Retro & Vintage Shoes » Bass

Kate Bosworth Wears Oxford Shoes

Rose — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:38:34 +0000

We’ve got another oxford-wearing celeb for you today–Kate Bosworth.

Kate recently lunched in Doughboys Cafe and Bakery in West Hollywood in a look that was both casual and cute. The The Warrior’s Way star hit the streets of CA in a cognac-colored blazer over a white top and skinny acid washed jeans. She finished the cool dressed down look with what appears to be an Alexander Wang Rocco Mini Duffel, Tom Ford Carey Sunglasses, and ASOS MANOMAN Leather Buckle Lace Up Flat Shoes.

Kate’s look is one that works pretty well when you want a casual and comfy style on a laid back day. The oxford flat shoes are perfect to complete the look as not only are they your comfy fall foot-friend, they also pair well with skinny jeans and lends that extra sleek edge to the dressed down look.

Start channeling your own downtown chic look a la Kate Bosworth with these pieces:

Tank top: Calvin Klein Jeans Tank With Beaded Strips, $59.50 (Zappos.com); Blazer: Scully Suede Jacket Blazer, $168.01 (Zappos.com); Jeans: J Brand Low Rise 10″ Skinny Leg Jean in Indio, $142.80 (Singer22.com); Oxford Shoes: Bass Women’s Heather Oxford, $68.95 (Endless.com); Bag: Alexander Wang Rocco Mini Duffel, $612.50 (Shopbop.com); Sunglasses: Retro Tortoise ZYL Sunglasses, $67.00 (MaxStudio.com)

Classic 50s Bass Saddle Shoes – Now as Boots?

Erika — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:46:51 +0000

I already mentioned that we’re fans of the classic 50s Bass saddle shoes and I even said that I was stoked to find out that they finally came with heels. But the Bass saddle shoes as boots? This could be pushing it:

Bass Nikki

Though this isn’t really a new or groundbreaking style, it just sort of feels like Bass is capitalizing too much on their popular saddle shoes, you know? Maybe I wouldn’t be so averse to these if I hadn’t seen this shoe’s transition from the original to the heeled style to this boot version, but because I did, this current style now feels forced.

The bright side to this is at least now we can wear the popular Bass saddle shoe in the cold weather seasons.

What do you think of the Bass saddle shoes as boots? Are you a fan?

The Bass Nikki boots are new arrivals and can be purchased for $109.00 at Zappos.com.

Straight from the 50s Bass Saddle Shoes – Now with Heels

Erika — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:58:45 +0000

We’ve always been fans of Bass saddle shoes here on Retro Vintage Shoes. They’re classic, they stick to the old saddle shoe style and they look like they came straight from the 50s:

Bass Enfield saddle shoes, $59.00 to $65.00

So I was stoked to find out that these shoes now have a new variation. These popular Bass saddle shoes now come with heels:

Bass Glenbrook saddle shoes with heels

So pretty! Good move on Bass’ part – these saddle shoes definitely look a lot more interesting with the added height. I imagine these would also be much easier to wear with skirts and dresses as the 3-inch heel gives them a better shape and of course, a much more feminine appeal.

A lot of online stores carry Bass shoes but here are 3 of the best options where to get the Glenbrooks:

One is at Zappos.com which lists these heeled saddle shoes at $69.00. Zappos carries both White/Black and White/Cocoa colors and has sizes from 6 to 11 but no half sizes for sizes 6 to 8.

The second option is at Shoes.com. They also list the White/Cocoa color at $69.00 and have complete sizes in stock, but their real edge over Zappos is that they have the White/Black color on sale. Sizes are broken though but if you’re a size 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11, then you can get the White/Black Glenbrooks for just $65.55 at Shoes.com.

The third and last option is at ShoeBuy.com. This website has all colors and all sizes in stock and lists the Bass Glenbrooks a smidge lower at $68.95.

Good luck with the heeled saddle shoe hunt!

10 Retro and Vintage Shoes for Your Mom this Mother’s Day

Erika — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:05:52 +0000

If the fast-approaching mother’s day holiday has got you in a bind over what to get your mom, here’s a fail-safe gift idea: shoes. What woman doesn’t love shoes? And for an extra-special gift, try hunting down the style of shoes that were fashionable during her younger years. I’m sure your mom will get a kick out of getting a pair of retro or vintage shoes and reliving the time when she was still growing up.

I’ve gathered 10 retro and vintage-inspired shoes as mother’s day gift ideas. I hope there’s a pair here that’ll suit your mom!

1. Bass Glenbrook stacked heel saddle shoes

Bass Glenbrook, $69.00

2. Boutique 9 Ronnie brogues

Botique 9 Ronnie, $103.96

3. BORN Women’s Gellar mary jane wedges

BORN Women’s Gellar, $102.00

4. Bass Brookfield loafers

Bass Brookfield, $69.00

5. Clarks Un.actual clogs

Clarks Un.actual, $110.00

6. Paul Smith Bonita swirky strappy platform wedges

Paul Smith Bonita, $349.00

7. Diesel Life-10 stiletto pumps

Diesel Life-10, $140.00

8. Steven by Steve Madden Women’s Justyne t-strap peep toe heels

Steven by Steve Madden Women’s Justyne, $120.00

9. Converse Jack Purcell® Ox vintage sneakers

Converse Jack Purcell® Ox, $60.00

10. Frye Maxine Trapunto Harness boots

Frye Maxine Trapunto Harness, $368.00

Kelly Osbourne’s Confusing Coachella Outfit with Saddle Shoes

Erika — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:38:45 +0000

While every other celebrity was going for the hippie, bohemian, boho chic look at the 2010 Coachella Music Festival, Kelly Osbourne took a completely different route and went… well, I don’t really know where she went:

April 16, 2010 – Kelly Osbourne and fiancé Luke Worrall attend day 1 of Coachella

She went 60s for her floral minidress, 80s for her shiny quilted Chanel bag, 50s for her saddle shoes, and the current year 2010 for her long cardigan. In other words, her outfit was all over the place with all the different inspirations taken from different eras.

I applaud Kelly for her efforts to try something completely different from everyone else at Coachella but honestly, this really confuses me. I wish she at least did something to her hair to make it look less grandma-ish and the dress, though pretty, is a bit too stuffy and formal-looking for an event like Coachella.

Mixing and matching trends from other time periods is very tricky and should really only be done one or two pieces at a time. But I don’t think Kelly Osbourne really cares about that right now though because she recently just lost a lot of weight and looks very happy with her fiancé of one year, model Luke Worrall.

If I were to take one trend from Kelly Osbourne’s outfit, it would be her 50s saddle shoes of course:

Kelly Osbourne and her 50s saddle shoes

I haven’t verified it yet, but these look very much like the Bass Women’s Enfield shoes that we also saw on Chloe Sevigny before. Chloe Sevigny wore hers with a leather jacket and jeans, which made her saddle shoes look cool and modern.

Do you prefer Kelly Osbourne’s style or Chloe Sevigny’s style with the saddle shoes?

Purchase the Bass Women’s Enfield saddle shoes for $65.00 at Shoes.com.

Rihanna: Biker Babe in Oxfords

Roselle — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:00:17 +0000

Here’s a picture of Rihanna taken last March.

Rihanna (March 2010)

(photo from Splash News)

Very sexy as usual; the perfect picture of a bad girl – biker babe in leather and jeans. I love the head gear, and I especially like the way she used black leather oxfords in place of leather boots – so 50’s Grease era.

This picture also proves to us that oxfords are versatile shoes. Months ago we wrote an article on the different looks you can achieve with these classic lace-ups (click here if you wish to read the article), now we can add the Grease themed biker babe Rihanna ensemble into that list.

In the meantime, if you want to look like Rihanna in the picture, emulate the look and complete your outfit with any of these Oxford options:

Tailored leather

Franco Sarto Henley, US$79

Patterned leather with cutouts

Steve Madden Tirah, US$70

Reptile embossed leather

Sam Edelman Cory, US$129

Jazz leather oxfords

Joan & David Zena, US$184

Woven leather with wedge

Bass Eddie, US$55

Oxford and Derby Shoes Have Got Hollywood Wrapped Around Their Laces

Erika — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:09:22 +0000

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.

Bass Weejun Penny Loafers Then and Now

Erika — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:12:07 +0000

Penny loafers, the lace-less, buckle-less slip-on shoes, have been around since the 1930s. They were copied from a shoe style from Norway that were worn mostly by Norwegian fishermen. George Henry Bass of G.H. Bass & Co. Shoe Company picked up this shoe and redesigned it into the classic penny loafer that we now know today. He gave it the name “Weejun”, which is of course derived from the word “Norwegian”.

When James Dean (pictured above) wore the Bass Weejuns with his biker jacket and his pants rolled up, he made not just an undeniable fashion statement but also turned the penny loafers into a timeless piece of clothing.

Presently, loafers are worn by men, women, and children alike. G.H. Bass & Co. is still regarded as the maker of quality penny loafers. Their range of penny loafers has broadened to include both classic and trendier designs.

The Bass Freeway is one of the top-selling styles of Bass’ women’s penny loafers:

Bass Women’s Freeway, now 10% off at Shoes.com

For men, the smart and sleek Bass Alberta is the popular style:

Bass Men’s Alberta, $71.00 at Shoes.com

Check out more popular penny loafer shoe styles for men and for women over at Shoes.com.

Chloe Sevigny Wears Bass Classic 50s Saddle Shoes

Erika — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:47:14 +0000

If there’s any shoe that can singularly define the 50s, it would be the saddle shoe.

Picture of college coeds wearing saddle shoes with ankle socks

Defined by the contrasting colors of the shoe’s saddle (usually black or dark-colored) from its heel and toe (usually white or light-colored), the 50s saddle shoe has since evolved and is now considered an all-american symbol, along with blue jeans, baseball, and apple pie.

Shoemaker G.H. Bass & Co. recognizes the symbolic status of the saddle shoe. The Bass Einfeld saddle shoe stays true to the original 50s design, down to the rounded shape and perforated leather trim along the edges:

Bass Women’s Einfeld saddle shoes in white/black

Bass Women’s Einfeld in hemp/cocoa

A lot of women have adapted the similar oxford shoe trend, but we expect no less than fashion savant Chloe Sevigny to take the trickier-to-pull-off saddle shoe style and wear it so effortlessly:

Chloe Sevigny wearing Bass Einfelds

Miss Sevigny has even gone as far as collaborating with G.H. Bass & Co. and designing a saddle-shoe-inspired footwear collection for Opening Ceremony.

The saddle shoe Chloe Sevigny is wearing is available on Shoes.com. The Bass Einfeld saddle shoes retail for $65.