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Tag: Kedettes

Vintage Fashion: ‘Keds’ Turn 100

It seems like the number 100 is very popular lately. First it was Pyrex that celebrated their 100th anniversary and now everyone’s favorite running shoes ‘Keds’ is celebrating their 100 year milestone. Congrats!

As a Lindy Hopper (swing dancer) we have a soft spot for our Keds running shoes. They are comfortable, affordable, cute and perfect for the demands of the Lindy Hop dance floor. If you attend any dance, anywhere in the world you will see at least 1 pair of Keds on the dance floor..guaranteed.

keds

For today’s post, I wanted to focus in on the early side of the Keds brand (1900s-1969), with some vintage advertising (Print & TV) I have found. Lets begin….

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Vintage Fashion: ‘Keds’ Turn 100

Brief History of Keds

  • Keds is an American brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles
  • Keds original sneaker were introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber or as they like to say, the first ever “feel-like-everyday’s-a-Saturday” shoe. But that was a bit of a mouthful…so instead they called it the Champion (Source).
  • The U.S. Rubber Company was a manufacturer of rubber soles to the footwear manufacturing trade. At the end of WWI they started to manufacture their own line of men’s, women’s and children’s canvas sport shoes (Source).
  • When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but that name was already taken.
  • They became known as sneakers because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently (Source).
  • In the 1960s, canvas sneakers became far more common and accepted as a part of everyday dress, leading to Keds becoming a ubiquitous brand across the US (Source).
  • Keds was purchased by the Stride Rite Corporation in 1979.
  • From the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, Keds were very popular with girls from elementary school age through tween and teens and college age and beyond. Notable Keds wearers during this time included: Jennifer Gray in Dirty Dancing, Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) on “Saved by the Bell and  Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and D.J. (Candace Cameron) on “Full House”.
  • Today’s Keds are still very popular and come in every colour and design imaginable.

Vintage Advertising

1919 Vintage ad for women’s shoes and boots. “There’s comfort in every step”.

1919 Vintage ad for women's Ked shoes and boots. "There's comfort in every step".
Source: Online Baltimore Shoeseum

1920s vintage ad. “An unusual spring trousseau and the shoes that make it interesting”. Keds for sports, Keds for walking and Keds for sitting and walking. You will be the most stylish when you wear them!

1920s vintage ad. "An unusual spring trousseau and the shoes that make it interesting".  Keds for sports, Keds for walking and Keds for sitting and walking.
Source: Online Baltimore Shoeseum

1928 vintage ad for men’s Keds for playing sports. “Footwork the secret of power and speed”.

1928 vintage ad for men's Keds for playing sports. "Footwork the secret of power and speed".

1936 vintage ad featuring more illustrations of men wearing Keds running shoes to play sports in. They help your feet.

1930s vintage ad: 1936 vintage ad featuring more illustrations of men wearing Keds running shoes to play sports in
Source: Dancestore

1937 vintage colour ad as seen in the Saturday Evening Post. The ad illustration is showing all the things men can do when wearing Keds.

1930s vintage ad: 1937 vintage colour ad as seen in the Saturday Evening Post. The ad illustration is showing all the things men can do when wearing Keds.
Source: Dancestore

1930s vintage ad- Kedettes are created for the ladies and there are incredibly stylish.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Fashion-Kedettes

1930s vintage shoe ad for women's Ked's called "kedettes" -1939 ad.

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes featuring a woman in 1950s Fashion (Matching blouse and slim pants) on vacation. “Give your feet a Vacation”.

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes featuring a woman in 1950s Fashion (Matching blouse and slim pants) on vacation. "Give your feet a Vacation".

1947-The Ladies’ Home Journal vintage ad featuring Keds for kids and their outdoor activities.

1947-The Ladies' Home Journal vintage ad featuring Keds for kids and their outdoor activities. -1940s Vintage ad.
Source: Flickr

1953 Vintage ad – US Keds Booster Shoes for boys and girls.

1953 US Keds Booster Shoes Ad

1963 Vintage ad from Seventeen Magazine. Ad illustration features a stylish woman in 1960s fashions (Tweeds for Fall!) wearing Keds running shoes.

1960s Vintage Keds Ad -1963 Vintage ad from Seventeen Magazine. Ad illustration features a stylish woman in 1960s fashions (Tweeds for Fall!) wearing Keds running shoes.
Source: Etsy-paperdollgirls

1965 Vintage ad from Mademoiselle magazine. Keds are fashionable, get “That Keds Look”.

1960s Vintage ad: 1965 Vintage ad from Mademoiselle magazine. Keds are fashionable, get "That Keds Look".
Source: Flickr

Keds Vintage TV Advertising

Ozzie, Harriet, David, Ricky Nelson Keds Commercial. I really really want the purse in this commercial..wow it’s a beauty!

1960s Animated Keds Commercial.


Congrats once again to Keds!

I’m going to leave you with this great Lindy Hop competition video from last year. Can you spot the Keds??

Further Reading:

Would you like to own a pair of Kedettes?

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes canvas shoes lace-up sandals in blue and off-white.

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes Pachucas canvas shoes lace-up sandals swing blue vintage wedge

Source: Etsy

Original Vintage 1940s /1950s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals with Rubber Sole.

Original Vintage 1940s 40s 1950s 50s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals with Rubber Sole

Source: Etsy

Liz 🙂

Vintage Fashion: “Kedettes”-Keds Stylish Women’s Shoe Division

As a Lindy Hopper, it’s pretty mandatory that you have at least one pair of Keds in your collection for dancing. They are comfortable, last for a long time and come in cool colours and now super cool designs. BUT did you know that Keds had a division that started in the 1930’s that were strictly for women called “Kedettes“? They did! and the line was stylish, really beautiful and with its shock-absorbing sole also comfortable (Keds history)!

Take a look at the following selection of vintage ads for Kedettes and start imagining how cute you would have looked on the dance floor with them on!

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes Shoes for Women featuring ballet flats and 1950s poodle and cat skirt.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.


“Kedettes”-Keds Stylish Women’s Shoe Division

The Vintage Advertising

Love this dancing Kedette ad from the 1930s.

1930s vintage ad for women's Keds shoes-Kedettes. Ad features saddle shoes and open toe shoes.

1940s vintage ad for women’s shoes perfect for summer time fun! I will take the Green one’s, the Yellow ones, brown ones…..

1940s Vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes a division of Keds. The women's shoes are perfect for summer. Fun 1940s fashion illustrations.

1950s vintage ad: “Say Saludos when you buy your next pair of new Kedettes”.

1950s Vintage ad: 1950s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes shoes a division of Keds featuring a woman in mexican style clothing.

I just loved the colours AND styles in this 1950s ad and had to add it to the collection of pics.

1950s vintage ad: 1950's shoes ad for Kedettes shoes a division of Keds. Fun women's 1950s fashionable shoes.

All of these 1940’s Kedettes would be perfect in my closet, every single one.

1940s shoe ad for Kedettes shoes for Women. 1940s fashion.

1940s for Kedettes Wedges that are perfect for Spring and Summer.

1940s vintage ad: 1940s for Kedettes Wedges that are perfect for Spring and Summer.

Source: Etsy

I may be tall but I’m a sucker for a wedge and these wedges don’t seem to be too tall for little old me and they are so beautiful as well. 1940s ad.

1940s vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes shoes-1940s shoes for women.

1940’s Kedettes are simply gorgeous and I have at least 10 dresses that would look perfect with them 🙂

1940s vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for women's shoes by Kedettes a division of Keds.

Would you like to own a pair of Kedettes? Here are some examples of what was on sale on the web at time of posting (head over to Etsy to do a search for more updated finds)

1950s / 1960s Kedettes in red, white and blue slip on. So cute! (Avail as of Nov 2023).

Vintage Shoes: 1950s / 1960s Kedettes in red, white and blue slip on. So cute!

Source: Etsy – BombyxVintage

Vintage 1950s Kedettes yellow ballerina flat slipper shoes. A beautiful pair of 1950s flat shoes made of bright yellow woven cotton fabric with a yellow cord loop on top.

Source: Etsy

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes canvas shoes lace-up sandals in blue and off-white.

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes canvas shoes lace-up sandals in blue and off-white.

Source: Etsy

Original Vintage 1940s /1950s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals.

Original Vintage 1940s /1950s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals with Rubber Sole.

Source: Etsy

There you have it, Keds was not always a brand for just running shoes. Now I don’t know about you but I think I might run off to ebay/etsy and see if any still exist in this world that I can drool over.

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂