Senior ladies, do you ever think back on some of the glorious shoes you had, back in the day?

When pointed toe shoes were first popular in the 50's, I bought a beautiful pair of black lace heels. I wore these with a black lace dress. Still have the photo and it brings back wonderful memories of wearing the shoes and a great looking dress on a date that night.

I later gave the dress to my sister-in-law, but I kept the shoes. In my memory, they will always be my favorites.

I'm not really into shoes but oddly I do remember some of my past shoes--maybe because I agonized over finding shoes I liked that felt good on my feet. I had a pair of brown shoes that had these punch-outs and a strap and a clunky heel (about 1/5") that I used to wear to school--but then my sister had to go and buy the exact same shoes (was bad enough everyone already thought we were twins). I had a pair of black flats in high school with this subtle white stitching. In college I basically wore cheap sandals from India or clogs even in winter (I believe I had no nerve ending from my thighs down--I wore mini skirts in winter too, without tights or pantihose--burrrrrr). In college I had a pair of navy platform shoes (kind of classy) and a pair of black suede platforms for dress up, and a brown pair of spectator platforms. I wanted a pair of Frye boots but couldn't afford them. Oh, and moccasins, the kinds with the fringe and no sole (well the sole was made from the same leather as the uppers). I know when I was little, I always wanted a pair of patent leather shoes witht he convertible strap (you could wear it with the strap or bend the strap back so it hugged your heel so you looked like you had slip on shoes. And white Keds. Once I started working, I remember buying shoes with 2.5" heels--really nice shoes, but I had such a hard time walking in them and they hurt my feet so badly I would only wear them in the office but put on sneakers once I left work. Oh, I had the nices glove leather ankle boots, Arche, that I wish they still sold--they were so soft and comfy, had a rubber sole so you didn't make any noise. I ways imagined Robin Hood would have worn something like this. I had a whole collection of boots or all colors. Had a pair of magenta slip ons (wonder what ever happened to them). Always wanted a pair of white go-go boots but never got them. My favorite shoes have always been cloth, like sneakers that you wear forever and they begin to wear near the toes--those are always the best.

Oh, those awful high heels & pointed toes that we wore. What a pain, but I wore them. Had lower "stack heels" for everyday. Good riddance to all of those. Clip-on bows? Also dreadful. The metal clips would rub the tops of the toes something awful. Could stand them for about 2 hrs.at church. Ditto for the pointed toes.

The stack heels must have been too tight. By the time I finished college, had spurs on the back of my heels & couldn't wear enclosed shoes at all for maybe 20 yrs. Fortunately, I moved to California where I could wear backless sandals & moccasins. I've always been a tenderfoot & have to search out ones with soft backs or else tennis shoes.

Favorite ones I'd like to bring back: T-strap flats in chartreuse suede, felt like soft glove leather, mid-to-late 60's, more rounded than before, soft as leather, & they went with all my summer dresses. They weren't really, really bright. They were a little muted & pretty. They were great except for rainy days, when I dragged out the "stack heel" type of leather heels.

Mainly wore black sandals with Bermuda shorts or a couple of pairs of mini-length culottes, which was pretty much it for casual wear. I like the sandals, too, with the thong between the toe, but with backs, too. I wore those for years.

Back when I was young I use to have some really pretty spike heals and flats. I too had some pretty patent leather spikes and a besutiful white spikes with a leather rose on them. As I have aged, I wear shoes more for comfort. Sandals and tennis shoes unless I go out and then I wear some pretty flats. I would topple over in spikes now as my balance isn't so good.

Back in the day, shoe stores used "sample" shoes to put on display.

All sample shoes were size 4½ to allow a greater number of shoes on display tables.

At the end of the season, what were they to do with these teeny-tiny shoes?

AHA!

I wore size 4½ so I could buy end-of-season shoes for a fraction of their original price.

The expensive styles (Etienne Aigner, Red Cross) cost me 50-75¢ while the lesser brands cost me 25¢ a pair.

I had over 65 pairs of shoes when I graduated from HS!

I could afford to match a lot of purses since I spent so little for the shoes.

I had a pair of alligator leather high heels with a purse to match. They were the most extravagant thing I owned (back in the '50's). Of course, now, you can't even buy alligator things because they're protected animals. I kept those shoes until they were way out of style. I wore them with everything--even outfits that didn't match them. I left them at home after I got married. I'm sure my mother put them in the Goodwill bag. I hope someone else got some good wear out of them. They were practically indestructible, except that I wasn't supposed to get them wet.

I remember when EVERYONE wore real leather shoes. Tops and bottoms.

I still have my Norma Kamali shoes in black with blood red embroidered roses on them.

I also have a pair of handmade blue leather low heels that I keep in a glass display case as I really think they are a work of art. Inside is burnt the words: Handmade for ---- ----. They took measures of my feet and then made the shoes and sent them to me. This was over 30 years ago and every so often I take them out and wear them around on the carpet just for fun.

I'm easily amused as you can see.

Mine were a little bit later,in the 1960's, i loved mary quant shoes and had several pairs in various colours,orange,pink,green,blue,to match my outfits,,which sometimes were mary quant too,in the 60's the fashion was flat shoes with square toes,and round toes,bows on the front,buttons and zips to fasten them,i had a lovely pair of white vinyl mary quant ankle boots,they must have been expensive because i remember saving up for them,but oh my they were fantastic,they had a zip up the side and i wore them with a black and white dress and black and white striped tights! i must have looked like a little zebra! I did have some suede heels,with black trim,and a black bow on the front,they had slightly pointed toes,i bought new shoes each time i got paid,i just loved them,like most women and girls,we do like our shoes don't we? I remember one day going into each shoe shop in oxford street,i wanted a pair of green sling backs to match an outfit,i couldn't find them anywhere,i dragged my younger brother with me,he was not a happy bunny! I finally found what i wanted in Selfridges,that was about 1967,my brother is now 59 and says he could never go to oxford street again after that day, he says i traumatised him!! happy days.

What "back in the day" I haven't been able to wear heel, or other pretty shoes since my Cardiac bypass.

My feet swell badly and even an inch and a half hurt.

Yes, I do remember shoes and purses. We also used to have clip on bows for our shoes. I think my favorites were a pink soft leather pump that had a strap around the ankle. I'd say it was in 1966 and wore them with pretty skirts and dresses.