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Need a date and keyword help for these shoes

Discussion in 'PUBLIC Vintage Fashion - Ask Questions Get Answers' started by hws4sale, Sep 5, 2004.

  1. hws4sale

    hws4sale Registered Guest

    What year were spingolators in style?
    These are a size 7 1/2, and in great condition. I am braindead at the moment and need help with listing them....
    Anyone? Please!!!
    TIA,
    Paula
    <img src=http://members.sparedollar.com/hws4sale/shoes.JPG>
     
  2. Leisa

    Leisa VFG Member

    Those are Great, Paula!

    Springolators were big in the 50's. I used to have some info - I'll try to find it for ya.

    leisa
     
  3. hws4sale

    hws4sale Registered Guest

    Thanks Leisa,
    I could use all the info I can get right now.
    Paula
     
  4. alonesolo

    alonesolo Guest

    Those are pretty! I love springolators! Had some in the spring that I was going to wear to my sons wedding but wore them around here for a bit and they were to tight. ( of course they were they were a size too small what did I expect)

    Only keyword I can think of to describe them is SEXY!
     
  5. Jonathan

    Jonathan VFG Member

    Springolator mules were developed by Beth Levine for Herbert Levine in NY. SHe took the idea from an elasticized insole designed for workboots to provide comfort and fit, and applied it to mules because high heeled mules do tend to fall off, especially if the wearer is in a hurry! Mules were never big sellers in North America previous to the 1950s, they had only ever found favour in Italy and France.
    I believe she first produced them in 1956 and first advertised them by running across the lobby of a hotel at a shoe manufacturer's convention wearing them! (I heard that story directly from the her mouth!) Apparently the other shoe manufacturer's were impressed that her mules had not fallen off! Because she borrowed the technology from another source, couldn't patent the idea, so many makers globbed onto the idea and by 1957, they were being made by numerous different makers. They were popular into the early 1960s.
     
  6. Patentleathershoes

    Patentleathershoes VFG Veteran VFG Past President

    So in other words the term "springolator" is accepted as generic use for shoes made by any manufacturer vs "actual springolators" more or less? or are the others "springolator style" or "springolator-like mules". not wanting to be so technical, but just am curious. (just like "kelly bag" can be merely a handbag with a similar shape and handle placement to a birkin or gucci kelly)

    Chris
     
  7. Jonathan

    Jonathan VFG Member

    Hmmm.... I don't know. I suspect that in fact 'spring-o-lator' is a brand name, but it has been out of use for 40 years now and has become a style name. I don't know of any other name for the style.
     

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