Below Ive done a roundup of white suede bucks by price bracket, so everyone should be able to find a pair in their budget. 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! And those in the elite could afford to have excess footwear, such as white shoes. 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. Aren't men's classes adorable? You were right about the thick socks girls wore with their bucks. Splurge - Alden suede plain-toe bluchers, $525. And with summer suiting comes summer casual footwear particularly the white buck. Bank (http://www.josbank.com/menswear/shop/Product_11001_10050_101876) is one source that I know of. Thanks! Suede bucks definitely need to be in that circle. I'm not "uppercrust by any means. Lead Fit Specialist at HALL MADDEN Chicago. I always just thought the song "Blue Suede Shoes" was a song and had nothing to do with the fashion of the day. Definitely! 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! I get tons of compliments on them from both men and women of all ages. Here's Unabashedly Prep with a quote about white bucks from Thom Browne -, Wear them like they were real shoes. Rule number one? 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. 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. We welcome those who want to learn and those who want to contribute. They are TOUGH to keep clean. Then theres the sock question. 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. 3. The white is used a lot for dancing too as it is quite easy to see one's fabulous footwork!-JamieChatterBlossom. Writer David Coggins is such a fan, he put a pair on the cover of his bestselling book Men and Style. 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. Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together. It wasnt always that way, though. Thanks for the infoI've had a pair of light brown bucks for a year or so and love them. :D, Did they get chunkier as the years progressed? 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. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Mine would have to be spotless! 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? Similarly, the rubber soles on these casual shoes save the manufacturer money, but theyre also appropriate for the shoe style. A tan or stone poplin suit is still fair game, though. I recently bought a pair of Bass Brocktons in the Taupe Suede. And yes it was more Pat Boone that made them famous rather than Elvis. So unless youre at the seashore or maybe out in the country, change out of the bucks before sundown. 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. I had such a pair, fall of 1956, my freshman year of high school. Those in brown shoe firms were more successful and able to buy pairs black and brown. 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. http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/, You are such a fantastic writer!!! 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. I know there is a whole tradition going back to the 1950s of East Coast prep school and college-age boys letting their white bucks get scuffed and stained, maybe deliberately so, but if youre a grown man and want to look like one, put in the effort to keep your leather shoes shined, and your white bucks cleaned and chalked. You got snickered at if your bucks were scuffed. I fully understand. I'd go crazy! Were in the thick of preppy this summer, with a plethora of stylesin color, cut and spiritlooking to New England for inspiration. Something that makes you look less precious. And while Mashburn acknowledges white bucks arent as easy-wearing, as, say, loafers or boat shoes, thats precisely the point. Personally, I have a virtually unused pair from Brooks Brothers I found on eBay on the cheap. .. 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. Hi Jessica. I'd say size up .5 but maybe their other shoes are different. That the shoe would fits certain occasions and outfits depending on whether theyre clean or dirty is evidence of its versatility. Garden & Gun is a registered trademark. Change). 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. If youre wearing white bucks, chances are youre at least giving a passing nod to traditional mens style, and such style had rules. Churchs white suede Pembrey loafers, $650 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. 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. All rights reserved. Subscribe now and get up to 63% off the cover price. I can't find any info on that. 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. Maybe not quite as lustrous as fine-quality suede, but plenty good enough. Here's Street Etiquette again, making the case for letting them get dirty, at least in some cases -. Does anyone know where I can get some white bucks online in Europe ? He's much, much more of a brogues kind of chap (no complaints there from me, I love them as well). Announcing the Blue Rose Vintage hat giveaway winner. I can't get enough of oxfords. :)Many thanks again & have a beautiful Sunday, Jessica. (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. On the higher end, youll find construction with Goodyear welts and soles made of the more durable Dainite red-brick rubber. Receiving and sharing the Very Inspiring Blogger A Vintage Fashionista Friday: September 20, 2013. Making clothing less intimidating and helping you develop your own style. They typically turn up once in a while on sale, but$225 for Walk-Over bucksstrikes me as a fair retail price. Or blue, unless its midnight blue. They naturally go with summer clothing, like linen and seersucker suits, colored chinos and madras. I can't imagine keeping my shoes so clean! Plus, get the exclusive Robb Report tote bag FREE. All white?! I love that you added some additional interesting points to the history of white buck shoes. You can spend as little as$60 with Bass, or go as high as$500 with Alden. I'll get them one day Really interesting post. Ah, sweet memories! The difference is that nubuck is leather that's been sanded on the grain side to have a light nap, while suede is made with the underside of the skin. 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. 2007-2022 Garden & Gun Magazine LLC. The first is easy. Any sort of combination of button-down shirt with chinos would work, and they would look good with shorts, too. 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. As William Safire explains -. It is a shame they're so tricky to keep in pristine (or nearly so) condition. I just do not like current shoe styles. I also likes how you drew a comparison between the idealism of society at the time and the representaion of it through pristine white shoes. 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. I am stupified (is that even a word?) 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. ;)~xoxo, CoriLynn. Here in Southern California we wore what I guess would now be called scrunchies over the turned down portion of the sock. 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. Makes me wonder when we became all quantity and not quality? Please dont wear your white bucks with shorts. Named for their nubuck leather constructiona buffed calfskin that has the velvety texture of suede but the hardiness of standard leatherwhite bucks were once an Ivy League staple, favored by 1950s college kids and rocked by doo-woppers like Pat Boone (also known as The Kid in the White Bucks). Email: thesilentist@gmail.com But if you walk in a lot of grass/wet grass, aren't they very likely to get grass stained? What about caring for the sole? White buckskin shoes, the epitome of summer footwear with their signature red brick sole, have been the All-American shoe since the 1930s. Since youre unlikely to re-sole a rubber-soled buck anyway, the advantages of quality construction, like ease of re-soling, are greatly reduced. Its also worth considering the white dance shoe this summer. Some of us even carried a little package made of waxed paper with baby powder in it in your purse. White bucks are generally made from nubuck - distinct from tan bucks, which are often suede. I got them in the mail and was dissapointed to learn my new white pair was CANVASS! Subscribe now and save. Like an ultrathin dress watch, the contrast in proportion balances the delicate nature of the shoe and gives them a stronger presence. Like this article? Or maybe it's just how they look to me. This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Never say never, as the expression goes, but I wouldn't bank on seeing Tony in white bucks. Of course the color had to match that of the angora sweater you were wearing. In 2020, theyve shaken the goody-good attitude and go well with everything from selvage denim to seersucker. The source is white ''bucks,'' the casual, carefully scuffed buckskin shoes with red rubber soles and heels worn by generations of college men at Ivy League schools. I remember white buck shoes that didn't tie or slip on. They fit, but I'm returning them because they're way too big and bulky. Because of their sleek profile, dance shoes look best when paired with wider cut pants. 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. All content, unless otherwise expressly noted, is copyright Jessica Cangiano, 2009 2019. I wont put them on before Memorial Day, and never after Labor Day, Mashburn says. These are in between sneakers and dress shoes in terms of formal-ness. 4. 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. With seersucker, with wool, with jeans. Thank you very much for sharing your memory of that unique style of white bucks with us. Buckskin Originally a white, cream or dyed leather produced from the hide of a male deer or elk, but now more commonly a soft leather, such as sheepskin, that is brushed for a suede effect. Proud Chicagoan. They were 'groovy'. Thank you for sharing!Happy holiday season wishes, Jessica. Therefore, theyre perfect to amp-up a simple casual look. 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. It's terrific that you found a pair of white bucks. Frustrated, I ripped out the footbed liners and now only wear them in colder weather with socks. 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. Thanks for this informative post. Or anything gray, unless its deep charcoal. Usually have red rubber soles. I'm spending a few days with family and traveling, but I wanted to get it up before I left. I don't think snickerable is a real word, but it definitely should be! I loved learning more about them while doing the research for this post. Jessica. Posted to the white bucks Facebook page. I used to have a pair of white bucks and you are right. I prefer them without socks. What an interesting history. Love them! 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. And while we are at it, dont wear a longsleeve shirt with shorts, that defies all logic your legs need to be ventilated but your arms need to be insulated? 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. I wore white bucks in the 50's. Many of these kids, supposedly never changing their beloved footgear, went on to become masters of the universe on Wall Street and in the best-known law firms. Josh from Street Etiquette explains -. I always manage to get anything white dirty as I'm a bit clumsy I'd dare say! Very cool name for it! This new age of Ivy Style is a prime time to venture into the wide world of white shoes. You know, you could walk into some places and guys might fight you for wearing them, he says. Down here on the Texas Gulf Coast, we have a practically tropical climate, so many of us believe the exceptions for tropical climates prevail. My husband has a modern day version of these shoes but his are a pale beige which is marginally more practical. 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). In fact, many see them not as shoes you purchase with the intent to wear them forever, but as disposable after they wear out. If you're wearing chinos or jeans, it looks pretty good rolled up a bit to show off the ankle. Hi Bill, thank you for your great comment. Unlike corrected-grain leather, though, it still looks perfectly decent. Big hugs & the most joyful of autumn wishes to you! Jessica. As evidenced by the men who love them, white shoes secret is simply having the sartorial confidence to put them on. The only shoes that look good with shorts are lowcut casual shoes like boat shoes, loafers. Cheers! 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. 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. 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 got here through looking up a Rockabilly-style song title I didn't understand, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" by Bobby Pedrick Jr. 1958. I AM NOW IN LOVE WITH THE SHOES! By contrast, the lower end will have less durable rubber and glued soles. 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. nice info, always nice to readloving itgreets James Little aka mr Atomic, Oh I just love the look of "Buck" shoesalways have. Hippie chic!Love your blog. I have serious problems when it comes to wearing anything white. (LogOut/ These great men have proven that white shoes are a sartorial power move. White buck, made of a leather coloured white, or dirty buck, a light tan colour suede. this is the most east coast thread ive ever seen. The name "bucks" comes from the original material used for the shoes - a soft deerskin, aka "buckskin". And we dont mean sneakersreal, proper shoes. That sounds so charming! Chinos, jeans, and shorts all work too - white bucks are actually really versatile shoes. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. Includes access to the digital magazine. Does anyone have a pic of this style? Repetto Zizi oxfords, $410 2. White bucks, as theyre often called, may be as popular as the penny loafer to individuals who are influenced by ivy/trad roots. If you're looking for men's, those are easier to come by. There aren't a great deal of modern shoe styles (save for those with classic styling to them) that appeal to me either. 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. (LogOut/ 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. Get some white, cream, or light tan dress socks. Narrow, wide? I wish saddle oxfords (and bucks) were a fraction as easy to come by these days (especially in person) as they were back then. The brief gap of bare skin between trouser and leather is aesthetically jarring. Primer says bucks are the perfect casual shoe, and Brooks Brothers (which obviously has a vested interest) calls bucks the "third shoe" - something in between casual shoes and dress shoes. I'll have to sport my pink ones in the coming months, while hearty footwear and socks becomes a must here in Canada more. These shoes are the perfect balance between dressy and casual, which I love. Buyer beware Im just glad I didnt pay full retail for them. 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. Twitter: @thesilentist Please wear your white bucks with socks. These slim, low-rise oxfords rose in popularity during the dandyish Jazz Age and were favored by Fred Astaire, as the color helped audiences follow the dancers footwork. Though we tend to avoid very obvious summertime outfits after mid-September like seersucker suits, white or cream linen suits, white bucks. From what I've read here and elsewhere, the Buckinghams are a little more streamlined. A derby-cut shoe with shorts gives the impression of a British schoolboy in shortpants, not a good look. So, paying more for mid-range bucks might not necessarily mean you get something better than something on the low end. 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. Think preppy/Kentucky Derby steez, although not like this. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, which is simultaneously a solemn occasion and the unofficial first day of summer. Thank you very much, dearest Joanna. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I just ran across your blog for the first time today and bookmarked it immediately! 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. I dont wanna have to deal with customs and stuff like that. If the scenario was switched to something like a seersucker or linen suit, Id advise keeping your shoes as clean as possible. You dont have to dress them up., A few months ago, Style Blogger focused on white bucks for their 1 Piece/3 Ways series -. In the city, white bucks shouldnt be worn in the evening. What a great way to stroll down memory lane. Walking down a street, their dirtiness would be marginal. 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. The word is better defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as ''designating or characteristic of a business company, esp. by the prizes of shoes and the quality you can see in them. no wonder i keep admiring vintage, it's just so full of real craftmanship. I love this kind of shoes, but saddle shoes are on my wish list for some time ago. I knew only bits and pieces of this; you filled out the gaps in my understanding. Overtly, this notion comes with the casual aspect of my outfit. Gail, Hi Gail, thank you very much for your terrific comment. Going to try those and will report back. Have a fantastic last weekend of summer, Jessica. I will, however, vouch for the Walk-Over brand. 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. Towards the end of last week we took a gander at classic mid-century schoolgirl inspired ensemble in the latest installment of. Church's. I particularly like their high-contrast look against dark denim, letting the indigo stain the suede a bit. These are knock-around shoes, and you should pay knock-around prices. 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. Richard Woolnough has more in The A to Z Book of Menswear: Bucks A shoe originally made of suede buckskin. Does anyone know how the Bass or Walkover shoes fit. But you need to be ready to fight. But remember this, Mashburn says. Dont wear any dress shoes with shorts, and white bucks are cut like a dress shoe. Almost ever major shoe company makes a white buck, so there are scads of options at a wide range of price points. Wishing you a fantastic day, Jessica. We aim to foster an environment where everybody feels safe and welcomed and where people feel encouraged to have healthy and productive discussions. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. As someone who is perpetually passionate about being well colour coordinated, I second your comment about the good old days big time. Of course, that depends how much you intend to wear them. 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.