Two thousand and twelve is drawing to a close, but that brings excitement for the coming year! I have already been designing and planning my little heart out, and researching the bazoozles out of shoes-to-do for next year. Here’s what’s clogging my Pinterest boards lately, and a hint of what’s to come…
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| Abigail Adams’ slippers, embroidered leather, late 1790s. Smithsonian Institute |
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| “Gibson” 1900-1925. These are samples from our snazzy new factory, ready to go for early next year. |
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| These original are from The Met, 1855-65, made of white satin. |
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| 1930s shoes, London College of Fashion |
Excited? Me too. These are just *hints* and teasers, though. Nothing is ever set in stone, and, of course, some things are top secret, tee hee! Your opinions, needs and wants, and feedback are always welcome, so don’t be shy!
50 Comments
Karen
December 7, 2012 at 11:15 PMlove the 20th C does 18th C embroidered mules myself. . .
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 2:57 AMThey are quite snazzy. Our version will be more firmly rooted in 18th c., with a thicker heel, but it will exhibit the same grace, and color scheme for that matter. 🙂
Laurie
December 7, 2012 at 11:19 PMLove the 1850's ones!!!
Atlanta
December 7, 2012 at 11:36 PMI'd looove to see some flat 1850s/60s side buttoning boots. 🙂 But any of those options are wonderful! Seriously cool stuff.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 2:58 AMI too would love those. :::adds to development list for the future:::
Laurie
December 8, 2012 at 12:09 PMI'd love some of these too!
Kesia K
December 7, 2012 at 11:40 PMI am super excited for the congnac coloured Gibsons! I am already saving up for them. I love shoes that I can wear to work!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 2:58 AMThose are my favorite of the three colors as well. They look great with jeans, hehe.
Hana - Marmota
December 9, 2012 at 9:19 AMMine, too, though it's not exactly my colour. But it looks great with the patterning and shaping of the shoe.
Julie
December 7, 2012 at 11:49 PMOMG 1860s evening shoes!!!! WANT
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:00 AMI'm really excited for these as well. They'll be in our new-and-improved dyeable satin, and are being made directly from an original shoe. Poor little thing has seen better centuries, but its soul will live on in the reproductions. 🙂
jeneen
December 8, 2012 at 12:03 AMYay, 1930s oxfords!!!!
Allison
December 8, 2012 at 12:16 AMFinally MULES!!!!!! You are awesome, Lauren!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:01 AMI've spec'd them for French blue with silver embroidery, and soft pink with silver embroidery. I'm hoping they come out eye-catchingly stunning.
Vienna La Rouge
December 8, 2012 at 7:09 AMYes! So excited for these. I will buy both colors, they sound absolutely scrumptious!
xoxo
Chelsea
December 8, 2012 at 2:41 PMFrench blue AND soft pink? How will I choose?!?!!?
Bex
December 8, 2012 at 12:45 AMThose last ones are to die for, if you do something similar I'll take one in every colour they come in!!!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:04 AMI spec'd them for black as well as chocolate brown. I love the purple, too, and they'd also look snazz in olive green, but for a first run it's good to stick to the most popular colors.
Jessica Holy
December 8, 2012 at 12:49 AMI am crazy excited for the Gibsons. I really want a pair of those. As a costumer, I am definitely into shoes from the later part of the 18th century. More boots would be lovely – like riding boots! But that's my self desire.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:05 AMI adore boots as well. I'd like to do the whole range from Regency through 1920s. We have to go one at a time while we're still a small startup, but it is my goal to eventually offer boots from each period.
Maggie
December 8, 2012 at 1:08 AMWonderful!
I have a few pics of Abigail Adams' shoes if they're helpful!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maggie42/3512056070/in/set-72157617759328959
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maggie42/3512183476/in/set-72157617759328959/
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:05 AMYes! Extremely helpful! Thank you Maggie!
Mère et fils
December 8, 2012 at 1:24 AMI like the gibson shoes.I do have difficulties with heel of 2 inch or more.I can wear the shoes longer when it's a low heel.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:06 AMThe Gibson's heel is 2 inches, balanced in the center of the foot's heel, and with a nice flare at the base. The only shoe we have so far that has a higher heel is the 23Skidoo, at 2.3 inches.
Anonymous
December 8, 2012 at 1:59 AMThe Gibsons are super cute! And totally something that could be worn in every day life, too! (Although the color of the sole on the white ones looks kind of old lady-ish… any chance of changing it to dark brown?) And OH AM I EXCITED for some mid 19th century pumps!!! WANT!!! That's really the sort of thing you just can't find today. And the 1930s shoes are super cute, too, although that heel is pretty high. I'd prefer something a touch more practical.
Best,
Quinn
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:07 AMThe heel on the 1930s shoes is high on the original, but for our version I spec'd it at 2.3 inches, like 23Skidoo. it's a little more reasonable and a lot more comfortable, without losing the nice line.
Anonymous
December 8, 2012 at 2:50 AMSeconded excitement over the cognac Gibsons ahhhhh!!!!!
I'd love some late 30s-40s shoes, not many places do them, and if they do they invariably get the most important details wrong, like the high vamp or the sturdy Cuban heel. The shoes back then had so many delicious details on the vamp, even if it was just space for shoe clips…sigh…
Ruby xx
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2012 at 3:09 AMI agree! There always seems to be something just a little bit off about vintage-inspired shoes, usually the height and shape of the heel. My goal is to always be as spot-on as possible with *all* the little details, but make it a wearable, comfortable shoe for modern gals to wear regularly.
Anna
December 8, 2012 at 3:09 AMMULES. I would love you forever for these. I'd probably get both a blue AND a pink pair…which would bring my total up to 6 pairs of American Duchess shoes. On second thought, my finances say NO LAUREN, don't make mules!!!
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:19 PMHahaha! Oh dear! Well at least you can tell him that these particular shoes, or any like them, are available anywhere else! That justifies it, right?
Kathryn Grace
December 8, 2012 at 3:46 PMThese all look so fun! Especially the 30's shoes. If you're looking for future ideas I would LOVE to see 40's pumps, something along the lines of http://pinterest.com/pin/139470919679931460/ and http://pinterest.com/pin/139470919680087652/ (I know these are modern Anthroplogie shoes but the heel and shape are SO cute and reminiscent of 40's).
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:20 PMI would like to do an iconic '40s shoe in the future, indeed. Oh man, so many shoes, can't create them all fast enough!
Anonymous
December 8, 2012 at 4:24 PMI love them all! I better start saving up some money! I especially like the mules, the 1930's shoe and the Gibsons.
Lauren Hairston
December 8, 2012 at 6:26 PMOh my goodness, I'm really excited about the mules. I love the Restoration period but it's so hard to find the shoes. Thankfully, some of the 18th-century styles work. Mules would be great! I just ordered a pair of Pompadours and some stockings. Yippee! 🙂
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:21 PMI agree, the Restoration is not a very well-represented period, yet they had some of the coolest footwear, in my opinion 🙂
Mère et fils
December 8, 2012 at 7:41 PMMy honey doesn't understand my new passion for shoes.I want the pemberley,the 23skidoo and the futur gibson.I receive the pompadour and astoria as a gift.It will be hard for the budget to buy three pairs.For those who have obsession for shoes like me , can I suggest a discount when we buy more then one pair of shoes.It would be nice and very helpfull.Thanks.
Caroline
December 8, 2012 at 8:29 PMI LOVE those regency slippers!!
Adi
December 8, 2012 at 10:14 PMI know it's WAY out of the 18th or 19th centuries, but is what about a pair for the Elizabethan period? Is it possible to find a pair of shoes that works for the Elizabethan through Georgian eras?
Thanks,
Adi
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:22 PMI have ponderings about a good Elizabethan shoe. We did a mock up for one, but it needs to be taken "further," if you know what I mean. It's on my list, though 🙂
Michelle Hamilton
December 8, 2012 at 11:04 PMOh my gosh I love, love, love the shoes for 2013. The Gibson's are so cute. And I am over the moon about the 1850s pumps–but please, please, I begging you, please bring back size 10.5. I love your shoes, they are so comfy in fact I am wearing the Astoria's tonight to a Chirstmas party and they look darling with my modern outfit.
Gracie Lee
December 9, 2012 at 4:28 AMI need them! All of them! But most especially the Regency slippers and the 30s oxfords… I can never have enough historical shoes! I even asked for an AD gift certificate for Christmas so my family can help support my addiction. I also second the request for 40s pumps… so hard to find good quality shoes with the right detailing.
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:23 PMAwesome, thank you! I am happy to continue making shoes that feed your addiction, haha! (they are my addiction as well, lol)
The Laced Angel
December 9, 2012 at 5:29 AMOOOOOOOOHHHhhhh I am buying at least one pair of those Gibsons; two if I can!
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:24 PMGibs are next out – Tavistock is coming in early, which mean we can put the Gibsons out for pre-order sooner than I had expected. Yay speed-production!
KittyKatt
December 9, 2012 at 5:48 AMStill holding out for larger sizes and wider widths. I know you will get there someday (won't you?) 🙂
Anonymous
December 10, 2012 at 3:17 AMI'm pretty much dying over here. Why can't the first three be released any sooner!? );
Also, I'd love to see more shoes the same width as the Astorias.
Lauren Stowell
December 10, 2012 at 10:25 PMHahaha, I have the SAME feelings! Next year my goal is to move considerably faster than we did this past year. We had a lot of kinks to work out with our manufacturers, but it looks like (fingers crossed), everything is going to go smoothly from now on (famous last words)
Kiyotea
December 11, 2012 at 7:26 AMOh my word.
Any idea of when the pumps would be out?
I can't help but think how cool it would be to have a pair in time for prom… 😀
Lauren
December 13, 2012 at 5:04 PMHurrah!
I know you've already got them designed, but as a gal with a low instep, I hope there's a little space between the lacing for adjustments smaller 🙂
And oh my gosh, I think I have the twin of those 1930s shoes in blue. Or at least a close relative.
Unknown
December 31, 2012 at 4:27 AMMy wish list for next year:
1. The Elizabethan shoes! Please say they didn't drop off the radar…
2. Please keep the lower heels, I love my Pomps but they hurt being so high, 1.75" was perfect!
3. Please keep the dance lasts, especially if you do another regency shoe, I need some that fit and the Pemberlies were too wide, the only shoes of yours I don't have. 🙁
4. Keep dreaming up more wonderful stuff! Earlier periods are great and filling in the time gaps…
5. Can we get our button hooks shipped with our Tavistocks? I have preorders on both current shoes but anxiously await more, especially the Elizabethans.
Love you (and your shoes), hope you had a lovely holiday!
Thanks,
Angela