Vintage Workwear

[Metatron]

I think I have just the thing for you:

 

[David Conwill]

Anyone know how common it was to wear saddle shoes as workwear? I found a photograph of my great-grandfather (a plasterer) in his work clothes - cap and coveralls - and he's wearing saddle shoes! This was sometime in the 1940s or early 1950s. My thought was that a modern craftsman doing drywall or plaster work would probably wear tennis shoes, so it makes sense that his '40s or '50s equivalent might wear a sport shoe also.

Or, do you think he just switched footwear while taking a break? Seems unlikely, since I'd expect him to have also shed his coveralls.

I'll try to get the picture scanned and posted next time I'm back home.

 

[Will015]

David,
What color are your grandfathers overalls? I would assume the saddle shoes were worn because they are white and so was the plaster. This way he could get "mud" on his shoes and it wouldn't be that noticeable. It's the reason white tennis shoes are worn today by sheet-rockers/painters.

,Will "wear workwear for work"

 

[David Conwill]

In the photo (B&W), they appear medium-dark gray or perhaps green or blue. They don't read as a brown or tan to me.

 

[herringbonekid]

To me cord was always a clichee 70s teacher look...together with a plaid sportsjacket. But some cool pictures could change that pessimistic view. Haha

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

But it is earlier, isn't it? 1890-1910s?

 

[Mario]

Yes. Yes, I'm sure that did the trick. Floey will now be the most ardent cord worshipper for years to come.

 

[herringbonekid]

But it is earlier, isn't it? 1890-1910s?

yes, 1910-18. sorry Flo, best i could do for ya.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Haha. Nevermind. There are enough different fabrics for every taste, I guess.

I was just hoping for cool pictures of european workwear. I just know them from some Brassai pictures who may be my favourite photographer of all time.
Mysterious Mose just told me about Norbert Ghisoland who seems to be a belgian version of Disfarmer. I didn't get his books yet.

 

[Chasseur]

Anyone know how common it was to wear saddle shoes as workwear? I found a photograph of my great-grandfather (a plasterer) in his work clothes - cap and coveralls - and he's wearing saddle shoes! This was sometime in the 1940s or early 1950s. My thought was that a modern craftsman doing drywall or plaster work would probably wear tennis shoes, so it makes sense that his '40s or '50s equivalent might wear a sport shoe also.

They were originally sports/athetic shoes so I guess it would have been fairly common to see people wearing them in working setting. I've some similar old familly photos with my grandmother and great aunts wearing them for yard work, etc.

 

[Chasseur]

To me cord was always a clichee 70s teacher look...together with a plaid sportsjacket.

Hey some of us teachers resemble that remark today, cords and a tweed jacket... Though I normally do not wear cords in Hawaii, but I do look for excuses to wear the tweed...

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Ok. I think I found a picture myself. It's 1930. No text about the fabric though but it looks like corduroy (guy on the right at least)

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Does somebody know how to tell if flannell shirts are vintage? I found some in Berlin with a pullover style half buttoning. Very long at the bottom. No spearpoint collar or chinstrap though. I didn't buy em so they are still there...

 

[Mangrove]

Some Finnish workers shot by a German photographer during the mid-1930s. It seems that it was already quite popular back then to wear no shirt during the short Finnish summer!

 

[Dinerman]

For a full range of photos, see here.

 

[Fifty150]

I like that "no shirt" vintage look.

 

[Fifty150]

- and he's wearing saddle shoes!

Anyone who engages in labor, isn't dressing for fashion. Typically, you would need something that is functional for the job you're performing, and since laborers often weren't paid much, they would be forced to wear whatever they could get their hands on. It could be that he just couldn't afford to buy the Red Wings, Craftsman, or whatever brand of safety shoe was popular at the time. Maybe he got those shoes as a hand-me-down, or found them in a garage sale, and he just needed shoes to wear to work. I doubt that saddle shoes were what every plasterer wore in that day. I once saw a painter with bowling shoes. I didn't stop to ask him why.

 

[Deleted member 16736]

vintage workwear prices have gone absolutely nuts. i've pretty much given up hope of ever finding an affordable 1920s-30s shawl collar cardigan, an item which has become a bit of a holy grail for me.

A reproduction, but made by an original company using original equipment and original patterns. Available in navy, black, and gray.

www.dehen1920.com

 

[herringbonekid]

A reproduction, but made by an original company using original equipment and original patterns. Available in navy, black, and gray.

www.dehen1920.com

thanks Joel, those look good. i also found these by Brooklyn Circus, though they don't have any smaller sizes in stock:

http://thebkcircus.com/shop/category/catalog/page/5/

 

[Dinerman]

Good prices here, but I don't know what the quality is like. I feel like they have a good looking product if only they'd market it in a way that did it justice.
http://www.curlingsweaters.com/