need help dating shoes

[persephone60]

I originally thought these were were older than 1970s, but when I looked for sizing information, I found the size "5 M" (see the last pic, though the pic was hard to take)--it's my understanding that "M" for sizing wasn't used until the 1970s?

 

[Midge]

Not a shoe specialist, but I definitely see earlier too! My hunch is early 50s, but let's see what the shoe specialists say. They are pretty anyway!

 

[persephone60]

Midge, thanks! Glad to know I'm not the only one. I thought early 50s too, but then I got confused by the sizing marks.

 

[thespectrum]

I see early 50s as well.

 

[Pinkcoke]

Yes M has definitely been around since the 50s (can't remember if I've seen it any earlier...)
I would agree these are early to mid 1950's shoes.
I can see why they thought 70's - that dark tan lining colour is more common in later decades and this particular shape did come back in the 70's, but with a slimmer taller heel typically.
The last difference is the buckle shape - this did change regularly through the decades.