1930s SEALSKIN shoes

[Marc Chevalier]

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Forgot to put these in the "Chevalier's Latest Vintage Finds" thread, so here goes.


This is a never-worn pair of 1930s wingtip dress shoes made of sealskin. Pretty rare ...

 

[jamespowers]

Do they come in my size? I'll take three pairs.

Regards,

J

 

[Marc Chevalier]

They're a size 8, and I'm stretching the heck out of them. (I wear an 8 1/2 to 9).

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[jamespowers]

They're a size 8, and I'm stretching the heck out of them. (I wear an 8 1/2 to 9).

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I hear the seal barking.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

If they don't end up stretching enough, my dogs will be barking too.

.

 

[jamespowers]

If they don't end up stretching enough, my dogs will be barking too.

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You can always bind your feet. [huh]

 

[Quigley Brown]

Seal skin seems somewhat tacky to me.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Seal skin seems somewhat tacky to me.

I agree, and things got even worse in the '60s. Suddenly, clunky 'organization man' brogues and loafers made of elephant skin and just about any other thick, tough, 'exotic' leather were in fashion. Looked awful, too. An example: http://cgi.ebay.com/Authentic-Johns...7QQihZ003QQcategoryZ48862QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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[Hemingway Jones]

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I'm not going to cry over anything killed 70 years ago in a different world, and would have been dead by now anyway. Those are beautiful shoes and an amazing find.

It would be tough for me to wear them, since they are so perfect after so many years.

Enjoy them, Marc.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Enjoy them, Marc.

Thanks, I will! Even so, I do respect Quigley Brown's opinion, as always.

.

 

[Quigley Brown]

I'm not going to cry over anything killed 70 years ago in a different world, and would have been dead by now anyway. Those are beautiful shoes and an amazing find. Enjoy them, Marc.

I'm not crying over the dead seals...that were most likely harpooned and dying a slow, agonizing death. I meant 'tacky'...as in lacking style or good taste. Just my opinion.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I'm not crying over the dead seals...that were most likely harpooned and dying a slow, agonizing death. I meant 'tacky'...as in lacking style or good taste. Just my opinion.

Point taken, but I would have understood your opinion more for the former rather than the latter.

For the record, I said what I said more as a prophylactic against this turning into a debate of the relative merits of wearing animal skins of creatures culled ages ago; and in that sense, my remark was more inspired by what you said rather than meant as a reply to it.

Personally, I like the shoes and the texture of the material. I am also amazed at how Marc comes up with this stuff.

 

[BellyTank]

Denis Leary would just love 'em.

B
T

 

[Orgetorix]

So ugly they're beautiful.

 

[Fletch]

My guess is the sealskin fad (or attempted fad; were they ever popular?) was based on 2 things:

1) It was the 30s.
2) It was cheap.

No?

I could see these just barely as brogans, but as a town last dressy shoe you can't even shine? Must have been meant for the collegiate set...

 

[cookie]

Seal Skin

Mark I agree with the above that they are so ugly that they are beautiful.
But are they ugly?

I swear of all the pix posted of shoes soles on the FL I have never seen such intricate and beautiful designs on a sole.

Is it because the tops are so frightening?? Just kidding!

Has anyone seen such a pretty sole before?

 

[The Shooman]

l'm not too keen about the frosty looking leather, but i'd still be more than happy to wear Sealskin occasionally. lt's exciting to have shoos in many different leathers.

Here is an Edward Green bespoke shoo made from Bullfrog leather.

 

[Quigley Brown]

I just don't see the attraction in those. They look like they're suffering from second-degree burns.

 

[Fletch]

How many bullfrogs have to go into one shoe?

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Maybe it's an inner-city thing but I like the look of a man's textured shoe.