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My husband is a very casual dresser. Except when going to the theater, he doesn’t dress up much. In fact, his idea of special occasion clothes are black jeans, a newish t-shirt, and something he calls “fancy dress up sneakers.”
I thought of that phrase when I saw this photo of a family gathering from the late forties or early fifties. The older woman, third from right, is wearing sensible shoes, but with a twist—a lace up style with an open toe and cut out leather or mesh. Take a closer look.
The lacey shoes go perfectly with her dark dress and its beautiful sheer insert.
I looked for something similar, but only came up with a much inferior version from a Sears catalog in 1951.
Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalog: Early 1950s
What was the event, I wonder–perhaps a family reunion or anniversary party? One thing is for sure–the older woman and her younger companion in the shiny skirt are the best dressed in the bunch.
I’m very much hoping that the current exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, “Reigning Men” (http://www.lacma.org/ReigningMen#landing) devotes adequate attention to the rise and fall of the “fancy dress sneaker.”
what a lovely photo, those shoes do work well with the dress.. and the neckline and cap sleeves of that dress are so flattering. These two ladies really do shine, they must have had a wonderful evening
The necklines on all the dresses, but especially the two you mention are all so well fitted. The look nice and dressy with showing massive amounts of chest. I wish we could get better fitted patterns round the neckline. I always look out for more interest and extras in this context. Re the cut out toe, I remember my mother having a pair of sandals with this, but not lace up, and her trying to cut out the toe of a pair of other shoes which had worn badly there but which she didn’t want to throw away. Perhaps it was a wartime, make do and mend, thing.