Just like 40s hair, 40s shoes were some of the most spectacular ones. I’ve become even more interested in them after reading Forties Fashion. I find it very fascinating how material shortages during the war forced designers and manufacturers to try new materials, such as wooden soles, and I think these restrictions gave birth to some amazing and original styles.

I’m also glad that there’s such a trend at the moment for clogs, Swedish Hasbeens and their followers, that look pretty much exactly like the wooden sole shoes from the 40s. This means they’re widely available, and I just wish I will be able to afford a pair or two before the trend goes away again.

Paulette Goddard in a wonderful pair of blue wooden sole shoes. Also an amazing bikini. I just love this whole outfit, especially with her red hair.

Patricia Roc in another wooden sole style with higher heels. Very, very similar to Swedish Hasbeens’ high heeled styles. Source: Dr. Macro.

Virginia Mayo in something entirely more spectacular with carved soles. These have almost a Japanese feel. Her bikini is just lovely as well.

An unknown pinup model with more subtle carved heels. Source: Vintagegal.

Evelyn Ankers’ shoes look very much like Swedish Hasbeens as well. Source: Thetag1.

Ella Raines wears a much flatter style. Source: Two-Fisted tales of True-Life Weird Romance!

A bunch of pinup girls displaying an array of wonderful shoes, with and without wooden soles.

I just love everything on this page but the shoes in the lower left corner are my favourites.

I love this photo with the matching swimsuits and shoes, but the shoes to the left are some of the best I’ve seen, just amazing.

Moving on from wooden soles, here’s model and actress Jinx Falkenburg in a beautiful outfit with simple white wedges in a typical 40s style.

Gorgeous Dolores Moran in a very similar pair. Source: Dr. Macro.

Yvonne De Carlo’s wedges tie around the ankles. Source: Dr. Macro.

Betty Hutton in an amazing playsuit (I love the colours and patterns!) and another style of wedges.

How spectacular are these studded wedges worn by Ginger Rogers? Source: Dr. Macro.

Marilyn’s shoes have cork soles.

Lovely burlesque dancer Jan Tiffany wears beautiful decorated platforms.

These platforms are so special and Marilyn wears them in many photos. I’m not sure what the soles are made of but they appear to be separated in two parts for easier walking, an experimental feature which is mentioned in Forties Fashion. Source: Everlasting Star.

Lovey sequined shoes on Betty Grable. Source: Thetag1.

Source: Thetag1.

I love these shoes and the entire coordinated outfit.

Lana Turner’s shoes look like they may have intricately carved heels. Her outfit it so great.

Marilyn’s most spectacular pair of shoes with massive lucite soles. Oh how I wish I could find a pair like these. She wears them in tons of photos well into the 50s, and the ribbons seem to be interchangeable.

Ann Savage wears one of my all time favourite outfits, with very cute shoes. They look very similar to Re-mix Vintage’s “Rita”, which I looove and hope to afford some day.

Of course I couldn’t end this post without Carmen Miranda, who probably wore the most spectacular shoes of the 40s. I wish more repro shoes were made with this shape of sole. Source: Dr. Macro.

Source: Dr. Macro.