Have you laid eyes upon our latest pre-order, the Classics Collection, yet? This new collection consists of three lovely vintage reproduction styles from the 1920s and 1930s, designed to fit seamlessly into your wardrobe. Doris, Rita, and Jean are all 15% off each pair when you pre-order through September 28!
And now, for a bit about our development process for these pretty new shoes…
For our September 2025 launch, we wanted to develop a collection of shoes that were comfortable, reliable, attractive, and versatile in aesthetic. Shoes that could be swapped into a wide variety of vintage and contemporary ensembles, wearable for day or evening, that authentically represented the vintage originals they were inspired by in a subtle and graceful way. A collection that was classic, if you will.
It’s no secret that we love shoes from the 1930s. Emphases on versatility, practicality, and smart design details sets shoes from this decade apart. While there were shoes that are wildly creative and surrealist in design, there was also a need for shoes that were both elegant and comfortable, and up for long-term wear. For example, stable and comfortable Cuban heels remained popular through the 1930s. We kept these features in mind as we began developing a new 1930s last and heel that would serve as the building blocks for Rita and Jean Vintage Oxfords. Our goal was to create a last that perfectly imitated the aesthetic shape of 1930s oxford-style shoes, while maintaining comfort levels. Ditto with our new 2.5″/6.35 cm Cuban heel! After a few rounds of samples, we perfected our new last, and sought out to develop it in D width. We think it came out beautifully!
A couple of inspirational 1930s daywear shoes from the Shoe Icons Museum.
More 1930s lovely daywear options, from the collection at the V&A Museum.
Design details that didn’t require extra embellishments or expensive trimmings also distinguish 1930s shoes. Menswear-inspired broguing, perforated motifs, and decorative stitching and cutouts could all be added to a shoe to make it visually interesting without making it too costly in the era of the Great Depression. Design elements like perforations and cutouts had the added benefit of making shoes breathable and a bit more flexible, adding to the comfort factor. We took design inspiration from several places, as is often the case. In our research phase, we looked at extant shoes in museums and advertisements with 1930s-esque design elements that we liked. We also took design details from some original shoes in our collection.
Once we felt satisfied with the prototypes for Rita and Jean, picking colors was upon us. It was really important to us that Rita and Jean captured the spirit of classic 1930s footwear not just in shape and design, but in color as well. 1930s fashion had such specific, lovely colors! We’ve had a lot of fun making shoes with bold, avant-garde 1930s colors before. This time, we focused more on the every-day beauty of more muted, distinctively 1930s colors. Think mauve, blush pinks, dusted blues, foggy greys, etc. In the end, we came up with some color stories that we think reflect 1930s every-day fashion perfectly. They look gorgeous together and by themselves!
Rita and Jean Vintage Oxfords- the most evocative 1930s daywear shoes you could ever dream of! These shoes are accurate to the 1930s and 1940s.
To round out the classics collection, we decided to make a 1920s shoe. We adore 1920s evening shoes, of course, and all the glitz, glamour, and creative excess that comes with them, but for this collection, something a little more fit for daytime was the ticket. We’ve ventured into 1920s daywear a few times, with shoes like Millie and Marjorie. For this collection, we were inspired by daywear options that were versatile and easy to wear from day to night, while also aesthetically effective with unique design details. To start, we developed a new 1920s last that has a classic almond toe, paired with a new, low, 1.75″/4.45 cm Cuban heel that is stable and comfortable for long-term wear.
A selection of 1920s daywear shoes from the Shoe Icons Museum, including pairs with reptile leather.
Design-wise, we were particularly inspired by a couple of features on an original shoe in our collection. We love the unique T-strap design that transitions into a decorative motif over the toe, and the inset python-leather. We don’t use exotic leathers at American Duchess, so we developed an imitation embossing pattern that worked beautifully on both suede and smooth leather. This adds so much dimension and visual interest to the shoe!
For colors- we were inspired both by 1920s color stories and by colors from nature (to go with the python-embossed leather). Doris looks just as cute in blush pink as she does in striking chartreuse and olive. For a neutral, versatile option, all-smooth leather brown and tan is a winner.
We are so excited to be releasing Doris, Rita, and Jean for pre-order. Each of these styles is available in both B and D width, in a variety of colors and textures. This collection is so sophisticated and wonderfully vintage in aesthetic. We can’t wait to see how you incorporate them into your ensembles!
The Classics Collection is available for pre-order for 15% off through September 28 in our U.S and U.K/EU stores. Pre-ordering is the only way to ensure you get your favorite color and size, so don’t wait- take advantage of the sale price and snag your top picks!
Pre-Order is Open
September 19-28
15% Discount Per Pair
AmericanDuchess.com
