Retro & Vintage Shoes » Prada http://www.retrovintageshoes.com Fashion News On Retro & Vintage Boots, Sandals & Shoes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:04:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 A Brief History of Lucite – From the 50s to the Latest Prada Lucite Shoes http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/2010/04/a-brief-history-of-lucite-from-the-50s-to-the-latest-prada-lucite-shoes/ http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/2010/04/a-brief-history-of-lucite-from-the-50s-to-the-latest-prada-lucite-shoes/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:34:33 +0000 Erika http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/?p=1385 Did you know that before lucite was associated with strippers, it was actually considered to be a very high class and a very expensive type of plastic? The transparent thermoplastic was developed in the 40s and was used in World War II as building material for submarine periscopes, windshields, and gunner turrets for bombers and ...Read more]]> Did you know that before lucite was associated with strippers, it was actually considered to be a very high class and a very expensive type of plastic? The transparent thermoplastic was developed in the 40s and was used in World War II as building material for submarine periscopes, windshields, and gunner turrets for bombers and fighter planes to name a few uses. (Wikipedia)

The war inspired a lot of fashion trends during that time (look up 40s military fashion and Christian Dior in the 40s) and it wasn’t long before the fashion industry picked up on lucite. Designers were soon churning out purses, jewelery, shoes, and other accessories made out of lucite and it became all the rage among women in the 1950s.

1950s actress and leading sex symbol Jayne Mansfield wearing lucite heels

The most expensive lucite purses in those days were made by Wilardy of New York and were even showcased in major department stores throughout the US (Henrietta Timmon’s “Lucite Purses – A Brief History and Buying Guide”):

1955 advertisement for a Wilardy Rhinestone Clutch, as used by English-American actress and director Ida Lupino in the 1954 film “Private Hell 36″

After the heyday of lucite in those years, it all kind of went downhill. There was a brief period in the 70s when the popularity of lucite spiked up again in the form of disco shoes, but it slowly became associated with strippers and became known as “hooker wear” from then on.

There is however a small group of people who know the true value of lucite and perpetuate the glamorous legacy that it started in the 50s. It looks like Miucca Prada is one of those people in the know, as she included elegant clear and smoky black-tinged lucite heels for her latest Spring 2010 Ready-To-Wear collection:

Lucite heels in the Prada Spring 2010 RTW fashion show

Lately, select shoe designers have also been coming out with really tasteful lucite shoes. See if any of these 3 lucite shoes are to your liking:

Stuart Weitzman Mam, $315.00

Onex Venus, $64.00

Two Lips Mel, $25.88

What do you think of the Prada lucite heels or lucite shoes in general? Will they catch on and restore their former glory or are they just a novelty to you?

Read more about Prada lucite heels in this blog post entitled “Lucite Heels from Prada: Chic or Cheap?” over at YourNextShoes.com.

]]> http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/2010/04/a-brief-history-of-lucite-from-the-50s-to-the-latest-prada-lucite-shoes/feed/ 0 50s and 60s Square Toe Pumps at the Prada Fall 2010 RTW Fashion Show http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/2010/03/50s-and-60s-square-toe-pumps-at-the-prada-fall-2010-rtw-fashion-show/ http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/2010/03/50s-and-60s-square-toe-pumps-at-the-prada-fall-2010-rtw-fashion-show/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:46:37 +0000 Erika http://www.retrovintageshoes.com/?p=1077 The latest Prada fashion show has landed on fashion’s front pages again not because of the clothes but because of the use of (gasp!) models with boobs and butts:

Relatively “bigger” models: Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes and Lara Stone

In real life, Dutch model Lara Stone is a teeny size 4 (US). As for the other two? ...Read more]]> The latest Prada fashion show has landed on fashion’s front pages again not because of the clothes but because of the use of (gasp!) models with boobs and butts:

Relatively “bigger” models: Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes and Lara Stone

In real life, Dutch model Lara Stone is a teeny size 4 (US). As for the other two? Well, they’re only Victoria’s Secret models. So for Prada to use them in her fashion show shouldn’t be a big deal but because she has been sending down barely teenaged-body types down the runway for years, it’s become front-page headline material.

Whether it’s a publicity ploy or not, Prada timed her use of curvy models perfectly. Her Fall 2010 RTW collection is very much inspired by the 50s and the 60s and with all those ruffles, generously cut fabric, and details attracting all the attention towards the breasts and the hips, skinny waif models wouldn’t be able to carry the clothes as well as Miranda Kerr and company.

Miuccia Prada herself admitted that she only rehashed her old designs and even went as far as calling her collection “normal clothes”, but the 50s/60s inspired clothes are still all very lovely even to this day. There was the beehive hair, the peter pan collars, the full knee-length skirts and even the cat-eye glasses. As for the shoes, Prada sent down at least 3 different styles but these square toe pumps in retro colors were the most in harmony with the 50s/60s theme:

Prada square toe pumps in retro colors

Rich camel, khaki, burnt orange and other fall/autumn colors

Sometimes, fashion is square. Try these 3 square toe pumps on for size:

J. Renee Alona, now only $71.50

Nine West Pugnose, on sale at $70.25

AK Anne Klein Tricky, now only $67.90

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