Saddle shoes

[Engel]

Hi Engel, and welcome. Love your avatar, do you do your own victory rolls? If you ever get to one of the many vintage festival weekends in the UK, you will find Rocket Originals at most of them. But he is a tad dear compared to some others. However, I have always found them very helpful with either complaints or returns.

Hi there, thanks for welcoming me!

I am still trying to do my Victory rolls on my own, I like them quite large, as you can see by the ones I have in the picture, which were done by me with TONS of help of the hair stylist on a pin up workshop I went to. She was trying to teach me and the others how to make our own rolls, so we could do it on our own in the future. I learned a lot from her, but my rolls are still not that great. *sigh*

I would love to know when there are festivals and the such in the UK, last time I was in London was in july this year, but I just love the city. I am still REALLY new to the vintage lifestyle, only started actively buying vintage reproduction clothes this year, don't own any original vintage clothing yet, so I have lots to learn from you all in here. xO

 

[GHT]

Sorry for the threadjack, but Engel, if you check out this website Hep Cat Holidays
You will find an amazing vintage weekend in about the time of the golden era. The venue is on the East Coast and there lots of visitors from Western Europe. You can travel from The Hook of Holland to Harwich, and from Harwich it's just a short train ride away. At just under £200 it can seem expensive, but that price is inclusive. Food, accommodation entertainment, dance workshops. You can even get your hair done at the vintage stylists. Try and recruit a friend to travel together, and reduce the cost.

 

[Alice Blue]

I guess saddle shoes weren't just for teenagers. Here are a few photos of grown women in saddles, most of them working in the military or aviation industry.

WASP class 43-3 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:43-3_Jan-1943.jpg

WAVE arrives at Port Hueneme, California - October 1943 This site doesn't seem to allow remote loading. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/57114/7276012/in/album/172224



August 1942. Corpus Christi, Texas. "Mrs. Eloise J. Ellis, senior supervisor in the Assembly and Repairs Department of the Naval Air Base, talking with one of the men." Source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/5231

October 1942. "Installing an engine at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant. Fort Worth, Texas." Source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/3184

October 1942. Douglas Aircraft Co. at Long Beach, California. "Carefully trained women inspectors check cargo transport innerwings before they are assembled on the fuselage." Source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/3155

January 1942. Bantam, Connecticut. "In the basement of the town firehouse is the bowling alley, revenue from which helps to support the town's volunteer fire companies. Each night is alloted to a specific group, and there are several hot rivalries. Among the women shown here is Mrs. Winfield Peterson, whose husband is foreman of the Warren McArthur experimental shop." Source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/2292

 

[Puzzicato]

Hello, this is my first post ever at The fedora lounge. *waves*

I bought my first saddle shoes ever less than a month ago, from Rocket Originals.

The postage to Germany was really fast, they were really nice about replying to all the questions I had regarding size and the shoes not only look nice but also fit perfectly, even though they are longer than any shoes I own. My feet are wide and around 25,3 centimetres long and I got the ladies size 7, in case this helps anybody.

I got the green/cream ones, but plan to eventually get it in every colour option they offer, as those really became my go-to shoes when I know I will need to walk a lot and need comfortable shoes. The next ones on my list are the black/white ones, which I will hopefully order begin of november.

That's good to know! I have been looking at the Rocket Originals (4 years since I last posted in this thread and I still haven't got saddle shoes...) but being a size 39 wide I wasn't sure of the fit.

 

[Veronica T]

And my future husband:

 

[Kayrahbear]

Has anyone tried anything from B.A.I.T? They have some saddles in yellow and mint that I keep going back too. They're lovely!

 

[pineapplefruitcake]

so much pretty! oh my gosh, why oh why did you show me those shoes B.A.I.T. shoes?!? I've not stopped staring at their website since and I have exactly zero funds to fulfill my desires! I too would like to know if anyone has tried that as they seem like a much cheaper option compared to some of the other repro brands.

 

[Heather]

Does anyone have any experience with saddle shoes from Payless?
https://m.payless.com/womens-saddle-oxford/2076.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vintageTink]

Has anyone tried anything from B.A.I.T? They have some saddles in yellow and mint that I keep going back too. They're lovely!

Oh my. Good thing I don't have any money.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Just a heads-up that Muffy's have finally restocked all sizes for their traditional coral-sole brown-and-whites, the definitive saddle shoe of the prewar era. The uppers on my old pair have finally split along the sides, after eight years of daily summertime wear, so I'm treating myself to a new pair. Ordered Saturday, shipped out and on the way today.

 

[LizzieMaine]

New saddles from Muffys have arrived -- two days from shipping to picking them up off my doorstep. They aren't quite the same as the ones I've been wearing since 2005 -- the leather doesn't seem quite as heavy or as stiff, and there's a different feel to the rubber of the sole, but that may just be because the old soles have hardened with age. The new ones were manufactured by "Kesco," which apparently used to be Willits, an old-line American shoe company now operating out of Mexico, but the quality of manufacture seems to be as good as, or even a bit better than the older pair.

The big difference is the surface finish of the leather -- on my old pair it was glossy before it all wore off, the new ones have more of a matte finish. The saddle on the new pair is a darker brown than the old ones.

Wearing them around today they seemed to want to break in quickly -- as I remember, the old pair took several days to really get broken in, but the new ones are almost there now. Whether they'll last nine years or not remains to be seen, but they're still highly recommended.

 

[Rockapin-up]

Thanks for the review, I'm very interested in ordering from that website. I haven't owned a pair of saddle shoes since I was a kid and would love to add a pair to my wardrobe.

 

[Tuesday_Next]

BAIT shoes are all vegan. In other words, they are non-leather. I had a pair of t-straps but they had were more for looks than long-wear and durability. Super cute but definitely not as long lasting as a good pair of leather shoes. But if you would prefer non-leather, they are a good option.

 

[Tuesday_Next]

Sorry to hear the quality of your saddle shoes weren't what you'd had in the past.

I bought a pair of black-and-white saddles (Willits is the label) from Muffy's a few years back. The leather quality was good but there is a weird seam inside the shoe under the ball of my foot. I notice it most when I first put them on and then get used to it. I'd hoped it would become less noticeable over time but that lumpy bit is just as apparent as ever.

Do you notice a seam? Which color did you get?

 

[40'sfetish]

Sigh, I've been trying to get a response from Muffys for a while now. I know what I want but as I'm used to Australian sizing I want to make sure of the size and they say to email for international postage costs...
No response.
I really want a good quality leather pair of saddles and muffys seem to be the best out there, money burning hole in pocket and just can't get them to take it lol.

 

[fgradowski]

Sigh, I've been trying to get a response from Muffys for a while now. I know what I want but as I'm used to Australian sizing I want to make sure of the size and they say to email for international postage costs...
No response.
I really want a good quality leather pair of saddles and muffys seem to be the best out there, money burning hole in pocket and just can't get them to take it lol.

I had a pair of Muffy's at the top of my Christmas list this year because I had always heard about how awesome they were. My old saddle shoes are falling apart and a bit too costumey for me. My father informed me that the company has terrible reviews and asked where else he could find them. Ugh.

 

[sheeplady]

I had a pair of Muffy's at the top of my Christmas list this year because I had always heard about how awesome they were. My old saddle shoes are falling apart and a bit too costumey for me. My father informed me that the company has terrible reviews and asked where else he could find them. Ugh.

I have a pair of their saddles (worn since 2011) and I had no trouble getting them. I'd buy again from them, but I didn't have interactions with them other than the purchase.

 

[Puzzicato]

Tragedy - I finally bought a pair of Rocket Originals. They arrived super fast, beautifully packaged and gorgeous quality. And I couldn't get my foot into them at all. My feet are so wide across the ball of the foot that even with the laces open as wide as I could I couldn't get them on. So I returned them and ordered the next size up. Same problem. Closer this time, but still impossible.

I think I have to accept that my feet are the wrong shape for saddle shoes!

 

[EstherWeis]

Tragedy - I finally bought a pair of Rocket Originals. They arrived super fast, beautifully packaged and gorgeous quality. And I couldn't get my foot into them at all. My feet are so wide across the ball of the foot that even with the laces open as wide as I could I couldn't get them on. So I returned them and ordered the next size up. Same problem. Closer this time, but still impossible.

I think I have to accept that my feet are the wrong shape for saddle shoes!

I've been given this tip:
http://johnson-shoes.com/collections/ladies-saddle

I've heard good things, they are made to measure. So that's always nice.
Might be worth checking them out.

Hope that was helpful!

 

[Swing Girl]

Does anyone have any experience with saddle shoes from Payless?
https://m.payless.com/womens-saddle-oxford/2076.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know I'm way late on this reply, (I just joined recently), but I thought I might at least be able to help someone by responding. I bought a pair of saddle shoes from payless about a month ago, and they're working great for me. They're very comfortable and look so nice! The top has a few creases in it now, but I wear them literally every day even for taking walks, and my little brother keeps stepping on them. (-:

Overall, they're great shoes, especially for the price. (Mine were only $25.)