An image request: flat 1940s/50s shoes (maybe Keds)?

[Alice~]

Hello all,

I can no longer wear heels and so, am in need of new shoes. Usually I would rejoice at the thought of needing more shoes, but flat shoes are very alien to me! I would really appreciate if anybody has any information or photos of flat shoes worn around the 40s and 50s. I've been looking at Keds which seem popular among vintage lovers, but I don't recall seeing them in any of the old photos/movies I've seen.

Thank you for reading

 

[Dinerman]

Here are some '60s ones. The design didn't change all that much.

 

[Lily Powers]

Hi Alice,
Are you able to wear a low heel? Remix has some very comfortable 1940's flats. Their price point is high, but they're well made.

I have several pairs of Keds - the new versions, not the true vintage Keds - and I don't think they are a quality shoe. In fact, I'm kind of disappointed in the quality, the dyes, the overall sizing and fit.

 

[Bebe*Gunn]

The Lindy Hop dancers of the 30's and 40's wore an array of flat shoes, including Ked type things and Saddle shoes and also low heeled shoes, like small wedges and tap shoe like Mary Janes:

www.google.co.uk/search?q=whiteys+l...&biw=1024&bih=625&sei=o9ZSUeeRBKS50QWF4ICgDQ#

www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&biw=1...34.9j13j1.23.0...0.0...1c.1.7.img.gTkpgdDwkNs

Even better than images, some film footage of ordinary American women dancing in 1939 - from about 1.46 onwards you get to see a lot of flat and low heeled shoes!*

 

[Bebe*Gunn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9zb7KGWXvc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Alice~]

Thank you for those photos Dinerman! It seems the design has not changed very much at all. Lily: no heels at all I'm afraid. A shame about Keds quality but I'm glad you told me. I don't think I'll get any unless I spot some super cheap in a sale. Bebe, thank you very much for those links! Very helpful indeed. I'm starting to quite like the look of saddle shoes. I wonder if they'll look decent with black stockings/tights? I'm not much of a socks girl... only one way to find out I suppose, time to get saddle-shoe-hunting! Thanks all!

 

[Matt Deckard]

Keds are quite the standard in the swing dance scene when it comes to flats.