Retro style shoes for your vintage wedding

Bridesmaids at a vintage wedding. Photo by Pelaez Photography

Since a lot of you liked the retro bridesmaid dresses I featured the other day, I thought this was a good time to blog about retro style shoes you can wear to a vintage wedding, whether you’re the bride, part of the bridal party, or a guest.

Retro wedding shoes shared on Flickr by LaBrunetteNouvelle

According to this great resource on retro fashion, mid-19th century shoes were often very high (stilettos, anyone?) and had rounded or peep toes and low cut front uppers.  Strapped sandals with finer heels were popular as were heavier thicker heels for lower shoes. By the mid fifties, kitten heels and metal tipped steel stiletto heels replaced 40s shoe styles.  Patent leather, fancy detailing like buckles, ribbons and lace, and loud colorful prints were also very popular in the era.

Below are some funky vintage style shoes that you can wear to a retro wedding.

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Mary Janes bridal shoes. Photo shared on Flickr by lauren_oh!snap

First up, Mary Janes.

Mary Jane is an American term for a kind of strap shoe or sandal that typically has low heels, broad and rounded closed toes, and a single-buckle strap across the instep and/or around the ankle.  Mary Jane was a character created by Richard Outcault for his comic strip, Buster Brown, which was first published in 1902. She was the sister of the title character, Buster Brown. (Source: Wikipedia)

Michael by Michael Kors Shoes MaryJane Brown Heels (sale today: $93.96)

Miss Sixty Shoes Christine Forest Green Heels (sale today: $79.97)

Donald J Pliner Shoes Zsa Chocolate Brown Heels (sale today: $131.96)

Circa by Joan & David Shoes Tudor Chocolate Brown Heels (sale today: $48.96)

Style & Co. Shoes Rea Crimson Heels (sale today: $39.97)

Peep-toe bridal platforms. Image shared on Flickr by nessa k

Platform shoes are shoes, boots, or sandals with thick soles, often made of cork, plastic, rubber, or wood (wooden-soled platform shoes are technically also clogs), generally worn strictly for fashion, and/or added height.  They  enjoyed some popularity in the 1930s, 1940s, and very early 1950s. (Source: Apparel Search)

Peep-toe Platforms

Anne Klein Shoes Klalex Ivory Heels (sale today: $159.97)

Guess Shoes Jolie Red Heels (sale today: $69.97)

Marc Fisher Shoes Narika Red Heels (sale today: $49.97)

Marc Fisher Shoes Vica Red Heels (sale today: $49.97)

An Oxford Wedding photo via Lily Spruce

Oxfords

An Oxford shoe is a style of leather shoe with enclosed lacing. Oxford shoes are traditionally constructed of leather and were historically rather plain. The shoes originally appeared in Scotland and Ireland, where they are occasionally called Balmorals. The design of the shoe is often plain, but may include some small ornamentation or perforations. (Source: Wikipedia)

Coach Shoes Linden Purple Heels (sale today: $209.97)

Vince Camuto Shoes Veronica Camel Heels (sale today: $69.97)

Nine West Shoes Naso 2 Wine Heels (sale today: $69.97)

Alfani Shoes Russell Brick Red Heels (sale today: $49.97)

Marc Fisher Shoes Ardenly Black Heels (sale today: $49.97)

D’Orsay bridal shoes. Image shared on Flickr by Andreas Rolfer

D’Orsay Pumps

A d’Orsay style pump is a woman’s shoe in which the vamp of the shoe is cut away very close to the toe box, and the sides are cut away, revealing the arch of the foot. (Source: About.com)

I.N.C Shoes Rae Salmon Heels (sale today: $49.97)

Liz Claiborne Shoes Maura Mauve Heels (sale today: $27.96)

Nine West Shoes Finaldi Green Heels (sale today: $49.97)

Nine West Shoes Jojus White Heels (sale today: $39.96)

Kenneth Cole Shoes Plat-Num Burgundy Heels (sale today: $54.96)

Colorful slingbacks for the bride. Image shared on Flickr by ASebryk

Slingbacks

A slingback is a type of woman’s shoe that is backless and is characterized by a strap that crosses behind the heel or ankle. A slingback is distinguishable from an ankle-strap shoe in that the latter has a strap that crosses around the front of the ankle as well as the back. They have been fashionable since the 1930s and continue to be popular today. (Source: Wikipedia)

Style & Co. Shoes Graceful Red Heels (sale today: $39.97)

Via Spiga Shoes Jade Sunflower Heels (sale today: $84.96)

Franco Sarto Shoes Nail Chocolate Brown Heels (sale today: $41.96)

Franco Sarto Shoes Slinky White Heels (sale today: $39.96)

Alfani Shoes Lars Camel Heels (sale today: $35.96)

Wedge Heel Bridal Shoes. Image shared on Flickr by simply photo

Wedges

On most shoes, the “heel” sits under only the heel of the foot, but a wedge heel runs under the foot, from the back of the shoe to the middle or front. It has a wedge shape though not all wedges are high heels. In fact, wedge heels range from low to high, it’s the shape and the length of the heel that classify it as a wedge. (Source: About.com)

DKNYC Shoes Christina Dark Brown Heels (sale today: $62.00)

Betsey Johnson Shoes Mariana Black Heels (sale today: $57.96)

Betsey Johnson Shoes Mariana Yellow Heels (sale today: $84.96)

Circa by Joan & David Shoes Kalare Red Heels (sale today: $46.96)

BCBGirls Shoes Izzie Mustard Heels (sale today: $46.96)

All these retro style shoes and more can be purchased at Gotham City Online

Tags: bridal shoes, vintage style, vintage weddings