For the last couple of weeks, I have been reading and seeing some really great posts & videos on many different vintage topics. Some of them were so interesting that I thought I would share the Top 7 with you.

1940s vintage image of a woman wearing a fur coat and a 1940s style turban reading the newspaper at a malt shop counter.

1. I’m going to begin with a real Canadian issue: The Weather

Here in Canada we have a great show called ‘This Hour has 22 minutes‘ (now called ’22 minutes’) and it’s a comedy show that focuses on Canadian politics, combining news parody, sketch comedy and satirical editorials. It’s really funny and I have enjoyed their skits over the years. Recently they added a parody to the 100 years of Beauty video that has been making it’s rounds, with a VERY Canadian version. Take a look (click on image to see video)

2. Pembroke, Ontario, a local business entrepreneur, Lawrence Freiman has just opened an exciting new store that everyone in town is talking about…..

‘Online Shopping in the 1950s‘ by MessyNessychic

1950s vintage image of Vis-O-Matic department store

3. ‘How to get a 1930s look without spending a fortune‘ by Vintage Gal

This post made me over the moon with excitement, because I love 1930s style (especially those wide legged pants) but really don’t have any pieces in my closet due to the cost. WELL those days are possibly over thanks to the Vintage Gal. Check out her post on some great tips.

4. The big VIVA Rockabilly weekender is almost upon us (APRIL!!) and Jessica from Chronically Vintage did a super post on ‘25 Fabulous Vintage Fashions Finds for VIVA‘. Happy Shopping!

5. JUNE 29th, 2022 UPDATE-WEBSITE NO LONGER AVAIL.

Need a little Vintage music inspiration? Then look no further then ‘The Glamorous Housewife” blog post on just that, ‘A Vintage Inspired Musical Journey‘. She has featured 5 fantastic artists, including Toronto’s favorite ‘Alex Pangman‘ who plays for the Lindy Hop scene and Jazz lovers alike on a regular basis.

vintage-inspired-music by the glamorous housewife

6. As Black History Month is winding down, I wanted to share a very important piece of Canadian History. The story of Viola Desmond, an entrepreneur who challenged segregation in Nova Scotia in the 1940s.

Further Reading: Take a look at other ‘The Women of the Canadian Heritage Minutes: 1900s-1940s“

7. ARTICLE NO LONGER AVAIL (June 29th, 2022 Update) And then to end this post, lets end it with the most heart warming moment of this month…..71 Years Later, WWII Vet Reunites with Wartime Girlfriend in Australia.

World War II vintage image of a couple — Source: Peoples

I hope you enjoyed some of these vintage goodies, as much as I did (Isn’t that last one just so wonderful??).

Question Time: Did you find some cool reads or videos this month that you would like to share? If so post in the comments below.

Have a great weekend friends.

Liz 🙂

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.

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!

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”.

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

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

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”.

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:

Vintage Fashion 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
The Vintage Advertising of a 100 year old Brand-Pyrex

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 🙂

Month: February 2016

My 7 favorite Vintage Online Reads & Videos This Month