The Chelsea boot is actually a vintage shoe, dating back to the ...Read more]]> If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you’d know how we’ve become recently obsessed with mod. It’s just too hard not to be, especially with everybody else catching on. Lately though, we’ve been zoning on one piece of ’60s fashion: the Chelsea boot.

The Chelsea boot is actually a vintage shoe, dating back to the Victorian era when it was made for riding. At that time, they were called Jodhpur boots (after colonial India’s polo playing times) or Paddock boots.

The Beatles trying on Chelsea boots

Then one day in 1961, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were browsing through London’s Anello & Davide and saw the boots which they thought would complement their suits. They immediately commissioned four pairs and the world caught on the trend. It was then dubbed ‘Chelsea’ after the posh corner of Kensington, London. The winklepicker (the more pointed style) became popular among the Mods.

Alexa Chung in Chelsea boots

Today, the Chelsea boot is associated with the hipster crowd (geeky-chic-cute) and have seen the likes of Alexa Chung sporting this retro boot.

Styling: The Chelsea boot looks really nice with slim cut pants or jeans. You can also wear it over tights or with your mod-inspired dresses. Structured outerwear such as military coats and jackets also look nice with them.

Here are some chic Chelsea boots for you to enjoy!

Emma Suede Flat Booties, $295.00, 7 For All Mankind, Shopbop

Gerti Chelsea, $78.00, Rockport, 6pm

Petty Suede Booties, $160.00, Sam Edelman, Shopbop

Rhea in Brown Calf, $49.50, Fitzwell, 6pm

Parley Zip Side Booties, $180.00, Sam Edelman, Shopbop

With the swinging ’60s as our theme, here are our top retro picks over $120 that are fashionable as well as ...Read more]]> Heels is firing up your summer with sizzling hot sale! It’s $25 off items worth $120+ with the coupon code: POP25. The sale ends Friday 6/17 at 6pm EST so don’t dally! We sure didn’t!

With the swinging ’60s as our theme, here are our top retro picks over $120 that are fashionable as well as sexy! Have fun shopping at Heels!

Cypris in Eggshell Mustard, $219.99, Pour La Victoire

Raccoon Heel, $187.49, Mink

Durann in Cognac, $148.99, Steve Madden

Kendall in Black and Caramel, $139.99, Sam Edelman

Lea Michele and fellow Glee actor, Chris Colfer, sported big grins on their faces as they left the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, January 9, after watching a performance of Hair.

Take a look at Lea Michele’s get-up for the night. How do you ...Read more]]> I wonder what Lea Michele is so Gleeful about in this photo?

Lea Michele and fellow Glee actor, Chris Colfer, sported big grins on their faces as they left the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, January 9, after watching a performance of Hair.

Take a look at Lea Michele’s get-up for the night. How do you find it?

I consider Lea Michele a budding fashionista, but I’m quite confused with this look of her. I don’t know what style she is channeling, but I find her ensemble a bit odd. Oh well, maybe it’s just me. But thank goodness for her shoes, however, which I consider her saving grace for the night. They’re sophisticated and totally stylish. Lea Michele’s shoes are these Marni Vintage Nubuk Pump:

Marni Vintage Nubuk Pump, $368.00 (Marni.com)

Gorgeous, isn’t it? And very vintage, too, with its T-strap mary jane style and natural wood heel. You can actually convert it to a simple pump by just removing the lacing through its small studs. So you can choose whether to wear it as lace-up or as a pump—talk about versatility!

If you love this edgy Marni Vintage Nubuk Pump, you can grab a pair at Marni.com for $368.00. I’ve got similar-looking shoes, though, for a fraction of that price and which are just worth checking out. Take a look:

Sam Edelman Women’s Fleur Vintage Dress Shoe, $125.40

FRYE Women’s Colette Vintage Stud Wedge, $197.95

I have to admit this last shoe has a bit of a higher price, but it’s a shoe with lots of character, so you might want to include it in your options as well.

BALLY Women’s Calatrava Open-Toe Pump, $492.25

You can shop for these retro and vintage shoes at Endless.com.

Do you think the leopard print trend now symbolizes the same things it did back in the 80s?

Either way, this particular ...Read more]]> The leopard print trend in the 80s couldn’t have been in fashion at a better time. Leopard print connotes sensuality, authority and aggression, which are really what power dressing in the 80s was all about.

Do you think the leopard print trend now symbolizes the same things it did back in the 80s?

Either way, this particular animal print is back – and in full force. Here are just a few of the celebrities seen showing their wild side in leopard print lately:

In leopard print: Miley Cyrus’s dress, Christina Aguilera’s heels, Vanessa Hudgens’s pants and Rihanna’s dress

In leopard print: Ashley Greene’s tote, Mary Kate Olsen’s jacket, Rachel Bilson’s dress and Jessica Alba’s sandals

Give a shout out to the 80s in these leopard print modern shoes:

Clockwise from top: Jessica Simpson Lizza Pump, $89.99; Sam Edelman Gigi, $74.99; Paris Hilton Senorita, $94.99; L.A.M.B. Dione, $292.49; Steven by Steven Madden Blend 1, $99.99

Even the men can’t escape it – check out these leopard printed shoes for the guys:

From top: Draven DP Leopard Low in Black/White, $30.80; Draven DP Leopard Low in Black/Black, $25.30; Emerica AR Slim Leopard, $26.95; Old Gringo Leopardito Botine, $228.00

I wonder who’s going to be spotted in leopard spots next?

Credit: PacificCoastNewsOnline, FamePictures, Getty Images,

INFDaily, Wireimage, AP, FlynetOnline

July 31, 2010 – Ashley Greene at the 13th Annual Super Saturday event at Nova’s Ark Project in Water Mill, New York

Ashley Greene’s lovely shoes are wedges with a 70s-inspired weaving detail on ...Read more]]> At first I thought that Ashley Greene’s shoes were clogs in these pictures but when I clicked on the close-ups, they were clearly not:

July 31, 2010 – Ashley Greene at the 13th Annual Super Saturday event at Nova’s Ark Project in Water Mill, New York

Ashley Greene’s lovely shoes are wedges with a 70s-inspired weaving detail on the vamp:

I love the summery feel of Ashley Greene’s whole look and I especially like that it feels so 70s. Even her wavy hair is reminiscent of the era. Don’t those sand-colored wedges go great with her breezy white ruffle hem dress? This outfit is the perfect thing for the Super Saturday event Ashley attended, which is a designer goods tag sale that benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

The only thing I want to change is  I wish Ashley Greene wore more accessories with her outfit. Something like this perhaps? :

1. French Connection Lockheart Dress, $57.15
2. Lucky Brand Twist & Shout Openwork Flower Earrings, $11.74
3. Bedstu Holland Belt, $49.00
4. CC SKYE Woodstock Bangle, $27.60
5. Jessica Simpson 400428 Necklace, $25.20
6. Sam Edelman Kyla Wedges, $104.30

Get Ashley Greene’s Sam Edelman Kyla Wedges and the rest of this outfit all at discounted prices at 6pm.com.

Credit: Photo by Steven Henry/Getty Images

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 ...Read more]]> 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

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.