Mary Janes: Not Your Childhood Shoe

When you were a little girl if your mom was anything like mine, she tended to dress you in Mary Janes because she obsessed over how adorable you looked in them.   You on the other hand (if you were a tomboy like me) passionately disagreed.  They were uncomfortable, shiny and an accessory when brought out reminded you that with them would come a frilly dress or some ghastly floral patterned top and skirt.  Oh yeah, leggings too. And not cute leggings like kids where now-a-days, but those uncomfortable sock leggings that were made out of god knows what fabric and made you itch like hell.  I squirm when I think about it now.  I think Easter was probably the worst.  On top of the leggings, shoes and the ghastly dresses came the gloves.  White gloves may I add.  And a dinky, wide brimmed straw hat with a pink ribbon tied around it.  I unfortunately have pictures to prove it and when I see them I always ask my mom, “What were you thinking?!” To which she would reply, “What? I thought you looked so cute!” ::Cringe::

But, now as I am getting older and have started to appreciate fashion, I am finding that I am re-attracted to the shoe that I disdained so much as a child.  Sure, they are not the low heeled, patent leather abominations of my day, but the Mary Jane style is still the same.  Low cut front and a strap secured tightly around your ankle or around the lower half of your foot. Sometimes a T-strap follows behind.  Fairly basic style that can be easily manipulated into your shoe of choice; platform, heel or wedge.  Sure there are still bonafide Mary Janes out there, but when I say Mary Jane I am using using the term very loosely.  When I am looking for these I am searching for a pair of taps that fit the basic terms of the MJ, but still have their own special flair.  Check out some of these vintage MJ’s I discovered:

Check out these FABULOUS Mary Janes!
Cricket Capers	FabGabs	Salvage Life
Vintage 80s Suede Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Vintage 1980’s brown suede mankiller goth mary jane / pilgrim heels. Round toe shoes lead to a high pilgrim “T” style strap with a side buckle and finished with a shapely stacked 4″ heel.	Vintage 60s “Monkey Girl” Janes What the Seller Says: These cute, chunky heels made me want to put on a barely there mini dress and wild tights – they’re so funky and fun! Made by Sweet Steps, I love everything about them, from the carmelized color to the t-strap, and fun high heels. I think you will, too! These shoes are in very good condition. They have been worn, but remain in great shape with no issues I can find to note.	Vintage 70s Peep Toe Janes What the Seller Says: 1970’s beige leather peep toe heels with teardrop cut outs adorning the toes. Stacked heel and ankle strap. Excellent vintage, there are a lot of small scuffs and marks and the straps are a little brittle. Still very wearable.
LuckyVintage Seattle	IrisVintage Boutique	Pineapple Mint
Vintage 70s Caramel Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Vintage 1970s browned butter leather mary janes with chunky curved wood heels. round toe with raised top stitch detail, ankle strap with copper tone buckle. Chocolate brown stacked wood heel. Very good condition – they have some normal scuffing to the leather from wear and some dark smudges on the inside of one heel. not too noticeable when worn, but definitely not perfect. we LOVE them anyway!	Vintage Peep Toe Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Bright red Mary Jane style heels with a peep toe style front with cut out design. So beautiful! The heel is approximately 1/2” thick and there is a buckle to adjust the size of the strap in front. Shoe appears to be made of a leather or leather-like upper and suede in front (there is no material tag). They are in ggreat vintage condition with some small scuffs on the back heel	Vintage 80’s Two-Tone Mary Janes What the Seller Says: 1980s mary janes pumps with a 1920s/30s style. Grey and cream leather uppers. Leather soles.The maker is Anne Klein. Leather insoles and lining. Overall excellent condition. Light wear on the soles. A few tiny scuffs on the heels.
TheLovedOne	Thrush	LisaZain
Vintage Leather Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Beautiful brown leather peeptoe heels! Gold tone leather trim. Low cut peep toe at toes. Ankle strap with side buckle	Vintage 40s Suede Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Stunning vintage 1940’s rich black suede platform pinup pumps with a very tall heel and platform fronts. Buckled strap at the heel for the perfect fit. Peeptoe, slingback shape and cutouts at the toe. Excellent Condition!	Vintage Wooden “Mary Janes” What the Seller Says: blood red leather strappy platform sandals with criss cross straps over the foot, delicate ankle strap with gold toned buckle and gorgeous curved platform wood soles. foam rubber bottoms with a plastic heel tap. shoes are in good vintage condition. some wear, no flaws to report.

A Vintage “Feet”

Now, I know I’ve been on the hunt for some serious vintage beach wear and that I have found everything from bathing suits to sunglasses to coverups, but as I was scrolling through my Etsy shops, it dawned on me that I left out one very important element.  THE SHOE!  I mean hello!, your feet can be just as fashionable and fabulous as the rest of you!  Really, they are one of the most important of all accessories and can make or break an outfit, so its essential to pay careful attention that what you put on those adorable wiggly toes reflects who you are as a person.  And my FAVORITE thing about shoes is that you can have so much fun with them. You could be wearing a basic, no fluff outfit and POP!, with a bright colored shoe it could change it around in a second!

So, this in mind I went on Etsy and checked out one of my go-to stores for amazing footwear, Santoki Vintage.  This Austin based store is prime picking when it comes to handpicked vintage shoes! Carrying some of the best vintage footwear from sandals to boots I’ve seen, this store has became a fast favorite of mine.  And what’s best is that they are constantly adding new items all the time and for someone like me who is always on the lookout that is definitely a plus.  They also carry some superb vintage clothing which may not come in such an abundance as their footwear, but nonetheless still are noteworthy.  For example, check out this sick leather aviator jacket at Santoki. I am absolutely OBSESSED with it! Such beautiful color and the condition is outstanding!  Speaking of condition, let me get back to the footwear before I get to carried away!  Santoki’s taste in vintage shoes is flawless without a doubt, but the condition of the shoes is what really makes then stand out.  Providing you with pictures of every angle, Santoki invites its customer to ease their minds. By not holding anything back and revealing a visual truth about their product,  your can be assured that what you see is what you get.  Makes you feel a little warm and cuddly on the inside doesn’t it!? So, without any further adieu, behold some AMAZING Vintage sandals and flats that will be sure to not only make a statement no matter how worn, but will make you feel even more special and unique than you already are!

I love the pattern on these sandals! Intertwining salmon, green, purple, yellow leathers make for a chameleon pair of awesome vintage that would look stylish with anything that you have in your wardrobe.  With their low heel and their near perfect condition, my bet is that these are super comfy! Happy and fashionable feet; what could be better? $33 at Santoki.

I think my favorite part of these pair of vintage leather sandals are the cute buckles on the side!  Knowing me, I would probably never even adjust them for fear that I would mess up the “look” of the shoe! Yeah, that’s right, I’d flop around and let my shoes say “Hi!” to ya every chance they got!  In great condition, these low heeled, geometric sandals are only $42 at Santoki.

I haven’t seen a pair of vintage sandals like these in a while!  I mean they have a basic shape, but I love the way the two leather strands stretch over the top of the sandal connecting back to front.  For one, it’s nice to know they won’t flip off your feet!  Two, it dresses up the sandal a bit more so you can not only wear them to the beach, but even out to a nice dinner with that surfer boyfriend of yours! In excellent condition, these multicolored braided leather sandals would be a great addition to your wardrobe for only $35 at Santoki.

Ok, so my FAVORITE color is PURPLE!! So, you can imagine my excitement when I happened to cross paths with these babies! In fabulous condition, these vintage leather purple sandals are to die for and are perhaps my favorite of the whole bunch! So, I’m biased! Who isn’t when it comes to their color!  And besides the obvious reason for my adorement, check out the rest of the pics of these sandals and you will discover a little surprise when you turn them over! $33 on Santoki.

I’m trading in my sexy slingbacks for another pair of slings! These canvas “slingbacks” are certainly a more comfortable alternative to everyday living! A colorful striped canvas, I can’t say that they would totally match with everything, but hey, when you love something so much, does it really matter? I think not! Besides, if you love “beach fashion” and live in tees and shorts, I think you’ll get by just fine! $19 at Santoki.

Sand and Sun

I have made it abundantly clear that I am ready for summer! With posting about vintage swimwear and sweet shades, to tweeting all my vintage bathing suit finds, I think it was only inevitable that I made an OFFICIAL blog post featuring a vintage swim outfit!  And I have to say that I had such a fun time finding the perfect items to mash together and I think it came out well!  So I don’t kill your growing excitement with to many words, here you go!

How PERFECT is this VINTAGE, yes VINTAGE 60’s Yellow Gingham Bikini? With an adorable shape and style, have you ever seen such an unique bikini?  Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but I sure haven’t!  How adorable is the halter top with the dainty white bow!  I absolutely LOVE the yellow and white gingham print and the featured ruffle on the boy short!  It’s cute and a bit provocative at the same time,  shouting out, “Don’t be fooled by the shorts boys, I’m a sexy lioness!”  And it may have been your mother’s once upon a time, but I doubt she wore  it with as much pizazz as you now can.  Selling on Etsy at OldAge’s Shop for $65. Get it quick!

Gorgeous. Delicate. Ethereal.  These would be the words that I would choose to describe this heavenly Velvet Silk Fringe Kimono. I adore its antique sea green color, its sparkling sequins, and perhaps my favorite…its FRINGE! Nothing says boho like fringe!! And what I love about this fringe is that it is in pristine condition; un-tattered and light. A perfect cover up or perhaps even a belted mini dress, either way this kimono is a win/win purchase.  Selling on Etsy at GirlOnAVine for $189.

Adorable Green Leather Wedge Sandals on Etsy at AnabelVintage.  These never worn vintage 70’s/80’s sandals are perfect for those summer day dresses or for those ladies who like to dress up their swim wear! Made out of a smooth leather, these French made shoes run roughly at a size 7 and according to their seller, are super comfy and give a great shape to the leg!  And lets get serious, that is a good part of why women buy heels and wedges! I know it is for me!  A steal for only $18!

How much fun is this Vintage 70’s Boho Floppy Hat?! It just makes me smile! It’s always fun to put on a big floppy hat and walk around like you’re some fabulous movie star hiding from the paparazzi.  Or to use it to cool yourself from the hot summer sun as you tan yourself on a white sanded beach; preferably with a Mojito or some other island drink dripping wet in your hand.  Hmmm.  Not to mention that they are an amazing accessory and can make any outfit! The things hats do to you! Pick this extra floppy one up on Etsy at VintageTrunkShow for $24!

Nothing says summer like a good Beach Towel! Made completely out of special pure cotton peshtemals from Turkey, this green and white fringe towel screams, “Fall asleep on me while you sun bathe!” I can just imagine how comfy this delicate cotton is and how amazing and luxurious it will feel wrapped around the body. Some good info. to know about this towel: It is lightweight, easy to carry, absorbent, has lasting quality, colors don’t run, and is made of all natural materials. No more just settling on any old beach towel for your vacation! Only $20 on Etsy at 1001Days.

If you love vintage as much as I do, then you need to check out OldAge’s Shop on Etsy asap!  With fine vintage picks, you’ll be sure to find a treasure! Just scrolling through what this seller has to offer, lets me know that she is very critical and definite about her choosing, as all her vintage appears to be in tip top shape and seems to follow a code.  That code being that the vintage she chooses from each era be not only top quality, but that none in her shop be picked merely to have something sell. Meaning, as best as I can put it, OldAge , as I see it, only sells vintage that they would indeed wear.  I’m sure that most shops are the same way, but when scrolling through OldAge, I get the sense that the vintage is personal and dear; each one has a story and not one is less important or unique than the next.  It’s a feeling that is hard to explain, but in my opinion, when you shop at OldAge, you shop at the pinnacle of each era’s  fashion. Happy hunting.

Perhaps the best part of GirlOnAVine, are its Kimonos! Devine!  Sure, they also carry some other vintage not related to a cardigan or coverup, but I have to say that I have never seen such amazing vintage kimonos. All of them are equally beautiful, unique, and delicate as the next.  The taste of the shop owner, like OldAge, is flawless and just scanning through what her store has to offer lets you know who she is.  A free spirit; a person who thinks for herself; a non-conformist.  You can see what she represents through the vintage she so carefully chooses and, likewise, what girl her pieces attract.  The strong minded, strong willed, and unafraid.  A passionate soul with an open heart.  A “hippie” by nature.  To purchase a piece from this shop would be a lifetime gift to yourself.  What more could you ask for?

AnabelVintage is your around the block Parisian Vintage Store! Sure, it’s based on the WWW on Etsy, but it’s seller comes from that lovely country of France.  I love France! Really, I just love Europe!  And this lucky Parisian is a lover of my other favorite thing, Vintage!  Dedicated to recycling fashion and making the world more eco-friendly, this vintage seller collects clothes from some designers like Courrèges, Cacharel, (and) Versace. Holding firm to the fact that Vintage can always be fashionable and in style, she is dedicated to providing her customers with unblemished and out of the box wearable clothing.  All of her vintage is washed or dry cleaned, shoes scrubbed squeaky clean, and seams mended if necessary.  A true lover of vintage, you can rest assure that your purchases are handled with the utmost care and respect and that you shall receive a piece as truly unique as yourself.

VintageTrunkShow is a store lathered in vintage love and dedication! Its shop owner, a vintage enthusiast, has been wearing vintage since before she can remember. As she describes herself, “I have always had an eclectic sense of style and I love mixing old pieces with new. You’ll never catch me in an outfit that doesn’t incorporate some piece of vintage fabulousness.” You know I love that! And what makes this individual a true enthusiast, her hunting skills! Yes, hunting! As men get dirty hunting for game, this little lady gets dirty hunting for vintage garb.  Scouring flea markets, antique stores, and estate sales, fearless of the barterers that she surely encounters, she plunges for treasures! You never know what she’s going to find! Bookmark her or save her to your Etsy store list so you don’t miss out!

So, 1001Days may not be a vintage shop, but it is a shop that HANDMAKES it products with natural materials. So, like vintage, it is Eco-friendly!  This 3rd Generation shop’s linens and towels are multi-purpose and are made of only the highest quality cottons.  The best part about them is that they reported last a lifetime, which is perhaps the most frustrating thing about purchasing most linens and towels; that they usually don’t!  So, if you’re going to spend the money on buying your matching set of towels, check out this store first so at least your money won’t be made to go to waste!

Time to Spring!

It’s snowing outside and all I can think about is Spring!  Yes, Spring! Spring and its dandelions, its warm breezy days, and its…Spring Dresses! And not just any spring dress, but a truly unique vintage dress!  I just love that aroma that radiates from an aged dress, almost as if it was pressed inside of an old library book and left to ripen;  blending perfectly with natures smells and that warm feeling that immediately overtakes you as you take that first step into a sunny Spring day. So, as per the usual, I have searched to find the perfect dress for that occasion. The result: BrownBagVintage, a cute Etsy shop that offers its shoppers everything vintage from tops to accessories! Beginning its journey in Los Angeles, shop owner Michelle Delgado, has been an Etsy seller since 2008! Following her heart to Brooklyn, she currently resides in Brooklyn, where she  now conducts her business. When Michelle isn’t digging for her newest vintage finds, she is actually working for Etsy on their support team in Dumbo. And as she says, “…I’m very much looking forward to helping folks with all their thises and thats!”  Awesome!  Now, the hardest part about Delgado’s cute store, choosing just ONE  dress for my spring fantasy! But luckily I narrowed it down and found one in particular that I think that you will also fall in love with! Check it out!

White Dress: The winner of my Spring dress search! This sweet eyelet sundress is one of Etsy seller’s, Brownbagvintage, cutest! A fully lined cotton dress, this 1980’s spring dress is going for only $38 and is in excellent condition! Better be quick to scoop it up or else I will!

Other dresses I can’t resist from this seller:

Braided Belt: Courtesy of Ruche clothing, this braided belt is perfect for everything in your wardrobe! Wear it with your jeans or an oversized tee, you can wear it high and low! Going for only $14.99, where is the resistance?!

Tan Wedges: These adorable 1970’s wedges are a steal at $42! Featured on LaVintage, these wooden clompers are in superb condition with only minor scrapes! I am in love with the weaved look with the buckle closure! So cute!

Colorful Headbands: Who says headbands are not an essential accessory! They’re easy, fun, and serve a purpose in the prevention of flyaways! These 1980’s headbands are selling for only $4.99 on Modcloth and are in PERFECT condition seeing as they were found in a warehouse! Perfect for mix and matching!

Plastic Bangles: It must be fate that I found these while searching on Etsy! They match exactly with the headbands! Wear one or wear them all these lucite 1960’s bangles are selling for $19.99 on Etsy at AnnPrimRose!

Ruche Clothing: Check out my review of this shop on my post “Vintage Inspired”

LaVintage is a vintage lovers gem!  A true pearl!  It specializes in everything from clothing to accessories from the 1940′s to 1990′s! Constantly updated there are always great new Vintage pieces, all in mint condition!  A vintage paradise!

Modcloth was founded by high school sweethearts, Eric Koger and Susan Gregg Koger, and built on a foundation of love for vintage and retro clothing!  A great go to for anything you need, ModCloth provides vintage inspired clothing and accessories too.  But if you want to shop their vintage, you have to be quick about it and get it early in the day b/c it goes super fast!  It’s totally worth it if you catch it!

AnnPrimRose: I can’t say it better than the shop, so…”Ann Primrose has it’s roots at a place and time that were arguably the pinnacle of American jewelry making, New England in the 1960‘s and 70’s. Established in 2010, we specialize in buying out inventories of vintage jewelry and manufacturing close outs. In a time where most fashion jewelry is outsourced and when unique designs are hard to find, The Ann Primrose Collection is unmatched in quality. We provide authentic vintage jewelry that is a part of American history and culture including bangles, bracelets, brooches, earrings, necklaces, and jewelry supplies.”

Served With a Side of Glitter

As promised…for my rockers who like their outfit punctuated with a bit of jazz…

(Click on the pic and you will be linked to the page…Heart u!)

Badgley Mischka 'Olaf' Bootie

 

Sam Edelman 'Zoyla' Bootie

Poetic Licence 'Encoure' Bootie

Pedro Garcia 'Selena' Shoe

Pedro Garcia 'Emelyn' Pump

Madden Girl Rhiana Bootie

Giuseppe Zanotti