1934 Article: Shoe Industry

[Marc Chevalier]

.

Because you can never get enough of a good thing, here's another fun article from the advance Fall 1934 issue of Apparel Arts. A nice little survey of the making, selling and buying of men's shoes. Read on ...

 

[Dinerman]

Are those pumps with the ribbon mens shoes?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Yes. They're called "opera pumps," and they're still made. Meant to be worn with white tie and tails, though most American men (even back in the '30s) preferred patent leather lace-up oxfords.

.

 

[Fletch]

Interesting - the wingtip (which I guess had no such name yet) was the more "off hours" shoe then, the captoe more for business. Now the captoe is considered more versatile - captoe or plain brogues certainly outnumber wingtip brogues.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Interesting, too, that the so-called conservative business shoe is described as having a spade sole. Today, that's considered more appropriate for cowboy boots than for dress shoes.

.

 

[Fletch]

I'm thinking you mean the pronounced "nipping in" of the sole thru the arch area? And the consequent flaring out at the ball?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'm thinking you mean the pronounced "nipping in" of the sole thru the arch area? And the consequent flaring out at the ball?

A picture's worth a thousand words:

 

[Fletch]

Ai yi YI! You could cut bread with that thing!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

More:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Look at a pair of fancy cowboy boots, and you'll see a very similar sole.


.

 

[manton]

In those days, shoe salesmen actually used to x-ray your feet to check the fit. Sometime in the '50s, the government banned that.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Bump for newer Loungers.

 

[Orgetorix]

Interesting that the salesman would actually put a starter crease in the shoes for you with a "bone or buttonhook" before you left the store.

 

[filfoster]

Break in

Interesting that the salesman would actually put a starter crease in the shoes for you with a "bone or buttonhook" before you left the store.

Now that's service.

 

[cookie]

The process described above reminds me of when my Mum used to take me in the late 50s and 60s to see "Mr Green" at David Jones. He would - with great precision - ensure my (baby/juvenile) feet were shod in the appropriate way so avoiding any bad feet issues in later life.

You can still get women at David Jones who do this - but I suspect that this will go the way of the rest of shoe service when Gen X gets to do the job.

Ai yi YI! You could cut bread with that thing!

One wit on Styleforum suggested I could shovel sh** in Arkansas with them! How unkind...Johnny Depp would resemble that remark.

2x pairs of Stetson Philly Spades and a more demure pair by French Shriner & Urner plus some Edwin Clapps


ppspadecaptoebl.jpg/]

[/URL]

I love the reference on leather to the fact that they have kangaroos in New Zealand...first I've heard....