A Vintage Sole

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

Aside from Re-Mix Vintage Shoes‘ retail location, I was not aware of a retailer specializing in dead stock shoes – until now. I happened upon A Vintage Sole and was delighted to find an entire website devoted to dead stock shoes from many eras, including the swing era. I was immediately awash with questions of “how…?” “where…?” “what..??!” Just amazing.

This site is also a haven for irregular widths – it is apparent that the buyer found whole sets of stock for a certain shoe, sometimes in multiple colors, and almost always in multiple widths. You can search their inventory by size, width, and color. The only criteria missing would be decade. 🙂

So, back to my questions – thankfully, there’s FAQ page to satiate my curiosity:

Where do you buy your shoes? We find people with vintage shoes to sell. If they are in mint condition, we’re interested. We’re pretty open-minded when it comes to our sources. Keep in mind that all of our shoes are still in the box and have never been worn.”

The owner, Libby, sounds like a kindred spirit – “A Vintage Sole began with a love of shoes. From there it grew into a bit of an obsession. I searched high and low for authentic vintage shoes. One pair became two. Two pairs became four. Four pairs became eight until I had so many shoes I had to pass them on to you…Growing up in the Midwest, I also loved the thrill of spending weekends driving around the many small towns filled with antique shops hiding vintage gems. Have you ever been to a garage sale, second-hand store, or antique shop and found something that was so amazing you had to get it even though it wasn’t quite right for you? When you picked it up you thought, “My friend would love this!” That’s how I feel. I know you’ll love what I’ve found for you. Who wouldn’t love an authentic pair of gorgeous, vintage shoes? The shoes I sell have never been worn! It’s time they had their moment in the spotlight because they are too beautiful to stay boxed up forever. a Vintage Sole offers footwear in limited quantities that enables your shoes to be as unique as you are. We celebrate individuality and flair. Love for great shoes is a passion to share. From me and the rest of the staff of a Vintage Sole, we hope you truly enjoy your shoes!

There’s also a standing 15% discount if you elect to donate 10% of your order to the P.E.O Educational Loan Fund or Interlochen Arts Academy Scholarship Fund – you save money and help A Vintage Sole make a difference.

Now for the shoes! Here are some favorites from A Vintage Sole:

Princess – 1930’s heel, looks narrow but some sizes have regular and slightly wide widths!
Licorice Whip – mid-1940’s shoe
Narcissus – late 40’s shoe, also available in black and white combo
Irene – early 40’s shoe, also available in black
Beatrice – black suede early 40’s shoe
Joyce – mid-40’s shoe
Mimi – late 30’s heels, also available in brown
Missie – early 40’s shoe, also available in black
Jacqueline – early 40’s shoe
Dot – late 30’s heel

Son-of-an-ironworker on eBay

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

EBay seller son-of-an-ironworker popped up in one of my searches for vintage ties. To my delight, I found not only a clever collection of vintage bow ties, but also some other great accessories, like 1940’s/50’s patterned socks, deadstock socks, and a 1930’s Planter’s Peanuts necktie. Check it out…

Flowers, but not too girly
Pink, but not too girly, eh?
I always thought the peanut guy was classy...
Lindale socks in their original packaging - as seen in LIFE magazine!
Blue Lindale socks with chevrons
Plaid S-T-R-E-T-C-H Socks

1920’s Black Cloche

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

This 1920’s cloche is remarkable in many ways. The hat is unworn and it is truly rare to find 1920’s deadstock items. But even greater is the styling on this hat – it not only has that wonderful cloche shape, but the details on this hat, like the seaming that is a nod to Art Deco, the baubles on the side, and the mix of materials and textures make this more than just a hat, but also a subtly elegant and eclectic fashion statement.