Finally scored a pair of amazing 1940s platforms!

[jitterbugdoll]

Finally, after several years of searching, bidding, and simply drawing the line at shoes running more than $200, I bought not one, but three pairs of killer 40s platforms, all for less than $100 a pair (actually, two of three pairs cost $50—that’s quite a rare feat!)

I’m still waiting on two pairs to arrive, but the first pair came in and fit perfectly. They were a bit scuffed, but after a good cleaning/polishing, they turned out quite delightful:

I found a lovely ‘Continental’ black pair:

And a delicious pair of navy slingbacks:

I’ve also got a fourth pair that turned out to be too narrow for me—they’re very nice and in great shape, so if anyone is interested in giving them a good home, please let me know!

Ah, shoes--an expensive obsession!

 

[Lauren]

CUTE!!!!

I want a pair too (vintage shoes are my new vintage obscession)! I have a lower heel one with a mini (like 1/2") platform in the front. I have a cute green reptile pair I have to put on my website, but alas, they are too small for even my foot

Congrats on the finds! They are adorable!

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Are you interested in my pair? They are about a 7-7.5 narrow (I wear a 7.5-8 medium.)They have a slight platform (1/2) and were very well cared for. The insoles are neat too--you can't see it in the photo, but they are embossed with a large, colorful peacock. Rather unique, I think!

You can never have too many shoes, in my opinion. I go through phases of clothing buying though--right now is a shoe phase, but I have had hat phases, dress phases, lingerie phases...you name it, and I've had it!

 

[Lauren]

Ah... I wish. I wear a 6.5 A (9.5") in vintage shoes it seems, so they may be a bit big for me. Thanks for the offer though. What's the asking price, if I may be so bold? I'll pass the word along...

 

[MissTayva]

Those are fantastic finds! Unfortunately, I have horrible luck finding shoes in my size (lately). If I do find shoes, they always seem to fall apart on me!
You got a great deal on those shoes, although it does seem the average eBay market price for vintage shoes (particularly 1940s-era shoes) have dropped quite dramatically... which is a good thing! It used to sicken me, there were a few collectors who would literally drop $1000+ for a pair of platforms. It was almost impossible to bid and win on anything nice because it was highly unlikely that you would outbid those stingy jerks, haha...

Have you received those shoes yet? Exactly how narrow do they measure?

Speaking of shoes falling apart... I have a lovely pair of heels that are becoming rather dry and brittle feeling. I am crossing my fingers that they stay in tact-- they match several of my outfits, not to mention they are rather unusual looking. Best of all, they only cost me $2!
Is there any sort of product I can use to restore moisture/suppleness to my shoes?

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Since you live in Arizona, I highly suggest you visit my favorite shoe repair shop. The owner does excellent work, and I always send my vintage shoes to him (he highly enjoys seeing them and loves to talk about how much better quality they are than modern shoes!) He is very upfront and tells me when something can't be repaired, or at least can't be fixed neatly. I actually sent him the white pair, and they came back looking brand new. For $7 he added new heel taps, cleaned, polished and whitened them, and painted the heels (they were covered with a white laminate that had chipped slightly.) If you are interested, I'll look up his number for you.

The shoes were pretty narrow--more so than the measurements indicated! Luckily, I was able to exchange them at my favorite vintage shop. I traded them in for a lovely, early-40s green skirt and a killer late 40s party dress (knee length, princess-seamed dress with double spaghetti straps and shirred bustline *with* a matching bolero jacket. It’s made from cafe au lait faille studded pearls and rhinestones on the neckline and jacket collar.)

Price wise, I still find that 1940s platforms sell for $200-300 a pair. I can't justify spending even *that* much on a pair of shoes (maybe if I was rich, but I'm not at the moment!) There are also a couple of people that frequent eBay, snatching up platforms wherever then see them (one in particular has literally bought at *least* 50 pairs for no less than $300 a pair, if not much more. This one particular buyer upsets me very much--there's no need to hog the market just because you have an obsession/fetish (and I know he/she isn't wearing the shoes, because they are all different sizes! :rage: )

 

[ITG]

There are also a couple of people that frequent eBay, snatching up platforms wherever then see them (one in particular has literally bought at *least* 50 pairs for no less than $300 a pair, if not much more. This one particular buyer upsets me very much--there's no need to hog the market just because you have an obsession/fetish (and I know he/she isn't wearing the shoes, because they are all different sizes! :rage: )

Makes me wonder if they could be snatching them up for movie costumes. Hmmm. I know a vintage shop wouldn't pay that kinda money for a pair.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

That’s possible too, but there are people out there who collect shoes/clothing for decorations. For example, my favorite shop sold a pair of $200 platforms to a lady who wanted to display them. Another lady bought a perfectly wearable dress to display on a mannequin, and this kills me because the dress will fade over time and gradually be ruined!

 

[Lauren]

Agreed. Unless the shoes are WAY too small for the modern foot, they should be in a museam, used for educational purposes, or be worn (I hear refrains of the indiana jones theme).

But maybe I would change my tune if I had enough disposable income... I can hear my Victorians laughing in the back of my closet "But you never wear us!" Haha.

 

[MissTayva]

Since you live in Arizona, I highly suggest you visit my favorite shoe repair shop. The owner does excellent work, and I always send my vintage shoes to him (he highly enjoys seeing them and loves to talk about how much better quality they are than modern shoes!) He is very upfront and tells me when something can't be repaired, or at least can't be fixed neatly. I actually sent him the white pair, and they came back looking brand new. For $7 he added new heel taps, cleaned, polished and whitened them, and painted the heels (they were covered with a white laminate that had chipped slightly.) If you are interested, I'll look up his number for you.

The shoes were pretty narrow--more so than the measurements indicated! Luckily, I was able to exchange them at my favorite vintage shop. I traded them in for a lovely, early-40s green skirt and a killer late 40s party dress (knee length, princess-seamed dress with double spaghetti straps and shirred bustline *with* a matching bolero jacket. It’s made from cafe au lait faille studded pearls and rhinestones on the neckline and jacket collar.)

Price wise, I still find that 1940s platforms sell for $200-300 a pair. I can't justify spending even *that* much on a pair of shoes (maybe if I was rich, but I'm not at the moment!) There are also a couple of people that frequent eBay, snatching up platforms wherever then see them (one in particular has literally bought at *least* 50 pairs for no less than $300 a pair, if not much more. This one particular buyer upsets me very much--there's no need to hog the market just because you have an obsession/fetish (and I know he/she isn't wearing the shoes, because they are all different sizes! :rage:

...

That’s possible too, but there are people out there who collect shoes/clothing for decorations. For example, my favorite shop sold a pair of $200 platforms to a lady who wanted to display them. Another lady bought a perfectly wearable dress to display on a mannequin, and this kills me because the dress will fade over time and gradually be ruined!
)

YES, please get me that number! I really don't want these poor little shoes to go to waste! They've lasted me quite a while, and I probably won't find another pair like it... or at least a pair that will fit me!

Yeah, these collector people totally irk me. I know a girl in Phoenix who collects Shaheen Hawaiian dresses. She completely gets into bidding wars on eBay because she has to have a certain dress, regardless of whether or not it fits her. They hang in a closet! Probably collecting moth holes. As much as I treasure my vintage stuff, I do like to get use out of it. Not just hog it because I want it all for me and am stingy. If I had the $300+ to drop on a Shaheen, you bet I'd be parading around in that thing! Haha...

In regards to one of these individuals I mentioned who was scooping up these platforms for $1000+... word on 'the street' had it that this person was a collector/designer from some high-end company and was actually purchasing these shoes to reproduce them (coming from someone who sold some shoes to them). I find that kind of strange, though, because I haven't seen any repros that look anything close to these beauties.

I am excited, I will be in L.A. next week and we're making a stop over at ReMix. I can't wait to see what he has there! The last time I was there, he had a beautiful pair of purple suede/rhinestone plats, but unfortunately they were one size too small for me! They were a steal at $130... grrrr...

Oh, and for those of you into '40s heels, there are a ton of really nice ones on eBay right now! I was drooling over a few pairs. That and this pair of late '30s Baby doll heels... There are actually several pairs of those carved shoes from the Phillippines listed right now, as well... which sucks, because I am broke, and I collect those!

 

[jitterbugdoll]

MissTayva--here is the info:
Abril's Shoe Repair
602-242-4092
2533 W. Bethany Home Road (just off the I-17)

Tell him that Amanda, the "1940s girl", sent you!

 

[MissTayva]

Thanks, "Amanda" for that bit of info!

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I forgot to tell you that the owner's name is Albert.
I hope you are as pleased with his work as I have been!

I'd love to visit ReMix--I think it would send me straight to shoe heaven!

The gal who collects Shaheen dresses--what is her name? I may know her...

I do have a friend--a tiny, petite rockabilly girl--who has quite a few designer pieces. But she wears all of them! It's funny, she and I have very similar taste--I have passed up stuff that she has later bought, and vice versa!

Speaking of designer names, I scored a gorgeous, plum satin and brocade Kamehameha 1950s hostess set (cigarette pants and Chinese jacket) for $70 the other day! Even though it's technically a hostess/lounging set, I plan on wearing out--I doubt anyone will know the difference!

 

[MissTayva]

I forgot to tell you that the owner's name is Albert.
I hope you are as pleased with his work as I have been!

I'd love to visit ReMix--I think it would send me straight to shoe heaven!

The gal who collects Shaheen dresses--what is her name? I may know her...

I do have a friend--a tiny, petite rockabilly girl--who has quite a few designer pieces. But she wears all of them! It's funny, she and I have very similar taste--I have passed up stuff that she has later bought, and vice versa!

Speaking of designer names, I scored a gorgeous, plum satin and brocade Kamehameha 1950s hostess set (cigarette pants and Chinese jacket) for $70 the other day! Even though it's technically a hostess/lounging set, I plan on wearing out--I doubt anyone will know the difference!

ReMix is awesome! The nicest shoes there, however, always seem to be sizes 3-5... awful!

The girl who collects the Shaheens is named Melissa. She is a friend of mine and a Hawaiian-hoarding hag! Haha... actually, I think she has been selling them on eBay as of lately. She is having a a baby any day now and needs the money. She had a really beautiful one she let go a while back-- pink, black and silver atomic print skirt, black bodice with petal bust, and the petals folded down to reveal the atomic fabric. I wanted to bid so badly, but the previous owner had altered the dress and they had some seriously strange measurements (both the waist and bust were 32"!).

I definitely wear all of my designer threads. I actually prefer wearing them, as the quality definitely shows! Although there are some store brands (Sears Roebuck, Penneys Towncraft) that made some incredible looking stuff!

I had a hostess set that I used to wear all the time! I think they look very classy. Unfortunately, it was silk and started to fall apart. I really love anything from silk/rayon, but I always have horrible luck with deterioration... and lately, I haven't been able to come across another! It's not really on my priority list, though

 

[Lorena B]

Rockit originals have got a very nice styles too!