https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 16 May 2026 18:16:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-832264 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:35:08 +0000 MsMaven 832264@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, the circle of life. As a child I was forced to wear Dr. Mason's orthopedic shoes. They came in two versions: for winter, black oxfords or brown oxfords; for spring, white and black or brown saddle shoes.</p> <p>Oh how I yearned for cute buckle shoes--I begged for them. My old school teachers wore black lace up shoes, but with a slight heel. Ugly and frumpy old lady shoes.</p> <p>If memory serves me, during the late 50s there was a craze for white buck shoes--lace ups, inspired by Pat Boone. Worn without socks, they got really smelly in time, which I know from personal experience.</p> <p>One of my sisters five years older than I had to go through the late fifties wearing the absolute must-have shoes: Spoonbill alerts by Joyce. Girls also had to have Jantzen sweaters. The sketches from 1950s newspapers don't give the true dimensions--the shoes flared outward at the toes giving girls a true duck-foot look.</p> <p>And then Keds came along.</p> <p>I did wear saddle shoes and something like oxfords in the 70s, but they looked better somehow, even though the saddle shoes had thick soles.</p> <p>The circle comes back to the beginning as I search Barking Dog shoes and other sources for comfortable lace up walking shoes that don't make my feet look like duck feet. </p> <p>I can look for some old photos, but for now, some newspaper ads: </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-832247 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:17:43 +0000 Vicki 832247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're good on your timeline, Angie, and I would agree with Rachylou about the jazz/dance-style low-heeled oxfords of the early '80s. Of course, the saddle shoe oxfords come and go on the playgrounds, streets and greens. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-832222 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:53:12 +0000 lynne 832222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like some others, I had to wear oxfords as a kid in the late 50's early 60's and HATED them. In high school, I had a pair of high heeled saddle shoes that were so awesome they brought me around to the style. In the early 90's (?) I bought a couple of pair of saddle shoes and some 2 toned suede Hush Puppies. I still wear all of them and continue to add to my collection. I'm glad the style has become so popular because now they are easier to find. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-832022 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:16:12 +0000 Anonymous 832022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thinking back, I'm sure my mom and fashionable auntie wore oxfords with socks in the 40's when stockings were precious. Both were young teachers who worked in a factory making planes to help the WWII effort. </p> <p>. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831945 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:19:21 +0000 kkards 831945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i had a pair of bass suede oxfords in the late 70's. loved those shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831757 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:02:07 +0000 cjh 831757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My sisters and I wore red leather oxfords in grade school in the late 50's and early 60's, much to our dislike, as many of the other girls had buckle shoes, patent leather or otherwise. I don't think oxfords have ever been out of style, as I had two wonderful pairs in high school (circa 1970), one black and white perforated "spectator" style (not saddle shoes!), and my favorite tan suede lace ups which I wore without socks (against the school rules) and with hip hugger blue jeans, leather belt, striped knit tops and a floppy felt hat, interestingly enough allowed by the dress code. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831551 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:17:04 +0000 Jjsloane 831551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm just drawn back here (I know my over shoe buying is rooted in those terrible shoe choices (sister L'abeille - YOU know) BTW I don't have flat feet (and don't think those horrid shoes cured me)<br /> The best photos I could find are below. #1 and #3 are about 1 year apart, but the same ugly shoe (1971 version and 1972 version). I got a snazzy red/white/blue almost Ked-like pair in #2 (but with some uncomfortable inserts) Ignore kid brother in his outlandish getups (he would be mortified) We were wearing grandparents' hats in 1. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831548 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:16:12 +0000 vipbrj 831548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kind of a coincidence, I was reading this thread while doing some browsing and found these shoes, which made me giggle:</p> <p><a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/shoes-flats/rachel-antonoff-for-bass-new-orleans-attitude-shoe-in-red" rel="nofollow">http://www.modcloth.com/shop/s.....hoe-in-red</a></p> <p>I wonder what those look like on?! Would be kind of interesting to pair them with different colored socks/leggings/??? Not really my style, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831535 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:06:40 +0000 Anonymous 831535@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh thanks for the rec, merwoman! Now I need to decide if I want camel, yellow or grey! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831522 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:55:44 +0000 Vildy 831522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unfrumped, I love your shoes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831479 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:24:14 +0000 unfrumped 831479@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here are some black faux-patent wingtips I wore this week. (Trousers hiked up to show more of the shoes).</p> <p>Like Beth Ann, I'm still on the lookout for my perfect style--more refined, could have a lower vamp, but still comfortable. These are definitely on the masculine side, and right now I am not able to style them with tapered trousers, which I think would be more in style, and I wear them with SOCKS! They are maybe a bit larger overall than is required for my foot, but then again, that makes the toe area more comfortable; some of the more tapered, slim oxfords aren't comfortable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831464 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:14:22 +0000 rachylou 831464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I want some yellow patent flat oxfords. I saw a girl wearing a pair. Have searched without luck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies/page/2#post-831460 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:11:56 +0000 Vildy 831460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In the late 50's, we were supposed to wear lace up shoes to school and I found a pair that was called Grasshoppers. They were far less chunky than saddle oxfords. I didn't like either option back then but the Hoppers were not far off some black Enzo Angiolini lace ups I have today. No running board sole. No wide thick cotton laces. More of an almond toe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831439 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:49:21 +0000 Diana 831439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear footies. Cotton ones, NOT the icky nylon ones. I recently found awesome smartwool ones but they might be too warm for really hot days. I can't wear closed toe shoes without socks of some sort (sweaty feet aside, I always get blisters on the tops/sides of my toes). Once in a while I'll wear little ankle socks w/ my oxfords, but it's a bit twee for all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831438 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:49:16 +0000 moira 831438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had lime green and cherry red saddle shoes in middle school, so 1970, I think.<br /> I wish I still had them. They were adorable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831435 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:47:08 +0000 L'Abeille 831435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JJ. I had a pair of those saddle shoes expensively modified into something to correct flat feet, too. I recall being horrified by the shoestore guy trying to pass them off as trendy. In the previous decade! Somehow they were mysteriously left in Montreal when our family went to Expo 67 and no mention of orthopedic footwear was ever made again.</p> <p>In the 50's and early 60s they were worn with bobby socks. Check out pictures of dancing teenagers from that era--worn with all the fullskirted dresses and poodle skirts. Definitely they were a bigger item then than in the 80's. I don't remember them at all from the 80's and I was there, albeit perhaps too busy interning and having kids to notice. (My daughter claims I dressed like the 70's all through the 80's and says she's seen the pictures to prove it, although I do remember shoulder pads!)</p> <p>. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831427 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:40:56 +0000 Angie 831427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With nothing. I can't stand wearing footies. They slip off my feet and bunch up in my shoe. I WANT TO SCREAM when that happens. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831368 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:44:20 +0000 Nicole D 831368@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was just reminded of the mustard yellow oxfords I had in 1984. I loved them! They were very delicate, similar to the dance style oxfords rachylou mentioned. I am definitely going to try a pair for spring.</p> <p>QUestion: How do you wear them with a skirt or crops (little footlet nylons (hate those, they always slip off), socks, nothing (could be smelly), knee highs?? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831355 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:38:53 +0000 Angie 831355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, ladies!</p> <p>Jules, hate to be picky but some of those pics are of loafers - not flat oxfords (oxfords have laces). Like of Audrey and pic #2. But the other pics are fab!! You clever gal, and thanks for the effort :)</p> <p>I haven't tried the Gap oxfords yet, Merwoman. They look splendid! I just splurged on the Cole Haans in a mirrored silver with citron laces. SO COMFY. Nike air sole. So precious that your Mama made sure you were always well dressed. The rationale has stuck with you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831336 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:20:53 +0000 Hil 831336@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh gosh - I had the 90's super chunky version / loved them!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831324 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:10:54 +0000 Diana 831324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I loved my chunky 90's oxfords with lug soles and block heels! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831323 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:10:46 +0000 Jjsloane 831323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah saddle shoes. I was told I had flat feet as a child and every year I got to pick from 2 super clunky (IMO super ugly) saddle shoes to wear to school (always with knee socks).<br /> I had flat patent black oxfords in mid-to late 80's and wore them with big scrunched socks and capri leggings and oversized tops (thrift store men's blazers and long vee neck sweaters and oversized sweatshirts) I claim no photos of this time... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831312 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:06:02 +0000 rachylou 831312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember dance-shoe oxfords in the '80s and chunky lace-ups in the late '80s. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831311 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:05:43 +0000 merwoman 831311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So do I Angie! Times were tough for my mom, but she always made sure we were well dressed!<br /> Just thought I would share that the GAP has some amazing shoes! I purchase the spotted oxfords a few weeks ago (30% off). They are incredibly comfortable!! I notice they've added some new oxfords to the line up as well as some poinyt flats...I shall have to try to restrain myself.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831309 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:04:17 +0000 RoseandJoan 831309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh here you go, plus a bonus Audrey photo<br /> <a href="http://womenwhoonlywearpants.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow">http://womenwhoonlywearpants.tumblr.com/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831306 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:02:45 +0000 RoseandJoan 831306@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Photos taken from this blog <a href="http://missmoss.com.au/2012/01/wear-pants-at-your-peril/" rel="nofollow">http://missmoss.com.au/2012/01.....our-peril/</a></p> <p>The third image is taken from google images</p> <p>That's the 30's, 40's and 50's represented. I also believe Coco Chanel wore them as a young woman but I can't find the image right now.</p> <p>How fab. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831288 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:46:44 +0000 Angie 831288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GREAT info! Thanks, ladies. Love learning each day :)</p> <p>So quite the statement in the '40s, '50s and '60s - but probably not the biggest look back then - and a HUGE statement in the '80s. Yes?</p> <p>LOVE THAT PIC, merwoman!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831287 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:46:11 +0000 merwoman 831287@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore b/w saddle shoes as a youngster...and just found a photo! Me and my little sis - note matching outfits :-), such budding fashionistas! circa 1962 </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831269 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:22:47 +0000 Beth Ann 831269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a great thread! I'm searching for the perfect pair of neutrals for spring/summer. I, too, had a mother who wore saddle shoes and bobby socks as a high schooler in the 50's. I remember as a 6th grader wearing her gray wool pencil skirt, matching cashmere sweater and print silk scarf with a pair of saddles I bought for the occasion. Wish I still had them!</p> <p>BTW --- I think some of the current versions are too flimsy, and some are too clunky/manly. I'm looking for the Goldilocks oxford --- just right. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-about-flat-oxfords-for-ladies#post-831262 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:18:00 +0000 unfrumped 831262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Saddle oxfords made another comeback in the late 60's and early 70's for sure.<br /> Our HS marching team wore a black and white version as uniform, and then some funky fun styles became available in the stores. I was crushed because most were in medium widths, and I could not wear. My best friend had some in pale blue suede with blue spatter-paint design, and I coveted them.</p> <p>They were more rounded-toe and not tapered slim as many of the styles right now. They were actually quite foot-friendly due to that--roomy toe box. </p>