The ol' eraser trick works quite well for some kinds of scuffs and marks, but overall, bucks are shoes that require one to be very mindful of where they step and what they do while sporting them. 1920s yellow, 1940s peach, and plenty of cute feat Find vintage clothing at VintageSearch.org. (LogOut/ Maybe not quite as lustrous as fine-quality suede, but plenty good enough. If I may ask, how is "White Nubuck" different to "White" when ordering Bass Buckinghams off Amazon? Does anyone know how the Bass or Walkover shoes fit. I can't find any info on that. I suppose the thinking went that those in black shoe firms could only afford one pair of shoes, thus they bought the basic staple: a black pair of shoes. Proud Chicagoan. That sounds so charming! I'd go crazy! These however I do like and will wear them every chance I get. I prefer them without socks. He was also strict on shoes: Theres no excuse for brown shoes past sundown. My 19 year old son just bought a pair of white slip-on Vans and he has spent the greater part of the summer walking the dog along the lagoon trail in an attempt to get them as dirty and scuffed up as possible! The suede in casual shoes like these serves the same purpose as corrected-grain leather - it helps cover up imperfections in hides, allowing the shoemaker to save money on cheap leather. Church's. Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together. What a great way to stroll down memory lane. Unfortunately, a day after wearing them sans socks resulted in the footbed lining to come unglued and curl up under the ball of my feet while walking. In fact, lets keep it simple: after dark, men should wear black. I dont think we need to be quite so strict as old blue eyes, but a bright white shoe really is a daytime shoe. In fact, many see them not as shoes you purchase with the intent to wear them forever, but as disposable after they wear out. Sid Mashburn sets the standard (and the rules) for wearing these classic shoes, Thanks in part to our warm weather, Southerners have been suckers for the white buck since the shoes Jazz Age inception. Therefore, theyre perfect to amp-up a simple casual look. That the shoe would fits certain occasions and outfits depending on whether theyre clean or dirty is evidence of its versatility. Or anything gray, unless its deep charcoal. As beautiful as they were, given their hefty upkeep, I can see why they feel out of widespread use by the mid-60s, as fashion as a whole was becoming more causal. You can follow Coggins lead and buy yours from New Englands Alden, who do a definitive white buck as well as a summery unlined version in collaboration with Todd Snyder. And let's not forget the white belt to top it all off Hello and welcome to Chronically Vintage! You can definitely clean shoes with (clean) white erasers - and not just bucks, but most kinds of suede shoes, handbags and garments. Wishing you a fantastic day, Jessica. Chinos, jeans, and shorts all work too - white bucks are actually really versatile shoes. Garden & Gun is a registered trademark. Frank Sinatra was an icon of style in his day, and believed, as nightime was a more formal time that daytime (hence no tuxedos before 6), one should dress more formally at night. Jessica. These shoes are the perfect balance between dressy and casual, which I love. That super minimal aesthetic makes [dance shoes] easy to style across several different looks, too, says Mark Higgs, brand manager at Englands Crown Northampton, which has an artfully crafted whole-cut pair in its robust Jazz collection. I wore white bucks in the 50's. Great! Interest piques, search on - I'll be sure to post here if I can determine such was the case one way or the other. Your knowledge about vintage never ceases to amaze me. Since it's also the traditional first day to wear white bucks (although that's obviously a sartorial rule that's increasingly anemic), I've been putting some information together for a post about them for a couple weeks. While some brands like Walk-Over and Mark McNairy have decided to make them more colorful, Im still a proponent of the classic white buck. 3. We aim to foster an environment where everybody feels safe and welcomed and where people feel encouraged to have healthy and productive discussions. Email: thesilentist@gmail.com I don't think snickerable is a real word, but it definitely should be! Because of their sleek profile, dance shoes look best when paired with wider cut pants. Take a blow for the white bucks., How the Texas-born actor shaped a career that reached a crescendo this year with one of the worlds highest international film honors, Shorty Koger honors a lost art at her Oklahoma City hattery, Oyster experts from around the South weigh in on their favorite oysters, by state, Even Kelly Fields whips up a box of Jiffy every once in a while. Very cool name for it! Then theres the sock question. I am amazed at the wealth of information on buck skin shoes that you shared with us! They are attention-grabbing, though, so you'll want to tone down the colors of everything else (again, unless you're going full-on-prep). 2. But if you do wear socks, they need to be a cream color. The shoes can work with just about any outfitshorts, jeans, a suit, denim, khaki, gray wool. Frustrated, I ripped out the footbed liners and now only wear them in colder weather with socks. We welcome those who want to learn and those who want to contribute. http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/, You are such a fantastic writer!!! I'm spending a few days with family and traveling, but I wanted to get it up before I left. Here in Southern California we wore what I guess would now be called scrunchies over the turned down portion of the sock. (http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Mens-Buckingham-Classic-Taupe/dp/B002LZTGFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338171876&sr=8-1) Are they the same, they only have plain white in size 10.5, but Nubuck comes in all sizes. Like this article? They typically turn up once in a while on sale, but$225 for Walk-Over bucksstrikes me as a fair retail price. I love to see a well dressed man!! Subscribe now and save. (LogOut/ A tan or stone poplin suit is still fair game, though. Overtly, this notion comes with the casual aspect of my outfit. When they are worn with pants, these shoes should be worn with socks. Suede bucks definitely need to be in that circle. I hope you enjoyed this history of white bucks - they really are an iconically wonderfully example of mid-century footwear. Jessica, Hi there, white bucks are tricky, but not impossible to track down. I had no idea there were this many ads available for viewing:) Maybe we might see Tony sporting some:) I had no idea you could clean shoes with erasers? They fit, but I'm returning them because they're way too big and bulky. Aah, the good old days. And with summer suiting comes summer casual footwear particularly the white buck. In 2020, theyve shaken the goody-good attitude and go well with everything from selvage denim to seersucker. With summer coming up and the Kentucky Derby this weekend, its about time to start breaking out the seersucker in your wardrobe. I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Here's Street Etiquette again, making the case for letting them get dirty, at least in some cases -. And for grins, heres me last year wearing mine during a nice summer weekend last year: Personal thoughts, tastes, observations and memories by Kiyoshi Martinez. Splurge - Alden suede plain-toe bluchers, $525. Rule number one? I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for even more white buck images now to see if I can draw conclusive confirmation of this or not. Instagram: @kiyoshimartinez. I also put together a gallery of them being worn with a reasonably wide variety of styles and colors -, There are two schools of thought here - let 'em get beat up, or keep 'em bright. On the higher end, youll find construction with Goodyear welts and soles made of the more durable Dainite red-brick rubber. I just ran across your blog for the first time today and bookmarked it immediately! Thanks for sharing the source, too. I love the attention to detail, degree of quality, and workmanship that went into so many vintage items - even many mass produced ones - and am especially grateful for it, too, because it means that lots of items from the 30s, 40s and 50s are still around today for me and other who adore vintage fashions to buy and wear. Jessica *PS* You bet, honey, stupefied is a real word. Subscribe to RR1 Live+ for exclusive virtual events all year long (at least 1 per month), conversations with Robb Report editors, special perks, and more. True to size? How Fran Lebowitz Became an Unlikely Mens Style Icon, Be Prepared for Anything: Paul Smith on the Best Advice of His 50-Year Career, Why Every Man Should Have a Pair of White Shoes in His Wardrobe, 6 Stylish Guys on Their Favorite Sneakers, From Nike Runners to Memphisto Tennis Shoes, Michael Jordans Six NBA Championship Sneakers Are on Display for the First Time Ever, Bostons Coolest Sneaker Shop Is About to Drop a New Collab With French Shoe Brand Salomon, Sneaker Store Flight Club Reopens in LA, Two Years After Being Vandalized and Looted, 11 Great-Looking Pairs of Espadrilles for When Flip-Flips Wont Make the Cut, 10 Stylish Pairs of Boat Shoes Thatll Still Look Great After Summer Ends. I got them in the mail and was dissapointed to learn my new white pair was CANVASS! You can certainly go all-out preppy with these - seersucker, nantucket reds, bright green pants with tiny whales embroidered on them, etc - but you don't have to limit yourself to that. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing. Mine would have to be spotless! *befuddled by fashion*, Very good point, they do appear to have had slightly thicker soles in some of the earlier images. I first don my white bucks on Easter Sunday, and put them away after Labor Day, unless I happen to be attending a daytime wedding in September when its hot. (LogOut/ Similarly, the rubber soles on these casual shoes save the manufacturer money, but theyre also appropriate for the shoe style. 4. Lead Fit Specialist at HALL MADDEN Chicago. Good luck with your search! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Bank (http://www.josbank.com/menswear/shop/Product_11001_10050_101876) is one source that I know of. The name "bucks" comes from the original material used for the shoes - a soft deerskin, aka "buckskin". All rights reserved. He's much, much more of a brogues kind of chap (no complaints there from me, I love them as well). So, paying more for mid-range bucks might not necessarily mean you get something better than something on the low end. Canvass makes them cooler and they are just different enough to appear as updated. I don't know how I manage it but I will always get a spot on it within seconds! Keep your white bucks looking nice. The second requires what's called a "buck bag" - a small pouch of powder that you regularly hit the shoes with to restore their original color. Two tone, high heeled, boots, love them all!!! a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the WASP upper-class elite and are thought of as being cautious and conservative. ;)~xoxo, CoriLynn. Usually have red rubber soles. They were 'groovy'. Announcing the Blue Rose Vintage hat giveaway winner. I don't believe I'd heard that term for it before. I wear two tone black and white flats all the time, and it drives me crazy just cleaning those! On unabashedlyprep.com, I was introduced to the new trend of "dirty bucks"- which have to be white, but are meant to not be as stuffy as the pristine, perfect white.I've never been able to find a new pair for women (and my foot is too small to fit a man's style) until last year when I found a pair of pink suede/ navy bottom ones on zappos.com. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 2007-2022 Garden & Gun Magazine LLC. Love them! The suede will probably also be of higher quality. When once asked by a French journalist how many pairs of the shoes he owned, Gainsbourg replied: Repetto perpte [forever Repetto]., Thats what the white shoe does. Like an ultrathin dress watch, the contrast in proportion balances the delicate nature of the shoe and gives them a stronger presence. I wish saddle oxfords (and bucks) were a fraction as easy to come by these days (especially in person) as they were back then. For both ladies and men's bucks, try eBay and Etsy, where you may be able to vintage and modern (the latter on eBay) pairs. They had their first heyday in the 1950s, thanks to Pat Boone and the advent of the "white shoe" firm. I'd say size up .5 but maybe their other shoes are different. I get tons of compliments on them from both men and women of all ages. You could go with a dirty tan, which might have more year-round appeal, but theres something I just really like about a stand-out pair in optic cocaine white. It just wasn't the sameThis year, I bought a pair of Bass (like the pink/blue) that are a white or super light chino color with almost the correct red sole. Pale pink ones sound divine. It wasnt always that way, though. But consider the list of menswear luminaries with a penchant for colorless footwear: Fred Astaire, James Brown, Tom Wolfe, David Bowie, Errol Flynn, the Aga Khan. And thats a good thing!. Though we tend to avoid very obvious summertime outfits after mid-September like seersucker suits, white or cream linen suits, white bucks. By contrast, the lower end will have less durable rubber and glued soles. Although the heat endures, the white suede walking our streets these days has dwindled. Have a fantastic last weekend of summer, Jessica. Reddit's largest men's fashion community. I remember them being very snazzy looking and was quite taken with them. If you shy away at the thought, youre not alone; for some misguided reason, otherwise adventurous guys avoid white shoes as if theyre Mukluks or Crocs. They had a tongue like lever, also covered in white buck, that you could pull up to loosen the shoe and it snapped back into place to tighten the shoe. Almost ever major shoe company makes a white buck, so there are scads of options at a wide range of price points. Those in brown shoe firms were more successful and able to buy pairs black and brown. I got my pink suede bucks on eBay a few years ago. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Thank you for the great comment! Jessica, Jessica,Your post is very infomative, filled with proper stories of history and lovely images to follow it all.As always, you have taught me something new - using the pencil eraser to remove stains from white footwear.You have a "thumbs up" from me, dear.By the way: how are your Alberta-plans coming up?Marija, Thank you for this interesting and historical post! .. Never say never, as the expression goes, but I wouldn't bank on seeing Tony in white bucks. If youre wearing white bucks, chances are youre at least giving a passing nod to traditional mens style, and such style had rules. White bucks, as theyre often called, may be as popular as the penny loafer to individuals who are influenced by ivy/trad roots. Personally, I have a virtually unused pair from Brooks Brothers I found on eBay on the cheap. Gail, Hi Gail, thank you very much for your terrific comment. Over the past few decades, the range has gained a loyal fan base, especially in Japan, where much of the recent Ivy Style revival owes some of its momentum. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Its understood that when it comes to footwear, most gentlemen would like to retain an arsenal of essential footwear to rotate through during the year. Writer David Coggins is such a fan, he put a pair on the cover of his bestselling book Men and Style. Thank you for sharing!Happy holiday season wishes, Jessica. I loved learning more about them while doing the research for this post. There aren't a great deal of modern shoe styles (save for those with classic styling to them) that appeal to me either. You have to be going somewhere clean! They are tight and I'm gonna sell them because even though I can squeeze into them, it's incredibly uncomfortable and shortens how my foot looks. Josa A. Hi Bill, thank you for your great comment. Making clothing less intimidating and helping you develop your own style. The red brick soles showed up in the 1930s (although I've never found more than just a passing reference to that - if anyone knows more about the history, I'd love to read it), and the shoes have been virtually unchanged since then. You can spend as little as$60 with Bass, or go as high as$500 with Alden. White buck, made of a leather coloured white, or dirty buck, a light tan colour suede. I got here through looking up a Rockabilly-style song title I didn't understand, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" by Bobby Pedrick Jr. 1958. Receiving and sharing the Very Inspiring Blogger A Vintage Fashionista Friday: September 20, 2013. Not only did they sometimes come with an eraser, but kids in the know, would dust them with white flour or talcum (baby) powder to have them pristine white. Here's Unabashedly Prep with a quote about white bucks from Thom Browne -, Wear them like they were real shoes. I shudder to think what some modern day fashions say about our society. I remember white buck shoes that didn't tie or slip on. Please wear your white bucks with socks. Walking down a street, their dirtiness would be marginal. I will, however, vouch for the Walk-Over brand. Buyer beware Im just glad I didnt pay full retail for them. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, which is simultaneously a solemn occasion and the unofficial first day of summer. As Coggins tells us: I was originally intimidated by my first pair of white bucks, but after a few weeks, I couldnt imagine my life without them., I think men are understandably reluctant to wear shoes that seem blazingly white, he adds. It takes a sense of fearlessness at first. I'll get them one day Really interesting post. Going to try those and will report back. Definitely! I always manage to get anything white dirty as I'm a bit clumsy I'd dare say! Plus, get the exclusive Robb Report tote bag FREE. It is a shame they're so tricky to keep in pristine (or nearly so) condition. You dont have to dress them up., A few months ago, Style Blogger focused on white bucks for their 1 Piece/3 Ways series -. And those in the elite could afford to have excess footwear, such as white shoes. Includes digital magazine access + a free gift. Makes me wonder when we became all quantity and not quality? Were in the thick of preppy this summer, with a plethora of stylesin color, cut and spiritlooking to New England for inspiration. The first is easy. I ride a big Harley, drive a truck and play guitar in a country-rock band, (none of which I'll be doing while wearing these shoes..lol) so by no means preppy either. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. They naturally go with summer clothing, like linen and seersucker suits, colored chinos and madras. I'll have to sport my pink ones in the coming months, while hearty footwear and socks becomes a must here in Canada more. The style for girls at that time was a saddle oxford (usually Spaldings), and worn with thick, folded ankle socks. As Coggins says: I think the first time you wear them you feel self-conscious, the second time you feel better and the third time, its your signature shoePeople will recognize you as the man in the white shoes. He believed a man should never wear a brown suit after dark. This new age of Ivy Style is a prime time to venture into the wide world of white shoes. I don't recall seeing that particular style while doing research for this post or at any other time, but if I come across an image of such, I will be sure to post it here for you right away.Have a great weekend, Jessica. The brief gap of bare skin between trouser and leather is aesthetically jarring. These are in between sneakers and dress shoes in terms of formal-ness. Or maybe it's just how they look to me. I have serious problems when it comes to wearing anything white. What about caring for the sole? Includes access to the digital magazine. But you need to be ready to fight. I love that you added some additional interesting points to the history of white buck shoes. These are knock-around shoes, and you should pay knock-around prices. Hi Jessica. With seersucker, with wool, with jeans. Just love it! And yes it was more Pat Boone that made them famous rather than Elvis. Churchs white suede Pembrey loafers, $650 Certainly quality workmanship still exists in some areas of fashion, but it often costs a premium and can be hard to come by at a local level for many, even if they can afford it. Down here on the Texas Gulf Coast, we have a practically tropical climate, so many of us believe the exceptions for tropical climates prevail. Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful memories of growing up wearing these classic shoe styles when they were all the rage with us. I used to have a pair of white bucks and you are right. Wearing shoes, especially leather shoes, without socks, especially in the heat of summer, is terrible for your feet and for the leather of the shoes. Press J to jump to the feed. Change). The shape and structure is all business, but the fabrics (both the suede uppers and natural leather soles) are more weekend-friendly than office-ready. White bucks are generally made from nubuck - distinct from tan bucks, which are often suede. The inimitable Mark McNairy has a handsome brick red-soled version in his spring collection and, for a stronger nod to the clubhouse, Churchs offers a rakish white suede penny loafera close cousin of the buck. Again, white bucks are a dressier cut of shoe, and should be worn only with pants, which also means they should be worn with socks. I just do not like current shoe styles. I actually really like them as they do suggest 'best' going out wear, but sadly he doesn't wear them too often for the very reasons you mention. Some other rules: Just picked up a pair of white ones yesterday at the Bass outlet store in Kittery Maine. Get some white, cream, or light tan dress socks. White bucks are typically seen as a preppy staple, with the term white shoe firm often referring to successful firms filled with partners who were Ivy Leaguers, as described inthis column by William Safire. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the Buckinghams are a little more streamlined. The shoes in the first picture look more light-weight than the shoes in the rest of the pictures? Aren't men's classes adorable? I had such a pair, fall of 1956, my freshman year of high school. Like many 1950s/1960s styles, white bucks have seen a resurgence with the recent interest in preppy, Americana style. I can't get enough of oxfords. Posted to the white bucks Facebook page. The rule as it pertains to linen is the one most commonly flouted, linen is worn whenever it is hot enough that linen would be more comfortable than even the lightest tropical worsted (worsted and humidity make for an unpleasant smell). Hi Lloyd, thank you for letting me know what lead you to discover this post. I adore classic menswear and love seeing chaps dressed in vintage and/or timeless styles (vests/waistcoats, long overcoats, suits, and crisp white button front shirts are some of my personal favourites). Jessica. And we dont mean sneakersreal, proper shoes. Thank you very much for sharing your memory of that unique style of white bucks with us. I havent seen any good ones in local stores. Thats from about sometime in early-mid May all the way to late October. I'm a southern woman who works in politics and have always wanted white bucks- to go with the job :) My father wore them and some of my most treasured memories are of him teaching me to powder his from Allen Edmonds. The word is better defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as ''designating or characteristic of a business company, esp. Their white Zizi model has long struck a note with rockstars from Mick Jagger to Mark Ronson and, most famously, the Gallic crooner Serge Gainsbourg. I posted this awhile ago about wearing them, I hope it's still useful: Okay, well casual oxfords are mostly a summer shoe, first off, so summer casual outfits. Fortunately, as the guys at Put This On explain, this is one shoe where paying more doesn't necessarily make sense -. Josh from Street Etiquette explains -. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, this is one shoe where paying more doesn't necessarily make sense, the most comprehensive roundup of options I've ever come across, Primer says bucks are the perfect casual shoe, Here's Unabashedly Prep with a quote about white bucks from Thom Browne, Style Blogger focused on white bucks for their 1 Piece/3 Ways series, Street Etiquette again, making the case for letting them get dirty, at least in some cases, http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Mens-Buckingham-Classic-Taupe/dp/B002LZTGFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338171876&sr=8-1. All through the mid-fifties to early sixties, when I was in high school and college, white bucks were very popular, although more so with girls than boys. I'm on the route to having a pair of worn in white bucks but how do I keep the sole bright and brick red? Thanks! I fully understand. Its also worth considering the white dance shoe this summer. The white is used a lot for dancing too as it is quite easy to see one's fabulous footwork!-JamieChatterBlossom. Thanks for a blast from the past visit.Hugs,Meri. Of course the color had to match that of the angora sweater you were wearing. All content, unless otherwise expressly noted, is copyright Jessica Cangiano, 2009 2019. If you're looking for men's, those are easier to come by. Get the Robb Report newsletter for similar stories delivered straight to your inbox. And putting aside shoe care and foot health, the only shoes that really look good with bare ankles are lowcut shoes like loafers and boat shoes, and only when they are worn with shorts. There must be an edge to the outfit: rolled sleeves, some dirt on the bucks. Dont wear any dress shoes with shorts, and white bucks are cut like a dress shoe. They look immaculate and impressive, but they truly ascend to white buck heaven when they get dirty and become your own. Like a waxed Barbour jacket, half the fun of owning white shoes are the beats, blemishes and imperfections, which Coggins calls sartorial scars. His own, the Aldens on the cover of Men and Style, are now destroyed and decidedly gray!. Repetto, For the most pedigreed iteration, look to the Parisian house of Repetto, which has been outfitting actual dancers since 1947. When I was a child in the 50's and 60's I would get a new pair of white bucks every Easter to go with my seersucker suit. There were no baggies in those days, Half the time when you took a step the cloud of white which came from your shoes meant you forgot to tap them suffiently to remove the excess powder.also snickerable. White buckskin shoes, the epitome of summer footwear with their signature red brick sole, have been the All-American shoe since the 1930s. Does anyone know where I can get some white bucks online in Europe ? My husband has a modern day version of these shoes but his are a pale beige which is marginally more practical. Twitter: @thesilentist But, after searching for years, I wanted to give them a try before returning. I wont put them on before Memorial Day, and never after Labor Day, Mashburn says. Of course, that depends how much you intend to wear them. As evidenced by the men who love them, white shoes secret is simply having the sartorial confidence to put them on. Thank you for sharing! In the city, white bucks shouldnt be worn in the evening. Or white shoes. Thanks for the infoI've had a pair of light brown bucks for a year or so and love them. You were right about the thick socks girls wore with their bucks. But remember this, Mashburn says. this is the most east coast thread ive ever seen. I've often wondered about classic footwear, in particular the Bucks, and how timeless they are ;) xx, My absolute pleasure, dear Erin. Below Ive done a roundup of white suede bucks by price bracket, so everyone should be able to find a pair in their budget. Does anyone have a pic of this style? I love this kind of shoes, but saddle shoes are on my wish list for some time ago. I have a pair of saddle shoes from them similar in construction with a Goodyear welt and the lining has yet to come off the footbed with my bare feet. You got snickered at if your bucks were scuffed. Towards the end of last week we took a gander at classic mid-century schoolgirl inspired ensemble in the latest installment of. Like the re-discovered Fun Shirt, theyre a playfulyet wearablestyle that inspires one to be a bit more open-minded when it comes to matters of dress.