No less than the hottest and brightest female stars of the young Hollywood ...Read more]]> We’ve already featured quite a number of men’s-adapted-by-women lace-up shoes here on Retrovintageshoes (such as the saddle shoe and the spectator), but the men’s shoe turned women’s shoe that’s really having its moment in the spotlight right now is the oxford / derby.

No less than the hottest and brightest female stars of the young Hollywood set have been seen sporting these lace-up shoe styles, trading in their beautiful but tortuous high heels for the lowly yet comfy oxford or derby shoe:

Set 1: Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz, and Taylor Swift in oxford/derby shoes

Set 2: Ashley Greene, Taylor Swift (again), and Leighton Meester

Before anything else, can you tell which set is wearing oxford shoes and which set is wearing derby shoes?

Okay, it might be hard to tell apart without say, a magnifying glass, but there is a way to distinguish derby shoes from oxford shoes. Take a closer look at the vamp of the shoe: the lace facings on the derby shoes are NOT stitched to the bottom; they are attached on the oxfords.

As of late, oxford and derby shoes have become interchangeable and derby shoes are now generally classified as oxford shoes as well. But here are more examples anyways, just to distinguish one from the other:

Oxford Shoes

Sam Edelman Women’s Cory

Steven by Steve Madden Women’s Melin

Franco Sarto Women’s Henley

Derby Shoes

Bass Women’s Chrissie

Bass Women’s Ellie

Trotters Women’s Martie

Now can you tell them apart?

If you’re wondering how to wear these types of shoes, check out this previous Retrovintageshoes post showing 6 Ways to Wear Oxford Shoes, ala Sienna Miller.

All of these oxford shoes and derby shoes are available at Shoes.com.

Kristen Stewart arriving in LA straight from her Sundance stint with the Runaways cast

If I am not mistaken (and I’m pretty sure ...Read more]]> Last January 25, Kristen Stewart was spotted arriving in LA straight from her Sundance session with the Runaways cast. She was dressed in her usual laid back casual attire paired with some classic sneakers.

Kristen Stewart arriving in LA straight from her Sundance stint with the Runaways cast

If I am not mistaken (and I’m pretty sure of it), the black sneakers on Kristen are a pair of Adidas Originals Samba.

Adidas Originals Samba in Black/White/Gum, US$55

The Adidas Originals Samba shoes go way back to the 70’s. The Samba used to be called the Samba 1900, and it was an iconic pair worn by a lot of footballers. The design has not changed much, but additional colors are being offered in the market.

The Samba has a wide fan base simply because it is comfortable and it looks stylish. It is also slim enough for ladies to wear. Bulky rubber shoes or sneakers tend to look too masculine.

You can tell Kristen is loving her pair. She wore the same ones while she was at the Sundance. Such a classic can actually match with other outfits. A short skirt, short shorts, or a mini-dress will go well with these shoes the same way a pair of T-shirt and jeans would.

If you’re not into the classic black, don’t fret because Adidas offers this shoe style in a multitude of colors such as the folllowing:

Other colors of the Adidas Originals Samba

Top: True Blue/White, Light Sand/White, White/Black

Bottom: Orange/Blue Bird, Black Collegiate Red, Espresso/Dark Sand

To illustrate, here are 3 different t-strap shoes from different eras:

1920s green and black t-strap straw shoes

A 1957 fashion spread featuring styles from ...Read more]]> T-strap shoes always evoke class, elegance, and to some extent, a certain nostalgia. No matter how recently they were made or worn, the t-strap always manages to look like a classy vintage shoe.

To illustrate, here are 3 different t-strap shoes from different eras:

1920s green and black t-strap straw shoes

A 1957 fashion spread featuring styles from the 30s (including t-strap shoes and cloche hats)

1970s authentic Givenchy t-strap heels

Even if these shoes are all from different time periods, they look like you can wear them at any given time and won’t look a day out of place.

One Hollywood actress who is a fan of the vintage t-strap shoe is Kristen Stewart:

Kristen Stewart loves her t-strap shoes

She wears her t-strap pumps to various publicity events, including to the Late Show with David Letterman. Even if she pairs them with everything from jeans to mini dresses and leather jackets, she makes all of those different looks work for her and her t-strap shoes.

The t-straps she wears are from Chanel’s fall collection and retail for at least 800 dollars:

We found an affordable option for Kristen’s t-strap shoes over at Heels.com:

Paris Hilton Brandy T-Strap, on sale at $85.49

Here’s another option from Charles David, also at Heels.com:

Charles David Engage Pump, on sale at $174.99

Heels.com is having a “Procrastination Sale” right now. Take $50.00 off of every order $180.00 and above. Stop procrastinating and take advantage of the great discounts!