1950's Wardrobe: The Basics

[Miss sofia]

I am having that very same dilemma myself actually, i do wear saddle shoes or ballet pumps but wondered what other options there were for Winter other than heels.

 

[kamikat]

Loafers are good for winter as long as the snow isn't deeper than ankle high. Although, once the snow is ankle deep, I tend to forgo the vintage look and go straight for jeans, long underwear and fleece.

 

[MissHannah]

Oxfords and other sturdy lace-ups, like Brogues, were still worn in the 50s. I've been trying to track down some winter boots with a low wedge heel like my granny wore for a couple of years now. I also second the loafers suggestion.

 

[Puzzicato]

Would it be really inappropriate to wear thick crepe soled shoes?

 

[Mrs. Merl]

I think the problem is that in the past people actually wore overshoes.

 

[MissHannah]

I've got some loafers with a thick crepe-like sole and I wear those in the winter sometimes. I think they are probably a little chunkier than what would actually have been worn but they are close enough.

It is possible to get vintage overshoes - especially on Etsy. There is a thread about them elsewhere, including LizzieMaine's invaluable advice on what makes a vintage pair of galoshes or overshoes usable or not.

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=21500

Oh and this one too:
http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=33745

 

[Puzzicato]

I read the information about overshoes and galoshes and I just can't see myself wearing them. Those little wedge boots that you are looking at, MissHannah, may be just the thing (if they come in black).

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[Miss sofia]

I'll second that too, the wedge boots sound great or loafers, thanks for the advice, i have been doing some serious headscratching about the winter shoe thing, thanks ever so much! x

 

[MissHannah]

Last night I remembered that I have a PDF of a 1959 Littlewoods catalogue so I had a look at the shoes pages for winter footwear inspiration. I don't have it with me at work but i will post it later tonight - lots of fur-lined booties!

 

[Puzzicato]

I look forward to seeing them! And then throwing things at the computer because I can't have them.

 

[Jasmine Jolene]

apologies if this has already been covered but i havea question about shoes as well.

i favour the pencil skirt look while at work, and fuller skirts when at home, and have some lovely shoes to go with both. i tend to wear heels but i walk to work so i walk in flats then change. this i am not bothered about, i need to be practical after all!

what sort of flat or low-heeled shoes would you recommend? or am i searching for the holy grail? i did see some shoes from amerimark (i think) mentioned in another thread but they are not available in the UK and i really don't want to pay twice in shipping what one pair of shoes is worth, especially when i am not sure about the fit.

 

[MissHannah]

OK all - please see the Footwear for Winter thread for my winter shoe pics from catalogues.

 

[Marzena]

I have just examined this thread for the first time and it took my breath away. With admiration and with gratitude for the loving care with which all this information was made available.
Incidentally, in my country where clothes had a much looooonger lifespan many of those 1950s styles were still around when I was growing up in 1970s. Some actually were American - they were making it to Poland in parcels sent by relatives at closet cleaning times, and then serving extra time handed down over and over, re-worked and re-fashioned to somehow cope with changing fashions. I have even realised that I myself must have been an owner of a 40s -50s? suit made of vine coloured light gabardine with a pencil skirt and above the waist cropped jacket with slightly padded shoulders. Hated it to bits! could not wait just when I might finally be allowed to part with it. WHAT would I not give today to still have it! (if it is any consolation though, I most certainly could not fit into it).
Thank you for the trip down memory lane, ladies. I am very new to this but I love what you have achieved on this site.

 

[helsabot]

First post

Hello ladies! I'm completely new to the forum and have been wearing vintage almost daily for about two years now. Because I ride my bike as my main transportation, my wardrobe tends toward the 50s, since I'm more comfortable putting those clothes at risk and there are more of them to be found. In a perfect world I would be all pre-war and wartime 40s all the time. I live in San Francisco, where the main weather issues are wind and rain. If anyone wants to talk about bikes (which ladies have been riding to great success since the late 1800s), I'm your girl!

Since my bike dictates what I can wear, I don't dress exactly how I'd like, but I've found pleated wool skirts to be tremendously helpful. Although they can have a more youthful "college girl" association, they are nigh indestructible and give an instant vintage look that can be matured easily with the right accessories. They allow enough movement for pedaling without the length or billowy fabric that is at risk for getting stuck in chains and spokes.

Here's a photo of me on a Tweed Ride in one of my 50s dresses:

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

How does one size over shoes? Does the boots need to be the same size as ones shoes or larger?