanessa · Dec 5, 2006

jitterbugdoll said:
I just won a pair of these on eBay

I have a pair just like those. . .but I hesitate to wear them here in the city with the snow & salt & muck. . .so I guess they're going to remain on my shoe shelf. But they're pretty.

Mrs. Foss · Dec 12, 2006

vintagey boots

I don't have a pair of these, but they remind me of some some of the vintage boots I've seen in pictures. They look like they'd keep your feet dry and you woudn't ahve to worry about ruining them.

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/9030229/c/89.html

~Mrs. Foss

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