SuAli Swing Shoes

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

The trend of swing dance-focused shoe companies continues and no one has their pulse on the dance shoes of now like dancer/instructor/organizer Jenna Applegarth – in my next installment of shoes Jenna has recommended to me and others in the Women’s Swing Dance Shoe Hunt! Facebook group, we have SuAli Swing Shoes based in Italy and owned by swing dancers.

You’ll have to pardon my complete ignorance of the Italian language – I’m using Google to translate the SuAli Swing Shoes website, but this is what I can tell from the rough transation (and really, we mostly need photos of these lovely shoes AMIRITE?):

Made in Italy
Leather upper and sole
There’s a fun photo gallery of people dancing in SuAli Swing Shoes
The shoes are named for famous swing dancers and one shoe is named for Ella Fitzgerald (who is obviously more famous for her singing, but initially had showbiz aspirations as a dancer)
Most shoes are available in more than one color
Most shoes are women’s shoes (there is one men’s style available on the website, the Frankie)
From their Facebook events page, it looks like they travel often to swing dance events within Italy

Anyone else with more information is free to share more in the comments section. Ciao!

21106676_1837359453241546_4232159773782164179_n — The Jean shoe – the sides of the heel have cutouts, too!

15591256_1709555869355239_6742693084013000080_o — The Frankie cap toes, also available in black/brown combo.

15676320_1709553852688774_8437970132140708347_o — Love the Big Bea in this plummy color – also available in royal blue.

Fashion Challenge for Frankie Month

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

15994999_10155332167203797_6075016353775938171_o — My Lindy look usually involves Trashy Diva dresses #unsurprised Photo taken by Soo Clark at The Lindy Lab.

I’m essentially going to re-post what is on the Frankie Manning Foundation website, but I wanted to get the word out – this can be a one-day challenge or a month-long challenge, your choice! While you’re there, check out all the other ways you can get involved…and while you are here at lindyshopper.com, you can figure out just how to get #TheLindyLook. 😉

From the website: “As part of Frankie’s long-held wish that the entire world know about lindy hop, let’s dress the part and hopefully trigger some conversations at the water cooler, on public transit, and wherever you may go on May 26th.

Don your favourite swing threads that best capture the spirit of the Savoy Ballroom in its 1920-50s pomp, or if you prefer, wear your favorite event t-shirt or whatever else means “swing” to you. Have your photo taken at work, in your office, at your desk, at a cafe, on the street, or wherever you may go. Be creative!

Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #TheLindyLook; photos shared on most social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram will automatically be collated as part of #TheLindyLook tag board. Share your #TheLindyLook photos on Facebook too on the Frankie Manning Foundation page.

Are you up for an extra fancy challenge? Why not dress the part for the entire Frankie Month, May 1st to 31st, and share a photo each day!”

Jive Styles – Lindy Hop Tees

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

On a tip from Kevin and Jo’s Facebook page, I stumbled upon Jive Styles, a retail website specializing in Lindy Hop themed tee shirts featuring the artwork of two dancing artists, Sarah Carney (said in my best Duke Ellington impression) and Michael Lombardi. Their cartoons of famous Lindy Hoppers in iconic poses, from Lucille and Frankie to Jo and Kevin, are fresh and adorable, as well as their wonderful original artwork. I see it as a continuation of our legacy as dancers in art, with a nod to Disney’s animation of Benny Goodman’s All the Cats Join In. The shirts are available in standard, soft, v-neck, and scoop neck styles, and a wide array of colors – check it out!

World Lindy Hop Day Tee

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

Behind the Beat Apparel has done us all a service and created a commemorative tee shirt for May 26 as World Lindy Hop Day! There’s no year on the shirt, so feel free to wear it throughout the world, in perpetuity, to celebrate Lindy Hop and the legacy and birthday of Frankie Manning.

Frankie 100 Swag – Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers Jacket, Custom Bag, and Tee

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

While I’m helping organize/run Frankie 100 NC this weekend, I’ll definitely have one eye on New York to see what amazing videos and news come out of the main Frankie 100 celebration. Already, I see friends posting photos and experiences, including shopping – I think the most eagerly anticipated Frankie 100 merch is the reproduction Whitey’s Lindy Hopper jacket, which FROMChloehong took preorders for several weeks ago.

It was no surprise to me that the master of vintage collegiate style, Bobby White, posted a photo of his acquisition of the jacket (I would do the same thing – it’s exciting, it’s here, it’s real!), but there was more! Chloe also had custom bags made just for the jacket with the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers logo, as well as tee shirts. I was ecstatic to see the tees, not only because they would be available at a much lower price point than the detailed wool jacket, but also because the tees themselves are reproductions of sorts from the Keep Punching Big Apple routine! I say of sorts because it looks like the tees in the video are a lighter color with a darker graphic – Bobby says there is also a yellow tee available with a darker graphic, so you can get that Keep Punching look. 🙂

Thanks to Bobby for sharing his loot and to Chloe for keeping the surprises coming!

Along Old Harlem Way on Etsy

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

In a world of random and ironic tee shirts, clearly shirt designers have overlooked the Lindy Hop and vintage jazz community. I do have the token Threadless tee with the Victrola and another that says “I Came to Dance,” but where is my tee shirt with Duke Ellington or Fats Waller plastered on it?

It’s apparently Along Old Harlem Way – this Etsy seller comes to the rescue with two shirts featuring Duke, Fats, Ella, Jelly Roll Morton, Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, Frankie Manning, and King Oliver’s Jazz Band. Maybe if we buy more of these shirts, she will make more designs with more amazing jazz musicians and dancers…

Also for sale in this Etsy store are several items of jewelry, hair ornaments, and art prints featuring Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker, and Louise Brooks.