Saddle Shoes: I WANT THEM NOW

Saddle shoes, oxfords, brogues- whatever you want to call them. I want 'em.

I wrote a final research paper titled "A Woman's Place is in the Home? The College Takes on Marriage" for my U.S. History course this semester. The topic, which I chose on a fluke (except it had to be related to my college's history) turned out to be more amazing than I could've ever imagined. I enjoyed doing the research so much that it helped me decide to become a history major.

But anyway, while researching I looked through yearbooks and LIFE magazine issues around the time I was focusing on (late 1930's, early 1940's) and the pictures showed girls who seriously wore only saddle shoes. I thought my college was trendy now, but turns out it has nothing on those days. Apparently the style spanned something like 20 years among college girls and teenagers.

Here are some pictures from Google's amazing LIFE archives (notice the pictures are strangely voyeuristic and creepy at times... that was how LIFE magazine was, judging by the ones I read through. It was like the mostly male readers wanted to observe how these college girls lived. Very strange, but I'll leave that for another post). Click the pictures to see slightly bigger or go to the sources I sprinkled around to see much bigger versions of the pictures. So without further ado, some old timey college girls in their saddle shoes:

This was in one of the issues I read. I remember it said she was reading a letter from home and it made sure to mention that girls had to wear slippers during study hours to avoid making noise. 1936.

This one included a caption that said something like "rainy day style" lol. It also mentioned that umbrellas were taboo. oic. 1937.
"Vassar student walking across campus in saddle shoes and flowing raincoat."
The caption online for this 1938 says: "College Fall Fashion: Brooks-type sweater and cardigan worn outside skirt, saddle oxfords, socks, pearls."
1936 @ Vassar Now Wellesley girls.  From 1949 so you see the style lasted a while.
More Wellesley, doing research and stuff. Remember the creepy voyeuristic thing I was talking about? Yeah.
Wellesley students and their matching outfits, complete with ubiquitous saddle shoes. Again 1949.I don't know wtf is going on here (well doesn't he look snazzy) but it says: "American teenagers in Heidelberg, Germany on cover of `Life' magazine dated 07-21-1947.""Teenaged girl June Runyon's legs and feet, wearing saddle shoes & bobby sox with a comb slipped in one of the cuffs." Naughty naughty. From Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1947.
"Four members of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority wearing white sweatshirt cardigans, this year's fashion fad among fellow sisters on the campus at the Univ. of Kansas." LOL. Whenever you're sick of trends, just look at this picture. At least it's not this bad. 1939. Sears catalogue advertisement. The website I got this from says: "1938, the jitterbug dance required flat shoes for women. The saddle shoe became equally popular among co-eds and the first unisex fashion was born."Happy jitterbuggers.
Collier's magazine cover. I can't read the year. Ooh, red saddles.
There are no saddle shoes in this one from 1950 (check out the keds though) but how cool were these Vassar students. Damn... they even had sweaters that buttoned up in the back... and a hipster reindeer sweater 60 years ahead of its time. Do we think she was wearing it ironically? Hm.

Anyway, not only was I brainwashed by all of those old pictures while researching, but I also spent all of last summer obsessively watching Gilmore Girls' first three seasons. I totally missed that boat- back in middle school I couldn't understand what they were saying because they talked too fast, but now I realized the show is adorable as fuck and anyone who hasn't watched it is missing out big time. Watch up to a bit before Jess leaves (aka when the show turned shitteous as hale) and thank me later.

I also spent that time fawning over Rory Gilmore's aka Alexis Bledel's amazing school uniform. I don't know why I loved it so much, but the preppy tops, plaid skirt, sheer navy/black tights (very important that they were sheer, for some reason- it just looked cooler), and saddle shoes of course were a perfect combination. I can't find screen caps that do it justice but these will have to do. Unfortunately they're all with stupid Dean:


To make up for including Dean I'll post the loveliness of Jess and Rory:

Look how cute this show is! From one of my favorite episodes:
Okay okay I'm done. Just promise me you'll watch the show and I'll move on.

Anyway, all of this together has really made me crave for some good ol' saddle shoes. They don't only go with poodle skirts for Halloween, I think I've proven that y'all.

The final cherry on top was when Alexa Chung wore them on one of her It's On with Alexa Chung episodes (R.I.P :'( )
And finally that with all of the Mad Men I've been watching (AMAZING, if you're not watching... seriously, what are you doing not watching? What? Watch it now bitches)... which has made me fall in love with that 40's, 50's style...
It's all sealed the deal. I need saddle shoes.

I've been telling my friends this for months now- all I could find online were shitty saddle shoes for poodle skirt costumes or old people saddle shoes with gross kitschy designs on them. But it looks like the ever-trusty trend mongers at Urban Outfitters have finally caught on. Look what I saw when I browsed their website two days ago:
(UO)

Helll yeahhh. Modernized and all. That's what I call a jackpot. A rip-off at $48 but what can you do. It will be my belated Hanukkah gift or something. All i know is I NEED them. NOW.

edit:

WHYYYYYYYYYY

WHY DID MTV CANCEL ALEXA CHUNG?

FUCK THEM.





FUCKKKKKKKKK THEM.

And fuck ONTD for being assholes about it. I've lost like half of my respect for them right now.

Sad day. And I have to write a research paper. UGH. This makes me feel like I have abnormal taste when so many people hated her and I fucking looooved the show. WTF is wrong with me, then? Everyone sucks.

ONTD, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down

Yes lovely people of Oh No They Didn't, you're bringing me down so much that you've dragged me out of my blogging dry spell.

I usually consider everyone on ONTD absolutely comic-/social-/intellectual-/insane-ly genius. But today I am disturbed because the masses at ONTD have overwhelmingly gone against my personal opinion and common sense not once but THREE TIMES. This is a travesty. Usually they at least have two-sided intense and hilarious arguments, but now it's just a million clones saying wrong, stupid stuff. Because it disagrees with me, the all-knowing one. I will not have any of this.

1. Rachelle Lefevre replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in third Twilight film. Summit Entertainment claimed "scheduling conflict", but it turns out she was shocked to be replaced.

ONTD: They're all like "OH EM GEE I can't believe Summit (the production co. or something) did this they are such heartless assholes!! She was PERFECT and was, like, the only one that physically fit the role! And she cared about her role! HAbakBDKLFFND!!!!!"

ME: WTF ONTD, hasn't it been a million years since you were so passionate about Twilight? Like, ever since it got really annoying and we found out the film was shitty as all hell? So where is all this uproar coming from, I thought you were all indifferent. Unless you're all shams. Also, no, Rachelle was NOT that good. I'm actually very glad she was replaced and Bryce will be great in her place (as great as the shitty script allows). Rachelle just took the role too damn seriously and it pissed me off. Tell me this quote from her after the replacement news doesn't just grind on you:

This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate.

Uh, Victoria is like the most annoying and useless thing in this series. Why the fuck are you passionate about her. Maybe you should question your judgment. And ONTD is all "she was the only one that loved the movies and took them seriously!111" And that is a good thing how? Anyone who takes it seriously, especially at her age, is kooks. ONTD, you disappoint me.

P.S. My bias against Rachelle MIGHT be mostly the film stylists' fault. She was dressed as if she was on crack and wandered off from a film about Woodstock festival, not to mention her roots were very prominently showing. Vampires' roots don't fucking show, my grandma's dog knows that. I'm talking to you too, "blonde" "prettiest vampire ever" girl in the film. Forgot her name, she plays Rosalie. OK I looked it up- Nikki Reed. That shit ain't right. She dressed horribly too. Whoever styled this movie should be shot, is alls I'm saying.

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2. Seth Rogen VS. Entourage. They're having a petty feud and you can click the link because it's too dumb to recount here.

Keep in mind- I'm biased because I have some, er, familial ties to the latter. But STILL, no one is calling out Seth for being the one who actually initiated the feud and made a big deal out of it. The right thing to do would be to wave the mention off and be the bigger man. But he had to bitch about it on E! Top Ten (seriously?). Basically he sounds like a crybaby and should shut up. But most of ONTD is siding up with him. Disappointing. I like him too, but he should just accept jokes about him the way he jokes about others. The jokes weren't even that offensive. And they give him and Knocked Up some attention again. Even Judd Apatow got it.

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3. It's On With Alexa Chung


This is a very sore point because they have constantly been bashing the girl, and she doesn't deserve it. They constantly say that her show is horrible and awkward and boring and blahblahblah whenever she comes up. You know what, ONTD, when it comes to this you are all jealous bitches so STFUD yourselves please. Eesh. She is brills on the show. Finally MTV does something right and you overwhelmingly deride it? Not cool. At all. And she is still doing a greeeat motherfucking job. More about that later.

So step it up, ONTD. Your opinions are falling to the lame as shits side. Don't do this to me!! You're supposed to be the One True Voice.

Alexa Chung Update

I've recorded and watched every "It's On with Alexa Chung" episode so far. It's good, okay!



I just wanted to send props to the talented cutie ptutie Conor Knighton of Infomania, who I already gushed about here 5 million years ago. MTV, do you know how impressed I was with you after I got over the shock of seeing him on the show? Good job! You deserve a pat on he back for that decision.

He was great, especially for his first time. And you could tell Alexa liked him because she gave him a high-five in the end. Hey, MTV, keep your good streak going and bring him on the show again. I would also be pretty awesome if you brought Sarah Haskins, also of Infomania and Current TV fame, who does the revered "Target Women" clips.

Hmm other suggestions for future celeb-gossip-guests (I love how they keep rotating):

-Perez Hilton. That would be hilarious. Seriously, get on that.
-Trent of Pink is the New Blog
-Michael K of the hilariously snarky blog Dlisted
-Kathy Griffin. yeahhh girl.
-Rosie O'Donnell. HA.
-Tom Green. OMG can you imagine.
-Rich from the fourfour blog. Please! Also his famous cat Winston would get major bonus points.
-Tracie, the girl that does the "Pot Psychology" videos with Rich on Jezebel
-the ~famous mods over at ONTD - mattchew03, ecctv, and brenden
-Martha Stewart. or Ina Garten! omg how great would that be if it was both of them.
-John Mayer. He's funny, mmkay.
-Joel McHale of The Soup!
-some of those people from the now cancelled Best Week Ever THE SHOW. Not the blog and that horrible BWE blog woman (ok gosh she's not horrible I know I know BUT SHE IS) Michelle something or other. Not her. I'm talking that guy that was always high... people like that. BTW Michelle or whatever was a mega bitch the second time she was on "It's On." WTF girl, chill and go away.
-Adam Lambert. Yeaaahh.
-Simon Amstell or Alex Zane! bring some British imports por favor.
-Kanye West! Hhahaha.
-Lady Gaga. yes please.

Ok that's enough. MTV show poducers pay attention, I have provided you with solid gold right there.

Also, the more the merrier on the same show. Today three members of some sketch comedy group talked with Alexa about the gossips and it was a lot funner with less awkward silences than usual.

And Alexa, you are marvelous darling. The girl is a natural. Keep doing your thang.

"It's On" with Alexa Chung: an Overly Thorough Review of the Premiere

I tuned into the very first episode of "It's on" with Alexa Chung on MTV today- all proper timing and everything. I don't really know why. Possibly because I have known about this girl for a while now (you're so damn slow USA!)- even before she started dating Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys (lucky girl). I knew about her from a discontinued music interview show in the UK called Popworld, which she hosted with equally awesome Alex Zane. Here is a sample interview that proves she's got it going on- she asks Panic at the Disco questions and they act like idiots. So she treats them like an evil bitch, obv, and I love her for it.

It's funny- I know I would hate this girl in person, but on TV she's just very entertaining and doesn't take shit from anybody. Breath of fresh air for MTV- if they don't beat it out of her, that is. I'm not going to hold my breath.

............Michael Cera gave Alexa a snuggie as a gift teehee............

The show itself was mixed. It's the first episode, so I can't judge too harshly, but most of the downers were MTV's fault and the high points were Alexa's.



Lame:

- That woman wearing the horrendous striped top, talking about celebrity gossip with Alexa at the beginning of the show. I couldn't catch her name and I haven't found it anywhere, not even on the official website for the show. [EDIT: I found her! Michelle Collins]. Maybe the producers are trying to hide her as a quick fix? 'Twould be nice, because she was TERRIBLE. Okay, okay- not that bad, but she just didn't fit with Alexa at all. She did this cheesy commentary that would go fine with Entertainment Tonight but looks like crap in contrast with Alexa's straightforward, no-BS snarkiness. And you could tell Alexa wasn't having any of it either- she kept looking disgusted after each awkward comment she peeped out. See what I'm saying- Alexa can be mean in a way that is very satisfying- especially in this case- on TV, but would be a huge turn off in person. Think Blair Waldorf. Anyway, this idiot of a woman- oh, fine, she seemed sweet, whatever- but she's so wrong for the show. She brought everything down. This calls for a catty gay guy or something to take that dullard's place and match Alexa's wit. MTV producers- I know you're surfing blogs for reactions right now, so listen to me- FIRE THAT WOMAN and hire someone better. You can switch her to host some crap reality show, whatever. Just take her out.

-the Internet pimping. Goodness gracious, MTV. I swear sometimes I think these old exec dudes are like "if we mention twitter the kids will cream themselves!!" No they fucking won't idiots, it doesn't work that way. You don't just integrate a bunch of useless mentions of Facebook statuses and feature illiterate tweens twittering and call it a show. Granted, the "internet integration" wasn't as bad as I expected after initially reading the press about the show. But it was still bad. We're watching TV for a reason, MTV. So no more twitter commentary (don't you want people to post the interviews online and have them 'go viral'? You don't want that ugly rectangle covering half the screen).

-Too fast-paced, too much crap going on. Actually at first with the celeb gossip part, it was really slow because that other woman was talking nonsense and it looked like Alexa was utterly bored by her. But then the show went into overdrive and it jumped from pictures of cats on heads to relationship advice to beat-boxing, and surprises left and right. Too much.



Good:

-The set was nice. It reminded me of Good Morning America or the View or something, but in a good way. I'm just glad it's nothing like TRL. It's new for MTV. Fresh.

-Alexa. I'm impressed with MTV for hiring her. First Russell Brand, now her- not bad. Now they just need to bring Alex Zane and Simon Amstell over- maybe even Zane Lowe, and Jonathan Ross- and I'll be happy. Anyway, back to Alexa- I can't wrap my head around HOW she is so confident and seemed completely unfazed about hosting this show in the US for the first time. Yes she has done this in the UK for 3 years, but it seems like since this is her first US and MTV show, she should be stuttering and blushing and instead she was owning it as if she has been in that same studio for five years already.

-She is not going to be MTV's puppet. She knows what she wants the show to be and she will not be afraid to wrangle it out of her guests if she has to. I just hope, again, that MTV won't crack down on her too much (they inevitably will to some degree. Bastards).

-that idea to have Jack Black and Michael Cera narrate over the trailer was hilarious , but it didn't really work out because the stupid fucking producers decided to show them staring at the screen and talking instead of making the video full-screen and letting the viewers enjoy the narration! Otherwise what is the point? That part pissed me off. It was such a good idea, too, and I feel like now the producers or whoever will probably think it failed and throw it out. Tragic. Oh and Jack Black was right, they should have the actors narrate over a scene instead of a trailer, which is too fast-paced. Michael Cera was hilarious in this part by the way hahahah. He just kept saying "heey" and finally he admitted "I'm bad at this." I love Michael Cera.

Here are exclusive videos that will probably be taken down, The first is of Alexa interviewing lovely ol' Souljah Boy. You can witness the annoying twitter updates here too. Distracting!

http://www.rapradar.com/focus/soulja-boy-tell-em-checks-in-with-qits-onq.html

And go to this link to see a video of a young female beat-boxing champion (Julia Dales) being surprised by one of her heroes, Rahzel:

http://nahright.com/news/2009/06/15/video-rahzel-vs-julia-dales/



And an official MTV video, of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt making a surprise visit:

It's On with Alexa Chung - MTV Shows

By the way, not that anyone cares but this IS my blog after all muaha- I'm not that into Alexa's style. It's okay but it's not worthy of all the 'fashion icon!!111!" praise it gets. She wears nice things, but for some reason it doesn't seem natural. Almost as if she doesn't choose the clothes herself, although I know she probably does. I think what it is is that nothing she wears is very original. Also her current hair is a cop out of this era MIA, just sayin':



If you do want to know what label and brand and blah blah Alexa's clothes are, MTV's Buzzworthy Blog will be updating readers on what Alexa is wearing daily, so keep your eye on that.