2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Sarahspangles

maryb said:

I have what I thought was a slightly unusual issue.  My left foot has gone up a whole size.  But apparently it’s not that unusual for the ligaments to soften, the arches to flatten and your feet to spread as you get older.

Anyway, the point of this ramble is it got me thinking about how many women must have suffered with painful feet in 1942.  I know they tended to produce a lot more variety of sizes and widths at one time but wartime restrictions must have meant there was a lot less choice.  Imagine spending 5 of your precious coupons on a pair of shoes which turned out to be seriously uncomfortable and knowing you were stuck with them and had to wear them every day probably all year round.  I remember seeing the 1940s House and the mother complained about corns - makes sense

You could try an orthotic support in your existing shoes. To help form the arch. I have some from a time I was recovering from a knee problem, and I still use them if I feel a shoe isn’t supportive.

My chic grandmother always wore shoes I could imagine Ginger Rogers dancing in! Mid-height Cuban heeled sandals and shoes. She said they were for her posture, and it does make your foot arch and prevent locking the knees. My daughter already had bunions in her late teens from gripping ‘flats’ and ballerina shoes with her toes.

maryb

I think it’s because I have arthritis in my right hip so I put more weight on the left leg.  My left foot is definitely flatter than the right foot.  But I will keep an eye on it, thanks for the nudge.

Sarahspangles, my most comfortable shoes are a pair of trouser shoes with a 2 inch heel.  The high vamp holds my foot well but the heel height really helps my posture and I get much less backache after being on my feet for a long time.  Funnily enough those shoes still fit which is why I thought the shoes I bought today with a similar block heel might be good.  I sometimes look at reproduction vintage shoes and the ones from the 1930s and 1940s all have medium low heels and support the front of the foot.  Oxfords were very popular but they weren’t flat like the ones that have been around the last few years

Sarahspangles

Sarahspangles said:

My chic grandmother always wore shoes I could imagine Ginger Rogers dancing in! Mid-height Cuban heeled sandals and shoes. She said they were for her posture, and it does make your foot arch and prevent locking the knees. My daughter already had bunions in her late teens from gripping ‘flats’ and ballerina shoes with her toes.

In my coffee break I checked whether I really meant Cuban heels - I think French and block heels were also common. That little strap over the instep on some styles is really useful too. If I had £10 for every pair of shoes I’ve owned that weren’t actually comfortable or functional……I’d be able to buy a lot of shoes!

Laura_Elsewhere

It was a dramatic shock when my parents paid for me to have a pair of shoes made for me, for each individual foot, from scratch, by a proper shoemaker, for my 50th birthday- on occasion, I have walked over six miles on hard stone pavements and with lots of hills, and then next day 3-4 more miles on similar terrain, and although I've been glad to get in at night, I've not been in pain, despite having bunions on both feet and "tailors' bunions" on the outside of each foot too! 
They are mid-heeled lace-up brogues, and the lacing comes all the way up my foot- have you noticed how many modern shoes have lace-up that stops halfway up so your foot isn't held properly? 

PollyWollyDoodle

A sore point (no pun intended!) with me at the moment. I’ve recently had some new orthotic insoles, and I think my future is really limited to trainers or boots - although lace up shoes like you describe, @Laura_Elsewhere would also work. 

I haven’t worn ‘ballet’ type shoes for years or indeed anything that doesn’t have a strap or fastening over the instep.  No fashion is worth having sore feet!  It does make it harder in hot/summer weather though.  Fortunately, trainers with a skirt seems to be a trend at the moment.  

I’m awaiting an x-ray to find out the cause of pain in one foot, I think it’s arthritis, but podiatrist thinks I may have a bone spur.  I’m so aware that mobility is absolutely key to quality of life when getting older, so I’m determined to get this sorted out. Your comment made me laugh @Sarahspangles

I have had so many pairs of shoes over the years.  I recently listed several on Vinted because I’m just never going to be able to wear them again.  

Someone (quite likely Laura!) posted a link quite a long time ago to a site that makes authentic historic shoes, I remember thinking some of them looked very comfortable.  

PipneyJane

It was @Laura_Elsewhere, @PollyWollyDoodle.  Fortunately, I have the relevant website open on a tab in my iPad browser:  https://www.andyburke.co.uk/index.htm 

They’re on the list of things to which I may treat myself, next year when both DH and I are back at work.  (The Ministry is taking forever…. Once I’m back at work, I expect to be the sole wage earner for the rest of 2024.)

I’m glad that I’m not the only one who prefers an ankle strap/instep strap on their dress-up shoes.  I find that court shoes stretch with wear.  True story:  I once manned a trade show stand for an ex-employer, at the Islington Design Centre, so was all dressed up in my best suit, etc.  Had to go upstairs for something and left a court shoe at the bottom of the stairs!  (Fortunately, I’d only gone 2-3 stairs, when I realised.)

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane - these ones from Andy Burke's "20th century" catalogue-page would look gorgeous with trousers... he does them in lots of colours, blues and greens and reds...! 

PollyWollyDoodle

That’s the one, thank you @PipneyJane and @Laura_Elsewhere.  And I’m delighted to see they are British made (been reading Patrick Grant’s book Less).  Not cheap but I reckon they’d last for years. 

I haven’t worn court shoes or ballet style since my early 30s, when I learned how bad they are for your feet. Basically they’re either too tight or you have to scrunch your toes up to make them stay on. Lace-ups or straps are best.  

Laura_Elsewhere

PollyWollyDoodle said:

That’s the one, thank you @PipneyJane and @Laura_Elsewhere.  And I’m delighted to see they are British made (been reading Patrick Grant’s book Less).  Not cheap but I reckon they’d last for years. 

I haven’t worn court shoes or ballet style since my early 30s, when I learned how bad they are for your feet. Basically they’re either too tight or you have to scrunch your toes up to make them stay on. Lace-ups or straps are best.  

Oh definitely British-made- each pair is made by Andy himself!! he’s a lovely chap and very knowledgeable- if you have any questions, do ask him.

Sarahspangles

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Oh definitely British-made- each pair is made by Andy himself!! he’s a lovely chap and very knowledgeable- if you have any questions, do ask him.

That’s a fascinating site! Some of our urban sketching trips have coincided with Roman or Viking re-enactment days. I always look at the footwear. Viking and medieval shoes and boots seem quite practical and comfortable but the Romans are always hobbling! Perhaps the centurions had to get used to marching in leather soled sandals over time.

The costumes are interesting too. I watched a ‘Viking’ woman making yarn on a drop spindle, she was also talking to visitors and helping with a display. But kept spinning. She was obviously used to wearing her outfit and had multiple places for “stuff”, including a belt purse that was more like a pocket, the belt itself, her apron and sleeves. When I’m sketching I’m always juggling pencil/pen, rubber, brushes, napkin as well as the usual purse and phone. Coat and jeans pockets aren’t as versatile as something that can be swivelled towards the front of the body. [Goes off to design a sketching belt with moveable pockets]