Help dating Blue and Gold leather pumps 40s or 50s?
- Thread starter laurenm
- Start date
morning-glorious
VFG Board Member
I see 1920s shoes that have been re-soled.
Pinkcoke
Alumni
Do you have a photo of the whole sole? also the inside and outside of that back strap joint and around the button fastening.
I agree the heel is a bit chunky, but looking at the stitching on the vamp its not entirely regular, I wonder if they were custom made for dancing or performance? something a bit more durable?
I agree the heel is a bit chunky, but looking at the stitching on the vamp its not entirely regular, I wonder if they were custom made for dancing or performance? something a bit more durable?
Pinkcoke
Alumni
Thanks, I asked for those to rule out a modern reproduction or manufacture at a later (but still vintage) date by a costume shoemarker (either of which can be very convincing). The construction looks period to me. The arch is thickest there because it has to take the bulk of the straps sandwiched inbetween all the other layers, as well as a little reinforcing along the length.
I wonder if the heel just seems bigger than it should be because they are a really tiny size? It's also worth mentioning that modern methods of replacing heel tips actually reduce the height of the heel everytime it is done, because a sanding machine is used to shave the old one off, rather than doing it by hand. Over several repairs you no longer have the original shape of the heel anymore.
I wonder if the heel just seems bigger than it should be because they are a really tiny size? It's also worth mentioning that modern methods of replacing heel tips actually reduce the height of the heel everytime it is done, because a sanding machine is used to shave the old one off, rather than doing it by hand. Over several repairs you no longer have the original shape of the heel anymore.
laurenm
Registered Guest
interesting, very interesting....Now I understand that extra width on the sole at the strap insertion....the majority of this shoe lot certainly seems to be intended for dance....would a shoe designed in the 1930s specifically for swing dancing have a more chunky stable base?
Pinkcoke
Alumni
Gold/silver metallic shoes are the most common choice for evening and dance wear as they will go with most colour dresses and jewellery.
For this era you are talking ballroom dancing not swing (which would require flexible bouncy shoes like wedges or more day like sandals).
I meant I wonder if the shoes themselves are very small, as in total size 8-9"?
For this era you are talking ballroom dancing not swing (which would require flexible bouncy shoes like wedges or more day like sandals).
I meant I wonder if the shoes themselves are very small, as in total size 8-9"?
Jonathan
VFG Member
I think these are early 50s made intentionally in a retro 1920s style - it happened then too. I have a pair of Seymour Troy shoes from c. 1952 that are similar - in fact I used to use them for the 1920s when I did fashion shows because they were so good at looking like they were from the 20s. Hollis had a pair once too that also looked very 20s/30s but were from the early 50s. Sorry, I would post a pic of the Seymour Troy shoes I have but they aren't photo'd. There was a 20's revival that started in the early 50s - 'Singing in the Rain' (52) and a whole slew of 20's set movies and Chanel's return to fashion in 54 appealed partly because it was reminiscent of the 20s. So, my bet is c. 1952-54 on these shoes.
Interesting. There was an Art Deco revival in costume jewelry in the 50's also. It's usually not that difficult to tell the older pieces from the newer except for some German Art Deco style pieces.
This unsigned bracelet is from the 50's:
All the stones are glued. An earlier piece would have prong and bead set stones. It's still pretty, though!
Linn
This unsigned bracelet is from the 50's:
All the stones are glued. An earlier piece would have prong and bead set stones. It's still pretty, though!
Linn