Working Woman Series: Shoes

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter

Sturdy shoes were the foundation of any working girl's outfit.  Oftentimes they required certain safety specifications (like low heels and enclosed toes), and it seems that unlike snoods and even overalls, a working woman's shoes never really get any glory.
  They're often the ignored parts of vintage working outfits because they are so utilitarian.

However, they're just that:  utilitarian.  Which means they're used a lot.  Which means they're an integral, albeit ignored, part of a working wardrobe.  They're important!

Today I've got some photo inspiration to show you the main kinds of shoes that ladies working in factories, farms, etc. during World War II wore.  Then I've included some links to different shops where they are selling actual vintage shoes that would fit these styles, and also some modern ones that you may be less worried about ruining!  Spring is coming, and I'd like to be prepared for some outdoor work and general rambling!

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
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Heeled Oxfords/Brogues
Sure, this seems totally strange for women to be wearing jumpsuits and heels all in one outfit.  But considering that during rationing times--in the U.S., at least-- one was only allowed to buy 1-2 pairs of shoes a year, these could be the only shoes that women had.  I'm sure many of them had not been planning to go to work at a factory the day they bought new shoes, as it was such a new idea.  However, it could also be said that these ladies are so used to wearing heeled shoes every day that the low 1" heel didn't make a difference to them at all!


Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
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Lace-up Boots
Okay, these are REALLY hard to find pictures of with women in the 1940s wearing them, but I found this hardworking lumberjill picture that shows a pair!  I adore them.  That's all there is to it.  So B.A.

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
Flat Oxfords/Brogues
I love flat Oxfords.  They're practical, comfortable, and have a menswear-inspired awesomeness about them.  They're actually quite in vogue these days, too, especially with color combos like the ones above!  And not to mention, who else wants some yellow overalls?!

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
Loafers
I know you've seen this picture before in a previous post, but it's just so easy to see her loafers I couldn't pass it up!  These, too, have remained pretty classic, and it's not hard at all to find similar modern pairs.

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
Saddle Shoes
Saddle shoes came in all different colors, not just black and white.  Oftentimes we associate them with the 1950s, but they were around long before then!  Here a woman wears a cute pair of brown and white ones.

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
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Galoshes/ Wellies/ Rain Boots/ Waders
Whatever you'd like to call them, these are the keep-the-water-out shoes that women like the fishmongers above wore for their muddy tasks.  I haven't included them below because, well..... they look pretty much exactly the same as they did in the '40s.


Okay, now that we've established the kinds of shoes available to and utilized by women, I'll show you how to get some of your own to incorporate into your looks!  First off, I have some vintage pairs (though not necessarily from the 40s) that are up for sale right now:
Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
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Next, I have some modern versions that look quite similar to vintage styles.  I also included in the group a pair of combat boots (#11 below) because they look so much like WWII American military-issue combat boots.  I'm sure there were some women that picked up a pair during this time!
P.S.  I bought one of the pairs of shoes below for myself....

Flashback Summer: Working Woman Style Series - 1940s factory, land, farm girl, rosie the riveter
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7 comments

  1. I've been following this series and I think it's great. Have you looked at this site? http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/home.htm It's all about working women, mostly factories, during WWII with LOTS of great pictures.
    Oh, and yes to the yellow overalls! Love the pictures of the women with their metal lunch boxes. My grandfather work for Bell Aircraft doing the war and I still have sit metal lunch box.
    -Emily

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    Replies
    1. No, I haven't seen that site, but now I have and it's wonderful! I'm going to have to dig through it a bit more! Thanks for the great source!

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  2. So true! I have a paid of black 40s style (not genuine vintage, but they look the part big time) shoes that I thrifted from a local Salvation Army thrift store a couple of years ago that really resemble some of the styles with heels here that have served me so well ever since they came home. They've gone to dog park many times, a petty zoo, on our trip to Calgary last September, run countless errands, even worked as snow boots assuming I wasn't going to be outside for very long. Then, as now, there's so much to be said in favour of hardworking, classic, functional shoes like the ones here.

    ♥ Jessica

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