Category Archives: stiletto

ANOTHER AUSSIE FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S WORKING-GIRL PUMPS

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    A kind-of unusual-looking style, don’t you think?  These need a polish and a little cleaning, but they’re in excellent condition. Leather pumps by “Diana” – rather high cut on the vamp.  They remind me of what I see teachers wearing in old photos.

Investigating across the world is challenging, exciting and always intriguing.  One thing that was fun in Australia is that several of the things I found are familiar, but still a bit different from what I discover in the U.S. and Canada.  Their own brands and, maybe, some other foreign influences have given the styles a unique twist.

As always, you just never know . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS! RARE PURE WHITE ’60’S STILETTO HEELS IN MY SIZE!!!

img_2033

OMG – pure white true vintage shoes are so rare, and especially in such good condition.  Miss Wonderful (and they are) made these lovely full leather pumps back in the Kennedy era, early 1960’s.  I’m in heaven because I’ve looked for some for ages.

Nothing takes the place of perfectly white “dress” shoes with pretty vintage summer frocks.  Vintage white sandals are not hard to find, but pumps are another matter.  Leather soles, with metal toe taps and almost-new heel caps just seal the deal.  I’ll enjoy these for decades.

Although I’ve been too busy to be looking much . . . . . well, you just never know . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S STILETTO PUMPS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1950'S - EARLY 1960'S STILETTO PUMPS

Here’s a pair of shoes that I might wear with the dresses I’ve shown recently.  These needle-toe patent leather pumps are characteristic of late ’50’s to early ’60’s styles. The placement and shape of the heel is also characteristic.

I love the little cut-outs on the vamp.  Many shoes of that era had great details.

One of the things I like best are the company names stamped on the insoles.  The script is usually so interesting.  Although these are cracked inside, the outers are in great shape.

I’ve had new heel caps put on, but otherwise they will last for decades more.  The color is funky but fun, too!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGSPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

MY FAVORITE RED TRUE VINTAGE STILETTO HEELS BY THE KINNEY COMPANY

TRUE VINTAGE STILETTO HEELS BY THE KINNEY COMPANY

If you’ve visited my Facebook page or read my book, you will have seen this picture, but I’ve never talked as much about it, so far, as I will here.  Maybe you remember when Kinney shoes had a store in just about every mall or shopping center and then kind of disappeared. Well, these lovelies were made before that time.  I took them to a shoemaker from Poland who had 25 years experience MAKING shoes and now does repair.  He told me that they were 30 – 40 years old.

They have a ’40s – ’50s vibe but were made in the ’70s. The label is of cloth, embedded in the insole. How often do we see that?! As you can imagine, they are very well-made of leather with Vibram soles.

I love this style so much, and the heels are very high. Any kind of peep-toe pump really gets my attention. Couldn’t resist these, and what a fabulous find!   You just never know . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

AIRY 1960’s TRUE VINTAGE STILETTO PUMPS COVERED IN LACE

AIRY 1960's TRUE VINTAGE STILETTO PUMPS COVERED IN LACE

What could be prettier and more cool-looking over the next few weeks as the temperatures begin to rise?   These were made by Life Stride, the long-time shoe company that, I think, is still in business. They are fabric-covered all over with a peek-a-boo lace upper.

Fortunately, these were made during the time when quality materials and workmanship were still the standard.  I love it that the heels and toes are reinforced and that they are constructed to last!  What could be prettier for spring and summer wear . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE SHOES OF THE 1960’S – IMMORTALIZED AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

SHOES OF THE 1960'S - IMMORTALIZED AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

 

Examples from the decade, preserved and displayed beautifully. Stilettos and little strappy things. Cute, chic and sexy.  In alligator, suede, satin, patent leather – such a fabulous collection!

These are mostly dressier styles on this side of the display case.  You can catch a glimpse of some more everyday heels on the other side.

From Carnaby Street to The Man from Uncle to early James Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

UPPING THE GLAM – GORGEOUS DRESSY TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S SHOES AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

GORGEOUS DRESSY 1950'S SHOES AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

More lovelies from the Shoe Museum, Upstairs, 27 Bolivar, Mexico City. These are all dressy styles from the 1950’s decade.  Some would also have come from Spain.

A real variety of beauties here. I would love to have been able to photograph them all and really do recommend a visit to this FREE small museum. Very well done!

Yes, I know that I stress the fact that I publish ONLY my own true vintage wardrobe. It’s true that I don’t OWN these shoes (sob), but I DID FIND & PHOTOGRAPH THEM and felt I must share them with all of you. Please forgive . . . . . .. . when I finish posting this series of pix, it’s not likely to happen often.  I prefer to play for keeps . . . . . . . …

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

MORE CLASSIC TRUE VINTAGE EXAMPLES FROM THE FIFTIES AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

MORE CLASSIC EXAMPLES FROM THE FIFTIES AT THE SHOE MUSEUM

From the early to the late 1950’s, this was one of my favorite displays at the museum. I can just imagine Grace Kelly wearing the sling-backs in the movie High Society. I’d put them on in a second  . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exquisitely hand-made of premium leather and man-made materials that last for many, many years.

Classic vamp decorations and toe styles all represented here. Such a delight to see these looking like new!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S SHOES: PUMPS, FLATS, CUTAWAYS, SLINGBACKS FROM CASUAL TO CHIC TO ELEGANT TO FORMAL

1950'S SHOES: PUMPS, FLATS, CUTAWAYS, SLINGBACKS FROM CASUAL TO CHIC TO ELEGANT TO FORMAL

From just about the whole decade of the ’50’s, the shoe museum in Mexico City covers it all. Just coming out of the ’40’s and almost into the ’60’s – these are THE BEST!

This showcase contains the most casual to the most dressy examples. I love them all!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

CLASSIC TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S LADIES’ PUMPS IN LUGGAGE TAN NATURAL LIZARD

CLASSIC 1960'S LADIES' PUMPS IN LUGGAGE TAN NATURAL LIZARD

Talk about elegant – these shoes are timeless standards in 3 ways: style, color and material. This is characteristic of  many true vintage clothing and accessory items – the quality and design are so excellent that they look good with almost everything for almost always.

Classic mid-heel pumps in lizard-skin (vintage, of course) in this rich, mid-brown color will go through every season of the year, with white, black and colors, from casual to dressy.

Compose a wardrobe carefully of elements like this and you’ll appear sophisticated and well-heeled no matter what.  Quality and construction are everything.  Even well-known labels and designer names (especially if they were made since the 1980’s) are secondary and often cheap-looking, no matter how much they cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM