Navy leather pumps with a little bit of nautical-style trim, and modest platform soles. Chunky heels. 100% leather construction (of course!). Classic, classic, classic and built like a brick house. No wonder they’re still skipping the streets 70 years later!
Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Just as classic as the Little Black Dress, little black pumps are obviously just as iconic. Perfect style and durability for about 70 years. This is a dressier pair, of suede leather, which probably saved them the more frequent wear of an everyday shoe and preserved them for me.
I’m so glad! This heel height couldn’t be more comfortable – elegant and flattering, too.
Great for dancing.
And, sometimes, for making a quick get-away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I think we’ve got a good show-off of the clear vinyl and gold leather that was so popular in dressy sandals from the Fifties. These came from a private store in Chicago that had shoes specially made under their own label.
There are so many photographs of women in the ’50’s wearing gold dress sandals and sandals with clear vinyl vamps that it’s iconic of that time. Makes me think of Peggy Lee and Cotillion dinner – dances that were such popular social events then.
Off to the Country Club, anyone? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
The original price is still visible on the soles, written in grease pencil. $14.99. Looks like they may have been tried on and that was it!
Dark coffee brown leather, with pert little bows on a v-shaped vamp – this pair comes from the late Forties to early Fifties. The Naturalizer brand was a closet staple for well-dressed women. It was the flagship brand for the Brown shoe company of St. Louis, MO since 1927.
It’s always important to do a background check . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG; MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I absolutely LOVE discovering fashion finds with original documentation – what fabulous clues to many things about them! Original packaging, tags, sales slips – heaven!! And, fortunately, I’m there many times a year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Here we have pumps about 60 years old (and very well preserved) in their original box and tissue paper with a small card from the Brown Shoe Company telling about their business and the quality of their merchandise. The price of $14.99 is even hand-written on the box!
Black calf-skin leather mid-heels with crisp grosgrain bows on the vamps – insoles very neat and clean. Notice how many exclamation points I’ve used as I write about this. So great to have such beautiful, well-cared-for items with all of these original pieces of the puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . All the long hours, vague directions, dark alley’s, dusty corners and encounters with shady characters are worth it!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I’ve had really good fortune finding clutch handbags recently and several have been leather. It’s always fun to find party bags like the one below but most are made of cloth or vinyl – even the old ones – a true vintage leather bag is a real treasure!
The bag on top, however, is my greatest love. It’s from the Forties or Fifties and is SO elegant. The style is superbly simple, but the design is unusual. Picture holding the bag with both hands, with the front facing you as in the photo. Place your thumbs on the metal tabs at each side and push gently – that releases the clasps to open the bag! I love the creative closures that are on many of the best vintage handbags. Some of them locked in place, and it was a puzzle to figure out how to release them the first time. This bag posed that problem to me for a few seconds.
Both these handbags have smooth, clean linings and pretty pockets inside. I’ve been fortunate enough to discover accessory items which were really well cared-for by their original owners so have hardly any damage. Many women used to tuck them away in drawers and closets with tissue-paper wrappings and stuffing, saving and protecting them for the next special occasion – or for the next woman who would love them. . . . . . .
More to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Hardly worn, by Corelli, an Italian company that has been making footwear at least since the 1950’s, it’s not clear exactly when these were made. Some of the techniques are vintage by our standards, but European shoes – especially by a traditional maker – are probably made to a different (and higher) standard than in the U.S., with more things hand-done.
I’m not going to quibble on these. Cute 1950’s style, high quality and they fit!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I just love, love, love the look of round-toed pumps! These are sweet and sassy at the same time, and oh, so of-the-period. When I really want to be back-in-the-day, these are some that I’ll wear.
Black suede, 100% leather construction with elegant bows on the vamps – this pair is made by Air Step. Another fabulous discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
When was the last time you could buy a new pair of desirable brand-name shoes for $8.00, even though on sale? Check out the original price sticker from a department store.
Deliso Debs were popular, stylish shoes for women from 1919 until the 1970’s. They had a reputation for being well-made and having a great fit. I have others and just love them.
This pair is somewhat dressy, but versatile. Again, how can you go wrong with a good pair of black pumps?
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
True vintage late 1960’s 100% leather hand-made stiletto heels. What shoes should be!!! Black patent leather with fabric bow decoration.
These were originally sold at a well-known mid-western department store. They were made to last, and they have. Small metal taps at the toes to prevent wear. The soles have not been repaired, but they can be forever as needed. That’s the beauty of these beautiful vintage items.
More on the way – stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 