Vintage-Inspired Fashion: 3 Fabulous Shoe Styles
What college girl doesn’t love shoes? Right now, I have two large bins of shoes in my dorm room and I still can’t get enough!
Shoes are one of the best things to buy in vintage or thrift shops! They have a lot of personality and can be a really unique way to spice up your wardrobe. You can also find classic, stylish basics to match with just about anything. Today, I’m going to be showing you three great shoe styles with a fabulous vintage feel.
Low-Heeled Pumps
Product Information: Nine West Rookie – Zappos. Pink Studio Zadora – Piperlime. Splish Splash T-Straps – ModCloth.
Low-heeled pumps are great for day wear, because you get the benefits of heels with the versatility of flats. Certain styles recall certain decades, but otherwise, low-heeled pumps have almost always been a wardrobe staple.
These pumps are abundant in vintage and thrift stores. When purchasing, check the shoes for any damage – if it is minor, you could possibly get a discount on the shoes. If it is major (such as, the heel is coming off of the body of the shoe), assess whether you can fix it or not before purchasing.
How to Wear Low-Heeled Pumps
Product Information: Granite Skinny Jeans – Charlotte Russe. Sandra Knit Top – Forever 21. Light Peacoat – American Eagle Outfitters. Rayna’s Chunky Beaded Bangle – Fantasy Jewelry Box.
This is a great day outfit – perfect for going to class or running around doing errands. For a date outfit, you could change into leggings and a cute dress, keeping the shoes and the bracelet. The gray pumps are neutral enough in color and design that they can be paired with just about anything.
Platform Heels
Product Information: Toulouse Lau Wedges – ModCloth. Marc by Marc Jacobs Platform – Heels.com. T-Bar Platform Shoe – Browns Fashion.
I love platforms – they are such a great shoe for evening, because they make your legs look spectacular! Platforms were THE footwear of choice in the 1970′s and have remained a popular shoe style ever since.
In vintage and thrift shops, you will usually find platforms with a chunkier heel or wedge, like those on the ModCloth and Marc Jacobs shoes, rather than a stiletto heel. As with the low-heeled pumps, check for any damage. With platforms, make sure the shoes are not too small or too big – no matter how cute they are, if they’re not the right size, you’ll only hurt yourself in the end!
How to Wear Platforms
Product Information: Super Skinny Jean in Midnight Black – American Eagle Outfitters. Simple Chic One Button Blazer – Papaya Clothing. Ruffle Front Shirt – Forever 21. Lipsy Buckle Bag – Lipsy. Teardrop Dreamcatcher Earring – Torrid.
I love this look for work or an internship with a business casual dress code. You can always mix up the color scheme, change up the jewelry, or throw in a bright colored bag, especially depending on the style and color of your platforms!
“Edwardian” Heels
Product Information: Poetic Licence Fan Ribbon Tie Court – Oli. Moschino Leather Boots – the Outnet. High Stakes Heels in Smoke – ModCloth.
I love these shoes! I call them “Edwardian” style, but really, they just remind me of something I could imagine women wearing in the early 1900′s. There is something very delicate, proper, and feminine about them.
Shoes like these are a rarity to find in vintage shops, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look! Once and a while, you will notice something with a vaguely Oxford-esque look (like the shoe on the right) or something with a unique detail (like the shoe on the left.) Look for little details like ties, straps, and ribbons, and, as with the other shoes, make sure they fit and there is no severe damage to the shoe.
How to Wear “Edwardian” Heels
Product Information: Natalie Solid Jumper – Delias. Button-front Cardigan – Old Navy. Rhinestone Stacked Ring – Charlotte Russe.
I kept this outfit plain because the shoes are so interesting that they stand out on their own! You could definitely add tights or a different colored cardigan, as well as mix up the jewelry. This would be a great, flattering outfit for a date or a night out with the girls.
Speak Up!
What do you think of these shoes? Would you ever wear any of them and what would you wear them with? Also, do you have any ideas for future vintage-inspired fashion posts that you would like to see? Tell me what you think in the comments!
Posted on on September 26, 2009 / Filed Under: Shopping / Tags: Heels, Outfits, Platforms, Shoes, Thrifting, Tips, Vintage-Inspired Fashion
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Luinae
I love all of your picks, particurly the grey low heeled shoes and all the Edwardian ones! You have great taste.
In cintage/chatiry shops you have to be really careful and check for good quality shoes but they are a great way to save money and add a really uniqe detail! I love vintage shoes, I have a pair of below the knee flat vintage boots that are really good quality and I love!
Reneé
Hey even I don’t like vintage clothes but I loved these vintage like shoes:)
Once I was very curious about vintage clothes so I went to one of the most famous vintage store in my city but the shop was smelling mouisture and leather so badly and there were too much clothes and accesories crossed it was disgusting I think I’ll prefer vintage-styled clothes this time :D
Brooke
Loving the picks, particularly the “Edwardian” shoes!
Though I find when I go into vintage stores, nothing in there is going to come close to fitting my size 8 feet. I feel like, most of the time, if you don’t wear a size 5 you’re out of luck. :(
Suzi
I love vintage. I’m also one of “those” people who probably doesn’t take as good care of their clothing as they should (too many clothes on the floor instead of folded neatly, coat thrown over a chair carelessly instead of hanging up), shoes piled in the closet.
However, I take the effort to care for my few precious vintage pieces since a lot of them have more delicate fibres/structure because of their age.
Is there anything CF readers should know about proper care of vintage pieces? Dorm rooms and small apartments don’t really have room for walk-in closets, etc.
:)
Linda
Anyone know how to find good vintage shops ?
I never seem to have much good luck in the Atlanta area =/.
Cassandra
Great post – big fan of the ‘edwardian heels’, as well as vintage :D Looove the stuff on ModCloth.
You have to do a lot of walking to do on a vintage-shopping day here, though :( and the few that I’ve stepped foot in smelled like oldness and mold and more unless ewness.
Alana @ The Comm Ave Strut
I’m loving all 3 looks, especially the platforms. Great for tiny girls like me :)
Michelle - College of Idaho
Thank you everyone! The Edwardian heels were my favorite too as I was writing.
Suzi – that is a great idea! I definitely have my own ways of storing my vintage pieces and I think that would be a great article for CF readers. :)
Renee and Cassandra – Vintage stores do tend to have a unique smell, usually a slightly “old” smell like an attic. It is usually because of the high volume of old clothing and shoes. It should not be overpowering though – that is a sign of a good versus bad vintage shop!
Tammy
“Certain styles recall certain decades, but otherwise, low-heeled pumps have almost always been a wardrobe stable.”
I’m sure you mean wardrobe STAPLE.
Natalie
I’ve never been a fan of Edwardian heels at all, but I do like the first pair! Platforms have always been a favorite of mine.
I’ve had some luck in finding fabulous vintage shoes, but more often than not the pairs I see are in pretty bad shape or they don’t fit in with my wardrobe at all. It’s totally worth it when I end up finding a great pair!
Zephyr - CF Editor
Tammy – Thanks for pointing the typo out – it’s fixed now!
Lalalina
I really like all three of the outfits you created, especially the second one! As a vertically challenged individual I love wearing heels and platforms are by far the most comfortable as they give the best support. I love the way a great pair of brightly colored shoes can make a black and white outfit exciting! Keep up the great work!
Isabelle
I adore all of these heels, I have been totally feeling vintage lately too, back to basics and you can never go wrong.
Paula
Hmm, maybe I can wear low heeled pumps even though my feet are flat lol.
Alexandra
These are gorgeous shoes! I love the teal t-straps and the teal Edwardian heels. Very good taste.
Cara
Oh. My. Gosh. This is MY article!! I love vintage clothing, and vintage shoes are the best thing in the universe. The Edwardian heels are gorgeous – most of the shoes I own fall into some variation on that category.They’re just perfect, aren’t they? Wonderful mid-heels, practical year-round, go with skirts, pants, dresses, tights, whatever. And the detailing makes the shoes – perfies and wingtips and colors. I love the blue T-staps, too, which are a little later in time period period than the Edwardians but still early-20th-century in feel. <3 <3 <3 <3