What I Didn’t Buy – Kino Sandals

For over a year I’ve been searching diligently for a particular style of sandal, and today I thought I’d found them.  I was wrong, but in the process made another, perhaps more interesting, discovery.

A while back I saw an ad for a pair of Sperry sandals in a vintage magazine.  I neglected to note the date, but I’m sure it was from the late 1950s or early 60s.  At any rate, the sandals were leather soles and a leather strap but with a rope thong that went between the toes.  Sort of like what you see in the photo above.

I spotted these sandals the moment I entered the thrift store.  It was one of those moment when the first thought of “Finally!” quickly gave way to “Close, but , no.”  In other words, that little voice warned me before I even reached the rack that these were not the Sperry sandals I’d been searching for.  There was a definite lack of the quality I’d expect to find in a pair of vintage Sperry shoes.

And I was right.  The sandals were made by Kino, which rang a very vague bell, but which I really could not place where I’d heard of or seen them.   They were leather, but the materials and the construction were obviously not high end.  Still, they were cute summer thongs, in a style I’ve been wanting and they were very lightly worn.

So why didn’t I buy them?  They were too big.

I was curious enough to see what I could find out about them, and a quick Google did not disappoint.  Kinos are made in Key West, by the same family that has been making them since 1966.

Roberto “Kino” Lopez had owned a shoe factory in Cuba, which he left behind in 1962 when he left the island and the Castro regime.  Four years later he took his savings and a small business loan and opened a small shoe making factory in Key West.  The sandals are made by hand, using the same styles and patterns they have been making for three generations now.   You can watch as the craftspeople make the sandals which are for sale in the factory shop.

On the website they have a page showing the sandals, but there is a notice that they are not taking on-line orders at present.  I do suspect they will fill a phone order in case anyone wants to try.  The prices are pretty tempting, and while I can’t vouch for them, the reviews on Yelp are very good.

Ad Campaign – Bernardo, 1972

By the time this Bernardo ad was published in 1972, Bernardo had been in business for 26 years.  The line was started in 1947 by Bernard and Berta Rudofsky.  Interestingly, there is a connection to Western North Carolina.  In 1944 Bernard and Berta spent some time at Black Mountain College, where he gave some lectures on the sad state of modern clothing.  One lecture was titled ”How Can People Expect to Have Good Architecture When They Wear Such Clothes?”

Berta was inspired to get together a class in sandalmaking.  She must have learned quite a bit, because two years later they started Bernardo.  Through the years Bernardo sandals were hand sewn in Italy, the country that provided much of the inspiration for the designs.

In the 1960s and 70s, Bernardos were the brand of choice of the Jet Set, especially after Jackie Kennedy was photographed wearing one of her sixteen pairs of the “Miami” sandal.  As the ad shows, some styles were so popular that they were produced year after year.

I’m always on the lookout for vintage Bernardos, but only have found one pair.  A plus, they came in the original box with the wrapping tissue.

The brand had all but died out when it was revived in the early 2000s.   Some of their special sandals are still made in Italy, with the remainder being made in Brazil, still using the hand sewn method of their past.   And the company’s designs are true to the originals.   Last year, the company released a line of sandals from the Bernardo archive, called Bernardo Icons.

I kept meaning to buy a pair, but I am hard to fit when it comes to shoes so I was afraid to order them.  I was delighted that my local privately owned shoe store carries Bernardo, and so I ended up with a pair. (Note to people in WNC, Tops still has some Icons, and they are in the Clearance Room.)  I can see why they were/are so popular.  For such a flat sandal, they are very comfortable.  But more than that, they look fantastic!

I couldn’t resist a little comparing of the vintage and the new.  It is remarkable how the shape of the sole is  exactly the same in both shoes.

And one more vintage ad.  This one has the same Roman statue foot that is printed on their wrapping paper!

What is so remarkable is that the Rudofskys were intellectuals, not fashion people.  He was an architect and artist, and to learn more about his remarkable life, do watch the video.

Ad Campaign – Joyce Shoes, 1948

As promised, here is another sandal ad, and another one from Joyce Shoes of Pasadena, California.  This is their Maracaibo line of 1948, inspired by the shapes and colors of Venezuela.  During WWI and for several years afterward when travel to Europe was greatly curtailed, the countries of South America provided a lot of fashion inspiration.

Ad Campaign – Cool-ees by Joyce, 1940

All Cool-ees by Joyce are not carried by all stores, but most good stores carry Cool-ees.

The Joyce Shoe company of Pasadena, California was in business at least from 1940 into the 1980s.  It was founded by William Joyce.  In 1950 the factory suffered a terrific fire which destroyed much of the company’s inventory.  Newspaper reports of the time show employees sifting through the smoldering building looking for things to salvage.  I’ve got to wonder if any of those smoky shoes actually made it onto the market!

Ad Campaign – Kedettes, 1953

I did promise to feature shoes this month in the ad campaign, and so now I’m making good on that promise.  Kedettes was a division of the United States Rubber Company’s Keds brand, making canvas and rubber casual shoes for women.

Some of the shoes in the ad look a bit dowdy to me, but have you ever seen a cuter thing than that Gay Espadrille?  The shoes came with two sets of laces – one to match; one to contrast, and they were available in twelve different colors.  They actually made it for several years in the early 50s, so why is it that I’ve never found a pair?

A few years ago Keds had a collection based on updated versions of the old Kedettes of the 1940s and 1950s.   Most of them had 2 -3 inch wedge heels , which lessened the appeal to me considerably…

Making Lemonade

I’d planned not to tell this one, as it makes me sound like I’m really losing it, but since it turned out better than expected, I thought, what the heck.  I bet at least a few of you will be able to relate.

I had big plans for Friday.  It was, as far as I’m concerned, the day that signals the beginning of Flea Market Season – the twice yearly Big Antique Spectacular at the Metrolina in Charlotte.

The only problem was, that the Spectacular is this up-coming week, not this weekend.  I tend to always double-check dates before setting out on a two and a half hour drive, but our internet was down Thursday night and Friday morning, so I just dismissed the thought and hopped in the car anyway.  I was literally at the gate before I realized that I had the wrong date.  I had assumed that because today is the first of the month, that this would count as the first weekend.  Wrong.

I was so irritated with myself that I sat there for a minute, and then called my support system (also known as Tim).  He let me whine a little and then reminded me that at least I had the time and money and health to be able to make the trip and instead of lamenting the day, I should make the best of it.  This was seriously NOT what I wanted to hear.

So I turned the car and headed toward home.  About 20 miles in I happened to think of a store I’d planned to visit after the flea market, and so I though since I was getting off the highway anyway, I ought to revisit an antique mall I knew of in the little town of Belmont.  It was a store I’d not been in for about two years.  It was one of those places that couldn’t quite decide if it wanted to be a home decorating store, or an antiques store, and so was not really a favorite.

But I did stop, and I was very pleasantly surprised.  Not only was there less new stuff than I remembered, there were several booths that were made up of the types of things I like best.  You know, shoes and clothes and hats and such…

The rack in the above photo was full of boys’ shoes from the 1920s through the 50s.  I mean, it was brogan heaven!  At first I thought the shoes were mens’, but then I realized that the sizes were smaller – sizes that would fit many women.  I ended up buying only one pair, white bucks that will go great with a borrowed from brother type outfit from the 1920s, but I’ll probably revisit them and see if the shoes are comfortable enough to actually wear.

Some of the shoes were Sky Riders.

This photo of the entire booth is quite busy, but you might be able to pick out all the 1930s womens shoes.  They, like the boy’s shoes, were all deadstock, and in wonderful condition.

Instant picnic – just add food and lemonade!

Here’s my terrible photo of the cutest dress:  Swirl with a hunt scene faux apron.

I carried this around and for some reason did not buy it.  It was probably that pesky voice that reminded me that I already have 5 plaid jackets.  Still, this one IS Black Watch, and IS Pendleton…

One booth had loads of these adorable button cards.

These was no label that I could find on this wool blanket, but I loved it so much.  I mean, it would match almost any decor!

And finally, the interior of a hatbox, and yes, I did buy it. I’ve gotten to be very careful with my purchases, but I’m not crazy!

So where is this little vintage paradise?  It’s Piccolo Antique Mall in downtown Belmont, NC.

US Kedettes Capri Clogs, 1951

Are these as cute as I think they are?  Sometimes I think I may be overly influenced by the messages sent by the advertising.  In the above ad from 1951, the image of the little colorful boats awaiting their turn, ready to enter Capri’s Blue Grotto hits my travel bug hard.  So I’m thinking maybe I’m being swayed by what I would like to be doing while wearing thess Capri Clogs, rather than being in love with the shoes themselves.

Then I take another look at them, and think, “Naw.. it’s the shoes!”