Retro Sandals: Vintage and New Style Shoes (The Vintage Dancer)

Today's post Retro Sandals: Vintage and New Style Shoes from Vintage Dancer.

This past weekend I flew back home to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit my mom and go on a Birthday shopping trip. It’s one of our mother daughter traditions that I look forward to each year and one that I am continuing to do with my daughter (at almost 2 she already has opinions about what she wears.) Now this wasn’t a “vintage” shopping trip just a regular, I need clothes for spring, kind of trip. To my surprise I found two pairs of retro sandals that I just had to share with you. And while I’m at it some sandal history too.

Sandal History: 1920s to 1970s

1920′s Sandals: The first record I have of sandals from my catalog collection is in the 1920′s. The main difference between a sandal verses a low heel oxford was the amount of cut outs around the toe and vamp. These were not open toe sandals at all but with all the cut outs they were breathable and ideal for summer days. They were also made of suede or canvas and featured a very low rubber tip heel. They were worn at the beach or by teens on their summer breaks. Men had sandals to with cut outs although they were not very popular yet.

1925 Suede Sanadls- T Straps with cut outs

1924 Chinese Sandal “Grey suede with kid leather trim”, many cut outs, feminine shape

1930′s Sandals

Going into the 1920′s cut outs on shoes were all the rage! They were the signature element of nearly all shoes in the 1930′s. Cut outs came in all shapes and sizes and on all types from walking oxfords to high heeled pumps. A true “sandal” was still a very low heeled shoe. By the end of the 1930′s a small cut out in front of the toe started the “peep toe” revolution. It was the first time women’s toes were visible in the 20th century.

1930′s Sandals- Colorful, strappy, walking shoes

1930′s Sandals- Now in a full range of colors and heel heights

1940′s Sandals

The 1940′s continued expanding the tiny peep toe in a much larger open toe. The cut outs grew less dainty and more chunky to go with the entire 40′s movement of utility and function over beauty. The wedge and platform heel were common soles for both shoes and sandals. The new look was the espadrille which had a straw wrapped wedge heel and tie around laces. The fun was in figuring out all the different ways to tie the laces.

1947 sandals with open toes- both flat and wedge heels

1940′s Summer Sandals and Shoes

1950′s Sandals

The 1950′s saw an explosion of colors and strap designs on sandals. The popular wedge heel of the 1940′s continued into a trendier platform wedge. Straps were wide or narrow with many or a few buckles. There wasn’t a single defined style. Variety was everything in the 1950′s. The end of the 50′s saw sandals moving back to flats with multiple thin straps.

1955 Sandals- Diverse styles on Wedge Soles

1957 Sandals- Thick or thin soles, many strap styles

1960′s Sandals

The flat sandal was the only kind of trendy sandal in the 1960′s. Less is more was the mod style of the decade. Sandals had thinner straps and less of them. Straps around the heel were no longer necessary. “Flip flops” came about and they were what everyone wanted to wear.

1961 sandals – Flat is back and toe or thong sandals made their first appearance

1970′s Sandals

Kork-Ease – Deborah

The late 1960s and into the 1970s saw flats go away again and the platform came back. Taller than the 50′s style, the platform sandal quickly became an inconic shoe of the decade. Gladiator sandals were flat with thin laces that wrapped up and around the calf and was another classic 70′s style. Colors were reduced to natural and earthy browns, greens and black. The current boho movement is copying 70′s style shoes today. Chunky platform sandals are everywhere this year.

Retro Sandals for Today’s Woman

For the retro loving gal heading into summer it is imperative that you find a pair of sandals to wear. As I found out on my recent shopping trip retro style sandals are easy to find. Here is what I bought:

New Mid Century Kork Ease “Myrna” Sandals. Love the moderate wedge heel and classic retro styling. They are incredibly comfortable too. Kork Ease started in 1953 and haven’t change styles too much since. These are classics!

Ugg Delmar Sandals: 1940′s style espadrille shoes. LOVE these sandals. I couldn’t decide on the color but ultimate went with blue over the black or cream.

Both sandals were moderate heel wedges (which I can walk in without falling over) and between the white and my favorite color blue they go with any retro or modern outfit in my closet : )

Here are many more retro style sandals for sale now. Even more are coming as spring and summer lines keep rolling out: (Best viewed in a web browser)

More shoes and sandals by decade too: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Debbie @ VintageDancer.com

Retro Sandals: Vintage and New Style Shoes