What footwear do you remember wearing... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

55,221 members65,989 posts

What footwear do you remember wearing from the 1930's 40's 50's 60's 70's 80's

KingoftheCocktails profile image

............................Footwear???

Does any body remember those Hobnail boots handed down from sibling to sibling, Taking them to the cobbler to be mended on many occasions.

What did you wear?

KOTC

Put your best shoes on and go to your local Breathe Easy

Details from 03000 030 555 Mon-Fri 9am 5pm

Written by
KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

114 Replies
katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60

Hobnail boots for the cobblers to repair were unheard of in poor families. I recall putting newspaper inside shoes in thick layers once there were holes in the soles, so they would last a bit longer, or literally going bare foot .I come from a younger generation of post war families and always had shoes, fitted clarks ones which shows in how good my feet are today except for the arthritic pain.Of course my mum had a small business, like Maggie Thatcher so I was not brought up poor.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

My mother always tied my laces tight and this gave me deformed feet

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

off the subject, my mum who is 95 says she can remember her family wearing and sharing hobnail boots. My husband had deformed feet from ill fitting shoes and many have them from wearing fashion shoes too

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

Since my younger days I have only been able to wear wide fitting lace ups. which restricted my fashionabillity!!!!Katie

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Not sure about that, a lot of the older style shoes are back in fashion. But our saying is built for comfort not style.I can't even wear lace ups have to use Velcro style or slip on shoes, bit limiting when you want trainers which are often the shoe of choice for the less mobile

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

Velcro is a godsend.

Ooh I remember squeezing my toes into winkle pickers and dancing all evening,agony !!

Exblonde.x :(

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to

I thought winkle pickers were men's shoes?

newlands profile image
newlands in reply to Toci

No i also had winkle pickers my father stuffed the toes with cotton wool so they didn't crease !!

phillips1 profile image
phillips1 in reply to newlands

Clever fella your dad. I did the same but it didn't stop the toes curling up. lol

Bobby xxx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to newlands

Snap

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to newlands

Hi newlands, I did that with wet paper that hardened when dry, but the points stilled curled up to my chin

in reply to Toci

Toci, there also were ladies mine were black patent leather with 3inch heels. I cannot see any men suffering that pain.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

My mother would have said to you exblonde''You'll regret it when you get older my girl''

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

My grandma did and do I regret it NO it was worth every bit of pain then and my feet are fine still.xx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Nice to know one end is still ok

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Toci

Hi Toci. Fashion stolen from the men Eh?

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

I didn't dance, couldn't spoil my winkle pickers, Just stood the opposite side of the dance hall watching the girls

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

I am surprised you noticed the agony exblonde, I mean .weren't you gazing longingly into your partners eyes with longing expectations? Be honest now

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60

In my teenage days I recall wearing four inch stiletto heels, that got caught in drain covers if you were not careful. Then there were winkle pickers for men, long pointed narrow toed shoes for those who are younger.Followed by multi colored wedge heeled shoes, some of these styles seem to be coming back into fashion for the younger generation.

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to katieoxo60

Yes, I did the stilettos followed by wedges. Now it is anything that will fit fat feet! :)

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to Toci

same here, trainers or comfort walk shoes. No heels and none slip soles if possible

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

Sensibility

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

C'mon Katie, flat shoes, what about the old flat black DAPS

knitter profile image
knitter in reply to KingoftheCocktails

I forgot about daps, thought they only called plimsolls that in wales

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Toci

Stilettos Toci, How many dance floors did you SPIKE?

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

Did you take them off katieoxo to jive in

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

definately, and too walk home later

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

Wasn't it nice Katie that you could walk home barefoot in those days, maybe alone at night and the only worry was ''Where have you been 'till this time of night?''

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

delayed reply, but it was nice to take shoes off and walk home safely no matter what time of night, then sneak in so no one heard you,nowadays your not even safe in your own home,never mind walking the streets at night.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

It is a sad reflection on life nowadays katie

newlands profile image
newlands

My father was in Belgium during the war i was living with his sister and when on leave he brought me some clogs i was 4 years old and i loved them then in the 50s the local paper did shoes for bairns and the sandals had holes punched in them awful because everybody knew you had free sandals , but i wanted to be like my friends so got the teachers puncher of her desk and punched holes in my sandals my father was not very happy

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to newlands

You were a very naughty child newlands

knitter profile image
knitter

My mother had to wear lace up boots that were passed down from her sister in the1920's and she still remembers the shame of having to wear boots instead of shoes to school.

I remember wearing sandals with crepe soles in the summer to school, and the soles used to melt and stick to the pavement.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to knitter

Fond memories of that happening. I used to get my sisters old sandals, but hey ,I had something to wear knitter

phillips1 profile image
phillips1

When my dad was young, around 1915, he and his siblings queued up at the local Salvation Army hall once a year. They were given boots that had been rejected by the forces as having been to far gone for further repair. As dad was shoeless - like many kids then - he was delighted to get a pair, hobnails or not. The good old days eh!

Bobby

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to phillips1

These FEET were made for walking

Hi

I remember tottering around in huge platform shoes in the 70s .... I see they are back! What goes around comes around

Beth

img1.etsystatic.com/012/1/6...

Puffthemagicdragon profile image
Puffthemagicdragon in reply to

I had the male version. Platform boots. Similar to these but without the pattern on top near the toes !! :)

6isx.com/wp-content/uploads...

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to Puffthemagicdragon

I bet you REALLY looked the biz!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Toci

We all thought we did in those days Tocci

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to KingoftheCocktails

#Those were the days my friend!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Toci

We thought they'd never end!!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Puffthemagicdragon

Real cool dude

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Did you wear those in the picture.The thought of it!

Puffthemagicdragon profile image
Puffthemagicdragon in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Similar. :)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Did you wear those Beth? I commend you for even trying

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Hi KOTC

I did and had blisters pretty much all the time ... silly girl

what you do for fashion when young!!

I imagine they (the young) continue to do similar ...

I don't think the advantages of comfortable footwear hit in until in seriously middle aged!

Beth x

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Girls will never change Beth

phillips1 profile image
phillips1

KOTC

When I married my first wife - I'm a slow learner - in 1965 I wore a collarless Beatles suit and long winklepicker shoes. White shirt and a red tie. I looked the biz. My fashion sense has stayed - first wife didn't.

Bobby

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to phillips1

Are you still wearing winkle pickers then Bobby

Ah me!! I remember going to the shoe shop in Reading, Milward's (?) trying on shoes and checking under the xray machine to check the fit. Kipper sandals.

Big sigh! high heels, platform soles, sling backs. So smart but they didn't do my toes any favours. Black lace up uniform duty shoes. love Anniexx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

When I was 18 I bought a pair of Churches Brogues, was I the cat's whiskers

phillips1 profile image
phillips1 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

I used to live just round the corner from Church's factory. Proper shoe makers.

Bobby

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to phillips1

I cherished those shoes Bobby and they lasted me for over thirty years

phillips1 profile image
phillips1 in reply to KingoftheCocktails

They are still going Richard but I think the cheapest now are over £200 a pair.

Bobby

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to phillips1

I paid £30 for mine! My Mum said I was STUPID

peege profile image
peege in reply to KingoftheCocktails

£1 per year then, what value!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to peege

Not so stupid was I ?

warwickstag profile image
warwickstag

I used to love my cuban heeled boots. Dead cool.

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to warwickstag

never thought of them ones, bet you looked real fashionable.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to katieoxo60

I'm jealous Katie.I couldn't wear Cuban heel boots

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to warwickstag

Do you remember chisel toes?

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to warwickstag

Hi warwickstag. I felt left out when they were in fashion because I have very high insteps and could not wear boots

warwickstag profile image
warwickstag in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Hi King, I'm not saying they were comfortable, just that they looked cool. Never worn heeled shoes or boots since, and can't understand how women manage to walk on heels.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to warwickstag

They don't, they hobble along !

wishoz profile image
wishoz

We also had an x-way machine in the shop, great fun looking at ones toes, sadly had it had to go - health and safety reasons,as did the rocking horse when mother complained her child had fallen off it....ah well that's progress??

in reply to wishoz

I have asked lots of people if they remember the x-ray machines for looking at where your toes were in new shoes and they always look at me as though I'm mad. I think I must have been about 5 or 6 at the time.

in reply to

I remember them too .... my physio was talking about them with horror just last week .... too much xray is very bad news for bones/causes cancer etc

and there we were, kids queuing up for another go! No wonder they were stopped, I think in the late 60s early 70s

Beth

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

I don't remember them but I can imagine all the kids saying ''I want another go'' and you Beth

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

CarrieMe, and are they still looking at you like that. Hee HEE

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

More often than I like to admit. :-)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Oh what a shame. Look on the bright side of it 'They are still looking at you!'

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to wishoz

Didn't have that in my day

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to wishoz

Hi wishoz,I remember having to put my feet into a wooden ruler type thing to measure my feet.

Be quiet, sit still, don't shuffle, I told you to keep your feet still. Smack, ''mum that hurt,'' smack

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

I remember those shoe measure blocks, and had the same smack around the head if I didn't sit still, bet my grandma's hand was bigger than your mum's

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Hi exblonde .I bet my mum's hand stung more than your grandma's

wishoz profile image
wishoz in reply to KingoftheCocktails

still do measuring to get good fit in some shops - think measuring device more modern tho'- kids still play up and wriggle Mum still gets cross -but no slapping these days- some things do change but not kiddies behavour !!!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to wishoz

Mores the pity Some of them could do with a boot up the backside

wishoz profile image
wishoz in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Bet you scuffed the toes of your new shoes on the way out as well - you were a bit of a rascal I suspect :)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to wishoz

You are cheeky wishoz, but so right

katieoxo60 profile image
katieoxo60 in reply to wishoz

remember those machines in shoe shops and the measuring one

I still have a pair of gold platform sling backs in the attic from the early 70's. I could never bring myself to throw them away. They must be a collector's item by now. :-)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Better get the insured

dreadful for you....

my sympathies, I hope you can rest easier now these things are long ago .... it would be nice to think kids don't go through this these days ... but news tells us different

take care

Bethx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Very true Ripley

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

Oh Carol how awful for you. I was only 12 when my father went for my17 year old sister, I smacked him so hard he never touched her again or me.

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

hi kotc,my dad walked left mum with 6 kids then married that thing,had 2 to him/never saw my dad from that day,the thing was a git.he hit all of us blody bad childhood,always smoking 24,7,round all of us,wen I was 16 he hit me so hard perferatied my ear drum.went to the police they didn't blve me they blved him an mum said nothing.so my lungs were nakered then with smoke whoopin cough measles phenomia jaundice an meninjitus at 15.as I started in mills at 15,for 23yr so all that ads up ,started daft cigs at 20 wen I left home .is it any wonder,take care

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

caroll. Have you managed to enjoy your life since you left home at 20.? I left home at sixteen for different reasons but I then made my mind up that whatever I did from then on that I would enjoy myself, and I did , although I worked at least12hrs a day + most days, I did like most of my working life.

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

hi kotc,yes married at 21 had 3 girls an 1 son/lost 3 didn't go full term ,worked cotton mills 23yrs so wud have had more damage to lungs then,hubby turned to drink years an years.i never drank,hubby went 9yr ago but the stress of him harassing me did me no good,he married again but not with her now still drinking ,some1 told him I had copd/wat did he say .her fault for smoking id better leave the harass out now she b gone soon,he smoked drank all his life nothing rong with him except hes daft ,makes me wonder sometime were god is,i smoked with all the stress of workin bringing 4 up an 1 granddaughter an runnin a house wile he ran the pubs dry/but as usual drunks are selfish its me me me only love therselves ,least I have the girls an son,12 grankids 1 greatgrand child/.illhealth now but never mind,take care

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

You have been through the wars ,haven't you? God is there I promise,

call me silly but I talk to him every night. I am a believer.

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

hi kotc,yes married at 21 had 3 girls an 1 son/lost 3 didn't go full term ,worked cotton mills 23yrs so wud have had more damage to lungs then,hubby turned to drink years an years.i never drank,hubby went 9yr ago but the stress of him harassing me did me no good,he married again but not with her now still drinking ,some1 told him I had copd/wat did he say .her fault for smoking id better leave the harass out now she b gone soon,he smoked drank all his life nothing rong with him except hes daft ,makes me wonder sometime were god is,i smoked with all the stress of workin bringing 4 up an 1 granddaughter an runnin a house wile he ran the pubs dry/but as usual drunks are selfish its me me me only love therselves ,least I have the girls an son,12 grankids 1 greatgrand child/.illhealth now but never mind,take care

in reply to

hi kotc,ye there is god.i blve to.as were theres hope also.went Portugal 4month ago with youngest girl an her 5 sons an partener nice there air was good,went to mount Fatima shrine very serene peaceful,brought hly water bak from there,u no my religion now rc,take care

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

It sounds as though you enjoyed it.

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

ps .kotc.his was a rag an bone man the git.so u no were our clothes etc came from

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

My mother used to buy from jumble sales and sometimes another kid would say''that was mine!''

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

Common chaps, what about the DA hairstyle. long jacket, skin tight jeans and Br****l Creepers?

in reply to KingoftheCocktails

When my now hubby used to call my gran used to say "here comes Fred the ted" That saying stayed with him for years. I was only allowed to go out with him because gran knew his parents.

Last year we were in M&S looking for shoes and I saw blue suede ones and made him buy them.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

I'm off to M&S Hee HEE

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

NOt forgetting''Don't you step on my BLUE SWEDE SHOES''

knitter profile image
knitter

Desert boots and Chelsea boots and Kinky boots too

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to knitter

None of them made for walking?

appyalison profile image
appyalison

I loved platform shoes (70's) but suffered terrible pain and embarrassment when i fell off them at a party in London. A n E doc in Barnet hospital the next day fell about laughing and asked other docs and nurses to have a look. Much laughter. I went from looking cool to Hopalo g Cassidy in one dance move. Weeks of wearing a slippr on one foot to work in the West End. Never wore daft shoes again. Live in slippers and trainers mostly these days. :-) :-) Alison

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to appyalison

Clippedy, clippedy FLOP. Sorry Alison but I can't help laughing at the thought

Platform shoes from the 70's! I also remember being a shoe size 8 from a young age and my poor mother dragging me from shop to shop trying desperately to find me a pair of school shoes. She did find one pair. If they were worn out within 6 months they would replace them. I wore them out in 4 :)

bev x

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Wore them out running after the boys Eh?

undine profile image
undine

I remember late 60's early 70's having a pair of platform clogs! yellow and blue leather uppers which were absolute murder to walk in, not just being platform but they rocked too backwards and forwards being clogs - 'luckily' they were stolen - but when I pity the youngsters today 'walking' around in 4/5/6" thin heels, or should I say teetering with buttocks clenched as if they have had an unfortunate 'accident' in that department, I must remember those awful platform clogs, when I also wonder why they do it!

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to undine

So it's the thin high heels that make them walk like that, and I thought, oh never mind!

jandan profile image
jandan

I remember having a pair of white shoes with square/chisel toes and cotton reel heels to wear for my confirmation in 1957/8.

My husband used to wear Churches Brogues his argument for how much he spent was he bought good shoes to last for years because if he didn't he would never have any on his feet because I spent all the money on my shoes :D

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to jandan

Very sensible Husband

dukes profile image
dukes

Yeah, I remember the boots well, wore them until 1951 and I went up to the grammar school.

I had 'Talipes' (Club-foot) and my dad used to have to repair them in the garden shed and drill the heel to take my calliper. Things like that were not available on 'The National Health' in those days !

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to dukes

Oh duke. My friend had 'Talipes' but he always tried to join in with everything which made him very popular

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

What about those quiet shoes.............................HUSH PUPPIES

clogwearer profile image
clogwearer

I'm still wearing my clogs - boots with iron horse shoe rims and hobnails great fun clip clopping about crushing thing under them !

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

You may also like...

What little ditties/silly songs do you REMEMBER from your younger days?

people on the BLF Helpline for details 03000 030 555 Mon- Fri 9am 5pm

transplant with no social support?

have no real social support, just one elderly sibling. I did mention this to the girl on the phone...

50 yo woman with NSIP and IPAF

this condition? I’d love to connect and learn from your experience so I know what to expect.

Blood Pressure Pills or not?

before taking these wretched pills. Both of my siblings were on them years before me and both...

BBQS should be banned

grumpy but iv had the weekend from hell! Non stop bbqs since Friday from surrounding neighbours.I...