I get asked a lot about where to find vintage-styles shoes when you’re on a budget. Believe me, I can sympathize with this plight! Although I love and adore reproduction brands like Remix (Aris Allen is another, though those are dance shoes and soled accordingly), they rarely fit into my shoe budget. So I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to unearth pieces that look vintage, but aren’t expensive. Note: this is not a post about specifically where you can find shoes that fit the vintage aesthetic, but rather on training your eye to find vintage-compatible footwear.

I say this to everyone who has ever asked me about “how do I find [insert garment here] that looks vintage?”: educate your eye. Even if you shop at a “vintage” themed store, you need to understand trends, silhouettes, popular styles of the era you’re looking to emulate. For me, this has involved lots of reading over the years as well as looking at fashion plates, vintage magazines and photographs of people sporting everyday fashions. I have a fairly good handle, if I do say so, of silhouette variations from the 1910s through the late 60s, as well as construction details that are appropriate to the era. It’s all because I studied. Boring (not really), but will save you a lot of time and money in the long run if you’re serious about integrating a vintage look into your daily wardrobe.

Once you have the silhouette down (for in the case shoes), it’s going to take some sleuthing on your part. Until there is a manufacturer that produces lower-priced vintage reproduction shoes (though I do like the quality of the high-end ones; they last for years), you’ll have to learn to pounce when you see something. Right now there is a heavy 70s influence in the fashion footwear world, and the 70s saw a revival of the 40s platform. So knowing this, you can keep an eye out for 70s-does-40s style platforms (I’ve seen more than a few that would skew to either decade). The 60s is also experiencing a continued comeback, and kitten heel shoes are showing back up in the stores (but didn’t we just do this trend at the beginning of the last decade???). Sweet, pointed toe pumps with dimunitive heels have been popular. So another trend to jump on if the early 60s look is your thing. For the 50s, the classic pump with a round or almond toe, moderate heel (both in height and width) and leather never goes out of style. A stiletto also works for later 50s looks, although be mindful of the heel height and whether there is a platform under the toe area; a super high heel and chunky platform are wrong for the 50s.

  

examples of vintage-inspired outfits paired with modern footwear.

Realize I’m saying all this from an authenticity standpoint. Don’t feel like you have to have your shoes perfectly matched to the era of your outfit? Great (me too)!!! In which case your options open up quite a bit. While I wouldn’t advocate pairing a super-modern, studded wedge bootie with your chiffon 20s dress, I find that contemporary shoes with a more femenine flair work beautifully with vintage styles. I love shoes from all eras, and especially have a weakness for modern platforms, so knowing how to choose classic, feminine styles has proved useful when blending my footwear with my closet.

If, in case you’re wondering what some of my favorite places or brands for vintage-inspired (or vintage-compatible) footwear, here’s a few to keep an eye out for. Not all are completely “budget priced”, but keeping an eye out for sales or hunting your local department store discount shop is worth it! Many are “trend” brands as well, so it’s worth noting what “vintage trend” is in each season and hunting accordingly. (Please note I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies or totally advocate the quality–they’re just ones I’ve found as good options for me.)

• Forever 21
• Seychelles
• Madden Girl
• Modcloth
• DSW

I’d love to know: what is your favorite budget-friendly shoe brand?

Although I have spent most of my daydreaming-brain-power lately geeking out over 1940s sportswear and causal looks—especially anything that has to do with saddle shoes (since mine have been put away since the start of summer)—I decided today would be a great change of pace to go back a little further in fashion history. September 1920, to be exact. Realizing I had meant to scan these earlier in the month and didn’t, I knew I needed to share them while it was still September (because I like doing things like that!). So here’s what fashions were up and coming this month as presented to the average American woman, 91 years ago.

I really adore fashions from this early 20s period (I think I may have said this before?), because it’s a delightful (and sometimes whimsical) blending of the Edwardian period and the more modern look that would define the 1920s. I’m not a huge fan of the mid to late 1920s when fashions became more “deco” (shorter and more boxy too), but these I could stare at endlessly and lap up all the inspiring little details! (Not to mention the hats… Oh! The hats!)

The evening waist and skirt ensemble (yes, separates!) is so elegant–and would be just as at-home in 2011, don’t you think? I also love the high-button collars–vestiges of the 1910s!

I love the scrollwork, embroidery and topstitching on several of these garments. Great embellishment that the home seamstress can easily replicate. I am especially smitten with some of the hats…

Lots of pleats and tucks used in interesting ways on this page. I especially like the dress with the pleated ruffle ’round the hem. Also an interesting mixture of collar and neckline styles.

So many interesting details! The overskirt/peplum-like pieces on several of the garments are quite lovely. I really adore the sports coat (#9354)–this style would fit well within just about anyone’s closet, I think!

More dramatic hats (check out the oversized tam!) and beautiful day ensembles. Note the subtle waist definition, even though the silhouette is far more straight than in previous years.

I hope you were able to be inspired a tiny bit in the midst of your busy Monday!

I thought today I’d veer off the usual Monday-scans-path a bit and instead talk about one of my other favorite sources of style inspiration: classic film stars. During our trip back from Virginia, we made a quick stop at the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, NC. I’d been dying to stop there for ages, and was delighted that we were able to this time. The museum is very small, but well done, and had quite a nice collection of Ava memorabilia, clothes, personal possessions and photos on display. I’m kicking myself for not asking if photos were allowed inside the museum–but I was a little starstruck! After seeing so many images of Ava in the museum I was inspired to do this post since she had a really fantastic sense of style (and was utterly gorgeous). There is a mix of studio portraits, film stills and candids in this post–hope you enjoy!

l: cute summertime style with printed shorts! | r: this dress was on display at the museum–it’s a breathtaking coral-orange silk.

l: I love the pouch hanging from her belt. | r: those cat-eye sunglasses are so glamorous!

l: a beautiful neckline on an evening dress; I like the simple choker-ribbon necklace as well. | r: another beautiful, dramatic evening gown.

l: look closely at the dress–the print has nautical motifs and mermaids! | r: a simple, casual look.

l: every girl needs a fuzzy sweater, imho (still on the hunt for the perfect one!).
| r: a cute, sporting outfit! got a pair of saddle shoes for Christmas and have been saving up all kinds of outfit inspiration around those shoes…

l: a dramatic neckline with an equally dramatic neckline–beautiful! | r: I love the stylized scallops on the skirt–such a neat embellishment idea.

l: am determined to copy this outfit once the weather warms up! | r: another cute, casual look: rolled slacks and an argyle sweater with flat shoes.

l: sweaters and full skirts have become my standby this winter–I adore the look! | r: a polka dot blouse and a jauntily-printed hat!

doesn’t every girl need a gingham dress for the summer and lounging in?

I’ll be back a bit later today with a post about the sew-along!

Another swimsuit post for your enjoyment (or frustration, if you’re like me–and wished all swimwear was as glamorous nowadays!). One comment that kept popping up after the last post (here’s posts #1 and #2 too), was the fact that many of you found these images refreshing because the gals looked feminine and curvy. I think after several decades of mass fashion feeding us the idea that only certain types of figures are acceptable in a swimsuit, we’ve forgotten how glamorous a woman can look in a suit that flatters the female form. I’ll take a nipped in waist and 40s-esque sweetheart neckline any day over a string bikini! Just looking at these pictures makes me feel a lot less terrified of wearing a swimsuit–although none of mine currently are even close to being as fantastic as these are!

If you haven’t had enough of my swimsuit spam posts, I think I have one more in the works… lol. Then maybe I’ll have finally spent enough time looking and actually start making my own! (Sailor Husband has even offered to make sure I actually act on all the talk!)

[ last but not least the glamorous Miss Ginger. I adore her sunglasses! ]

I still haven’t gotten around to starting on my own, vintage inspired swimsuit, mostly because I haven’t totally made up my mind about the style I want to go with! (Plus, somehow June is slipping away from me and I’ve literally had no time to sew! I’m suffering from withdrawal!) I think I’m 90% sure I want to do a 40s style two piece (it’s just easier with my long torso), but there have been some maillots that are calling my name! lol. So while I continue to waffle (how typical of me!), I thought I’d round up some more inspiration, this time featuring photos of classic film stars sporting their beach wear best! (You can catch up on post #1 and #2 if you missed them.) Today I’m focusing soley on two piece ensembles, and next time it’ll be all maillots. Enjoy!

Of course Ava and Marilyn get their own collages, because not only were they gorgeous gals, but I have a ton of swimsuit pictures of them both!