But, these shoes and several other types were worn regularly by many of you, back in the day. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Ad from shop LeatherrCraftsUk FREE shipping, ad by TheleatherspotShop Most often white bucks are made in a four-eyelet plain-toe lace up oxford. eAGAPIcom Though bucks were most commonly found in white, similar (if not identically styled) suede shoes were also a hit during the rocking days of the 1950s, when none other than Elvis Presley himself made blue suede shoes an immortal classic with his wildly successful 1956 song of the same name (which, interesting, was actually recorded first by Carl Perkins the year before, though it's Elvis' version that most people think of when picturing this toe-tapping tune). You might recall the cordovan as a preppy look. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. From shop TimelessTiptoesShoes, $58.91 Want to generate some excitement and become the center of attraction at the office or your next date this summer? Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. These are third party technologies used for things like interest based Etsy ads. Bucks, so named because they were sometimes made of made of buckskin (but more commonly suede), found a large following with male, and to a considerably lesser extent, female wearers, and though they were often seen on those in their high school and college years, they also had a fan base with snappily dressed gentlemen of almost all ages. TheleatherspotShop Ad from shop CustomByBrandy Ad from shop DogCharms From shop MotherlandThrifter, $69.50 Q. I know the term white-shoe law firm means one of the big prestigious names, but why are they called that? Ad from shop PortlandPandemonium I just love this shoe. FREE shipping, ad by charmsandcabochons $25.20, $28.00 Over the past several weeks, we have had weather that called for this so-called special clothing. Most of us who wore loafers wore the penny style. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. The most conservative of my high school and college mates wore this boot. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. For many of us, the purchase of our first dress suit was accompanied by the purchase of a pair of wing tip shoes. From shop ShopBySeamus, ad by DogCharms Im fairly sure youve railed against mens white shoes. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. Do you recall the popularity of suede shoes, back in the day? FREE shipping, ad by EarsEarsEarsBoutique Original Price $28.00 You are truly from back in the day if you recall wearing old mans comforts. Practically, all jitterbugs here in Philadelphia wore this shoe that was mainly purchased from a Hanover Shoe Store. As examples, at an afternoon cocktail party, they might wear white bucks with a seersucker suit, with a madras jacket, with a navy blazer and white summer trousers, with a pastel cotton sweater and white cotton pants, or even with well-cut shorts. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. For many of us, this shoe was a bit too ostentatious. From shop BuckandLola, ad by Pawswithstyleshop (25% off), ad by mosshe FREE shipping, ad by EssexRiverAntiques As a nostalgic person who loves to write about the past, it should come as no surprise I have a pair of loafers in my wardrobe today. Ad from shop EarsEarsEarsBoutique TrulyDeeplyVintage All rights reserved. FREE shipping, ad by CompanyMan Like me, many people used a small bag that contained a white powder that was dabbed on the white buck shoe to keep it clean. RocketOriginals Loafers were the choice of footwear until the sneaker became popular in the 1970s. Submitted photo. Their too-slick look is unappealing for several reasons: They are flashy and do not have a quiet, refined air; they suggest men who no longer dress for work (and who may wear them with matching white belts! Ad from shop RocketOriginals Older Post I am certain many of you can picture this crepe-soled or natural gum rubber sole boot with its sturdy rough-out suede. Another of my favorite shoes from the past is the ripple sole shoe. This wing tip or cap-toe, two-tone shoe came in either black and white, or brown and white. I know I am not alone when it comes to dealing with the elements, especially snow and extremely cold weather. But, no coin went into that slot on the front of the loafer because this just was simply not a look for brothers. Wearing loafers with a penny would have caused you to be viewed as corny, back in the day. ShopBySeamus Magazine Articles. From shop RocketOriginals, ad by Providencea mosshe It was a real cool but conservative look. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism From shop ToasteePups, $8.00 The seller might still be able to personalize your item. Ad from shop DoubleAcesVintage Original Price $9.00 Back in the day, a pair of white bucks was the indisputable sign of being cool, but educated. Ad from shop TimelessTiptoesShoes Ad from shop OurTownVintage Share with Us. PortlandPandemonium I can still visualize jitterbugs strolling down the street with pants pulled up far above their waistlines and hands in their pockets, occasionally pulling their pants up even higher to show off their old mans comforts. EarsEarsEarsBoutique Some people used a powder made into a thick paste and applied it heavily to the shoe. that is degrading to another person. White bucks have for decades been an integral part of the summer uniform worn by officers and members of the most aristocratic yacht clubs. It is the ever-popular suede desert boot. From shop RixxeCraft, Sale Price $71.25 From shop pastonvintage, ad by OurTownVintage You probably will not get another date but you will be remembered as being different. What I wore on my feet serves as the impetus for this column shoes I had not worn for many years and only occasionally in recent years. Bucks are associated with such other terms as preppy, Ivy League and the yachting crowd. LeatherrCraftsUk Ad from shop RetroRagWNY Ad from shop DragonflyMasksCo I must admit I did not like this boot and therefore, never owned a pair. A pair of white bucks, saddles shoes, old man comforts, spectators, spats or any of these other styles offers an assortment of choices to resurrect styles today that had their origin and made their statements, back in the day. Upon hearing the expression, white shoe law firm, you envision a firm that tends to hire well-bred men from the elite upper tier of once-upon-a-time, primarily Eastern schools. A shiny leather dress shoe or loafer, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. CompanyMan We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Providencea FREE shipping, ad by RetroRagWNY Typically, orders of $35 USD or more (within the same shop) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers. OurTownVintage From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. To create a preppy look, cordovan shoes were worn with the Ivy League suit. But style is timeless, and a man could make a bold fashion statement by adding spats to his wardrobe today. This was the shoe to wear with the so-called Ivy League suit. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers the keynote address at the 113th NAACP Conference in Atlantic City, N.J. on July 18. I thought everyone knew something about the cordovan shoe that is, until a co-worker commented he had not seen anyone wearing this type of shoe for years and an onlooker asked, What are cordovan shoes? Someone else indicated he assumed the cordovan shoe was any shoe that was a cordovan color or made of horsehide leather. Threats of harming another Be the first informed of upcoming Trunkshows, sales and promotions opportunities! Also, it is not actually white, but a slightly creamy off-white color. From shop OurTownVintage, ad by CustomByBrandy FREE shipping, ad by TandDEssentials Ad from shop sidvintage From shop SteamRollerVintage, ad by TrulyDeeplyVintage They were very popular because you could just slip them on. Ad from shop LeatherHuts FREE shipping, ad by ShopBySeamus We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Ad from shop TandDEssentials We do this with marketing and advertising partners (who may have their own information theyve collected). The saddle shoe could be white with the saddle being brown or black. This is one shoe from the past that can still be worn in a conservative manner. So well known was Boone, in fact, for his passion for this particular type of footwear, that he was sometimes called The Kid in the White Bucks, and numerous images abound of him sporting an always immaculate pair of these sturdy white kicks. From shop Pawswithstyleshop, ad by DragonflyMasksCo RetroRagWNY The slim tapered trousers of a suit, back then, helped to accentuate ones cordovans. Ad from shop CompanyMan Ad from shop pastonvintage From shop cherchezltd, $94.00 Ad from shop BuckandLola This is the shoe with a moccasin-like comfort with no laces or buckles. Some years ago, when making my daily commute to Newark, N.J., I wore an outfit that included a seersucker suit, bow tie and a pair of white bucks. I cannot imagine that it really relates to white shoes. ); they make a mans feet look big; their shininess draws attention away from a mans face and directs your focus to his feet. Though they were never (in no small part because of how tricky they were to keep pristine looking) quite as widely loved and worn as their similar looking cousins, saddle shoes, bucks were nevertheless one of the most commonly sported styles of shoes amongst the younger crowd during the mid-twentieth century. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? TenCentMillionaire I received a lot of stares from my fellow commuters. From shop TenCentMillionaire, $60.00 Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. In some circles, it was the in thing.. LeatherHuts From shop sidvintage, $125.00 Yes! But, with the right finishing touches, even an average Joe can look like a million bucks wearing a pair of crisp white, grey or tan spats. Ad from shop charmsandcabochons WardCleaver211 ToasteePups | Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. From shop mosshe, $98.00 From shop HBbarks, $10.99 Ad from shop RabiaYMiel For the super cool jitterbug, the high top comfort was his calling card. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. Please. All this, and more (though not clearly stated), is implied by the term. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2022, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Now, this was a shoe I never liked. Reference is also made to the rounded-button-collar dress shirts that were appearing on the backs of so many college men at that time. A commonly-found white shoe, it is the type that I refer to with uncomplimentary remarks. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. $8.10, $9.00 (10% off), ad by cherchezltd Click Here to Read More Articles About 1950s Fashion Copyright 2008 Old From shop CompanyMan, $110.00 Obituaries and death notices are paid. White bucks are made from a form of suede called nubuck. Its surface looks and feels like suede with a soft texture. Log in, Do business in the Charlottesville area? DragonflyMasksCo Its trade mark is a pink sole. Good kids who did they civic duties with a smile, went to every pep rally, and were keen on using words like "gosh" and "golly". Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. The penny style had a little slot to hold a coin, but usually a dime instead of a penny. Absolutely! Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. Eyewitnesses from the era reported that Yalees were partial to wearing gray flannel slacks or gray flannel Bermuda shorts while tramping around in their bucks. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Ad from shop TrulyDeeplyVintage From shop TheOldBagOnline, ad by pastonvintage RabiaYMiel From shop DoubleAcesVintage. Ad from shop TheOldBagOnline FREE shipping, ad by TheOldBagOnline From shop MaineSale, $115.00 Stepping on ones white bucks led to many arguments and occasional fights. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. The expression does actually refer to the idea of these executives wearing white shoes, but I can certainly understand your confusion on this subtle point because there is more than one type of white shoe for men. It was the ultimate Ivy League look the shoe that was worn by many during our college days, back in the day. TheOldBagOnline each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Much like Pat Boone himself, white bucks carried with them a natural sort of ingrained air of being clean-cut, presentable and youthful. So, do you want to make a different type of fashion statement today? From shop LeatherHuts, ad by eAGAPIcom One of its main characteristics was the easily creased sides. In 2020 alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $4 billion in income for small businesses. grailgetups Dont see this option? You knew not to step on ones old mans comforts as it meant a fight. or anything. These shoes can be best described as a plain, cap toe, lace up oxford, available in either brown or black. Ad from shop HBbarks From shop TheleatherspotShop, $189.00 While this is true, the cordovan shoe my friends and I wore was a plain toe, laced up shoe with a inch leather sole that protruded outward, all the way around the shoe and capped off with a shiny finish. From shop RabiaYMiel, ad by RixxeCraft The look of those who wore this shoe would probably be also best described as preppy. Who wore gators? Or, perhaps I should ask, Who could afford to wear gators? Back in the day, you had really arrived if you went out on the town wearing a pair of alligator shoes. The Jacques Soloviere studio likes to reinterpret the great classics of footwear. Ad from shop mosshe Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. It is a distinctive and elitist look. pastonvintage FREE shipping, ad by RabiaYMiel DoubleAcesVintage Great! Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, From shop ZavioLeather, ad by MotherlandThrifter Pawswithstyleshop At the opposite extreme of the cordovan shoe is the shoe that was worn by the jitterbugs. The barrel style had little rolls or barrels to the side of the small shoe tongue. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. I just love the look of a pair of brown, wing tip, suede shoes with a dark blue suit. Ad from shop YourEclecticStreet I cannot promise the kind of statement you will make but put on a pair of white bucks and believe me, you will make a statement. TimelessTiptoesShoes TandDEssentials The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. The shoe is a somewhat casual lace-up oxford style, often with a flexible rubber sole, and is linked in the popular imagination with preppy Ivy Leaguers and the yachting crowd. Some of you grew up in the Bohemian era and remember this shoe. This must be the most conservative shoe that can be worn. From shop RevivaloftheFittest, ad by ZavioLeather Let us know what's going on! From shop LeatherrCraftsUk, ad by RevivaloftheFittest Good news! Ad from shop cherchezltd FREE shipping, ad by BuckandLola SteamRollerVintage BuckandLola British officers in World War II wore this boot. Don't knowingly lie about anyone For those of you who may not want to return to the past by purchasing desert boots, they can be purchased via the internet today for a cool $135 a pair. Less often they come in the traditional wingtip lace up. Found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely you? CustomByBrandy Learn more. Ad from shop WardCleaver211 accounts, the history behind an article. The brown or black portion of the shoe went across the shoe like a saddle. FREE shipping, ad by TimelessTiptoesShoes From shop WardCleaver211, $39.99 (10% off), ad by DoubleAcesVintage From shop RetroRagWNY, Sale Price $25.20 racist or sexually-oriented language. From shop PortlandPandemonium, $15.99 Some of what I have stated thus far may appear familiar as I visited this subject in a column some ten years ago. Captcha failed to load. From shop YourEclecticStreet, ad by LeatherrCraftsUk With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Fill out the requested information. For, if you recall, the white buck was another element of the Ivy League world.In the 43rd Street and Fairmount Avenue, West Philadelphia neighborhood where I grew up, I did not find many of my hard headed, street corner buddies wearing white bucks. From shop EarsEarsEarsBoutique, ad by SteamRollerVintage You want to set yourself apart from your friends and the rest of the crowd at work, play or out on the town? Brown bucks also had pink soles and all of the other characteristics of white bucks. Is there any shoe associated with the 1950s more popular than the loafer? Keep it Clean. Don't Threaten. LOIS FENTON Newer Post, Solovire Paris108, rue du Cherche Midi75006 PARISinfo@soloparis.com, 2022 Jacques Solovire Terms Conditions of Sale Privacy, Security & Legal Return policy. Ad from shop EssexRiverAntiques A. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Even though you may see advertisements for expensive white shoes - most often in some form of imported loafer - my strong opinion is that you will not see them worn by well-dressed men, and certainly never on the upper echelons of business and professional men. Suede shoes could be found in a range of other colours as well, but ultimately it was white bucks that - despite being a significant challenge to keep clean - proved most popular, no doubt in part because of the fact that they were often sported by another successful singer (and teen heart-throb) of the era, Pat Boone. Original Price $95.00 So, on one day, I pulled out some items that were buried deep in my closet and headed off to the office. charmsandcabochons The rest of the combination would consist of a navy blazer, white summer trousers (formerly in wool or linen, but more recently probably in white cotton duck),and the clubs regimental striped tie. $71.25, $95.00 Well, you have a lot of choices and you do not have to go further than your feet. From shop Providencea, $65.00 ZavioLeather Now, to return to the subject of white bucks, here is yet another place where confusion comes in. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. We'd love to hear eyewitness In no way was it a clean, conservative look. Quite frankly, while the white buck was viewed as cool, the brown buck was considered rather lame. Some styles that are a very slightly darker shade of nubuck are referred to as dirty bucks. The shoe is a somewhat casual lace-up oxford style, often with a flexible rubber sole. Why there had been so many stares was crystalized when I sat down at my desk and one of my co-worker said, Good morning, Pee Wee Herman. You should know white shoes are not white bucks. Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. From shop EssexRiverAntiques, $312.00 Ad from shop RixxeCraft Ad from shop ZavioLeather Needless to say, old mans comforts had to have a spit shine. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. While this shoe was most popular in the 40s, it is still worn by a handful of people today. Ad from shop MaineSale Before curiosity kills you, the shoes I wore were called cordovans by my generation. I cannot decide if the spectator shoe belongs in the same category as the alligator shoe or if it belongs in the category of the white buck. It was then brushed off once dry. YourEclecticStreet FREE shipping, ad by grailgetups They would most surely not wear them with a dark suit, either for social wear or in a courtroom. As the new decade dawned in a more affluent America, the college-bound youths of this bountiful land found themselves tossing their old high-school saddle shoes over their collective shoulders onto the ash-heap of fashion history and reaching for a new favorite: white bucks! Send questions for Male Call to lois.fenton@prodigy.net, Print Headline: White bucks, loafers not for the average John Does. Individuals had their own techniques for cleaning their white bucks. With the LUCO derby in nubuck, we revisit the BUCK shoe. Many sellers on Etsy offer personalized, made-to-order items. MotherlandThrifter Choose the options youd like for the order. Ad from shop grailgetups cherchezltd FREE shipping, ad by sidvintage Alonzo Kittrels can be reached at backintheday@phillytrib.com or The Philadelphia Tribune, Back In The Day, 520 South 16th St., Philadelphia, PA 19146. But, then again, for some, it was quite fashionable to wear dirty white bucks. From shop charmsandcabochons, ad by WardCleaver211 Back in the day, it was a great look with a plaid sport jacket and a pair of tapered slacks. FREE shipping, ad by LeatherHuts RixxeCraft The history of a classic : The White buck shoes. You have permission to edit this article. DogCharms sidvintage Be Truthful. ad by TenCentMillionaire Ad from shop MotherlandThrifter The attached article makes it clear that those forward-thinkers at East coast colleges preferred "dirty bucks" (and one manufacturer sold them that way) while those residing on the West, and in fly-over country, wore them as clean as they could possibly keep them. Ad from shop eAGAPIcom HBbarks   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). Bucks also came in a natural brown shade. Also, it is not actually white, but a slightly creamy off-white color. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. Today in the ongoing spirit of the return of classes for many this week, we're going to delve into the history of buck shoes, which were especially popular with students during the 1950s. Ad from shop Pawswithstyleshop But, close to the brown buck was a high top shoe that was similar to the brown buck. Then, Attracting Amphibians and Reptiles to Your Yard. There were various styles for loafers including the barrel and penny style. Ad from shop SteamRollerVintage White bucks were worn by both men and women, and in the fullness of time, they would become one of the many fashion symbols to represent both the opulence and the corniness of the 1950s.