If you’re building a collection of this style of footwear, you should be aware that there are authentic reproductions available as well as retro fashion styles. Retro styling is usually made to look very much like the originals with lesser materials so you can enjoy having a pair without spending too much. They don’t last as long as the more expensive brands but they can be fun for the big parties, a night out and, especially, for the photo ops. Authenticity might be important if you’re competing or using the footwear in a professional performance of any kind but if you’re just spicing up your personal style it’s entirely up to you to decide which type best fits your look. It’s more important for you to be comfortable in your footwear both physically and emotionally than anything else. If you have a fear of falling on your face then it is better to opt for lower heels or flats. If you love to dance make sure your heels and toes won’t be rubbed raw or it won’t matter how good you look, you won’t have a good time. If you just want to sit on the bar and dangle your legs, your options are wide open. Just make sure it’s okay to sit on the bar!

By authenticity we don’t necessarily mean the actual footwear made in the 40s and 50s, we mean reproductions of the original using the same coloration and cut, a design the perfectly replicates the details and hardware, down to the nails. This is truly impressive craftsmanship for which you will pay a high price. They are likely to outlast anything else you can find but only because you will not find them as fashion friendly. It’s surprising just how much colors and fabrications have changed over time and as much fun as the reproductions are, they probably won’t go with everything in your wardrobe. Details also date the look and freeze it in time which makes a precious reminder of days gone by, but sometimes an old snap style isn’t as good as a newer hook for closures. We’ve also come a long way with arch support and width that accommodates more feet than just the long and narrow supermodel foot shape. Podiatrists recognize our tendency to pronate or supinate when walking which can be exaggerated by old-fashioned footwear. Newer models are made to encourage, and sometimes coerce, a neutral position while walking.

Retro is a little different from reproduction in that it suggests, very strongly these original styles, the ones you might find on the feet of calendar girls or even Shirley Temple. They turn up in collections over and over again because they are sexy and fun but each time they are given a bit of a twist to fit modern sensibilities. Hardware changes and colors are made to fit with a more modern wardrobe. The catwalk of the 60s sported Mary Janes by Mary Quant, with a flat tap for a little girl look on Twiggy. The MJ straps continued to show up in high fashion collections in patent leather from Yves Saint Laurent and Dior with low heels. Courtney Love gave the 60s a sexy twist and top designers Narciso Rodriguez, Marc Jacobs, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo have given us their take on a Mary Jane. With bling or metallic finishes, faux leather and suede or denim and printed fabrics, this style is amazingly versatile. Similarly, the stiletto is easily transformed from the original bad girl style into a sweet and flirty model with polka dots and bows. Likewise platform sandals with wonderful colors and hardware that gives them a modern finish. Lace or ribbon straps bring something new to flirty sneakers and just about any type of T-Strap design will adapt to delicate metal chains, or plastic, or rope fabrications. Shiny, dull, polka dot prints and lace, they all accomplish the same suggestion of sex and innocence that makes this calendar girl footwear.

“Comfort” and “heels” are two words that don’t always go well together. After all, the shape of heels means your feet have to be in an unnatural position, so they’re inherently uncomfortable. While this discomfort can’t always be avoided, there are things you can look out for to minimize the amount of discomfort you encounter with them.

It all started when Camilla Clifford, the most popular of the Gibson Girls, posed for photos that showed off her fabulous figure in modest lingerie. An actress, she really knew how to play up the hot body with a sense of innocence. The girl who made it stick was probably cartoon flapper, Betty Boop. Style after popular actress Clara Bow, Boop’s curvy figure was an exaggerated version of a sexy imp but, when paired with huge innocent eyes, she was enormously appealing throughout the 30s. The flapper look she popularized is grounded squarely in the 1920s but Hedy Lamarr and Betty Grable stepped into the role as real-life depictions of the perfect calendar girl in the 40s. Lili St. Cyr, Joi Lansing and Jayne Mansfield all made their mark in the field but it was Bettie Page that makes us think of the quintessential naughty sweet girl on a calendar. It’s a tradition that carries on to this day in fashion and fun play. Dita Von Teese is, perhaps the most current representative of the style.

In short shorts and a crop top or beachwear and lingerie, these girls could make waitressing look sexy but things often went much further. Patent leather boots, whips and chains and garter belts with black stockings were on the naughtiest end of the spectrum but even the ‘torture’ scenarios looked like good fun with willing participants and it was always ladies only. Current fashions owe a lot to this style which can make a strong statement about the empowerment of the feminine. ‘Owning it’ ala Madonna, and wielding your own whip, even if it’s a prop or a feather, makes you master of your own sexuality and allows you to determine just how sexy or sweet you choose to be. In flats or stilettos, Mary Janes or kitten heels, let your imagination be your guide. You can show the toes and hide the lace because no one has to know what you’re wearing underneath or you can put it all right out there with flirty short skirts and T-strap sandals. It’s a time-honored tradition that puts you in charge.

We talk about value with every product we consider, as it is one of the most important things about a product. We look at what the shoe in question offers, as well as the price and how it compares to similar shoes on the market. It's a good idea to look at reviews for every product you consider,t his way you can get a general idea of how the shoes can benefit you. Value is subjective however, we give you the information you need to make the decision, but whether or not something is good value depends on what you consider to be important.

Whatever you wear, be it pants, skirts or lingerie, whatever the length, this look is all about the leg. And the leg is all about the footwear. Like a diamond in the perfect setting, even a glimpse of calf or ankle can be incredibly inviting if presented with just the right surroundings. Everyone knows that a stiletto adds length to the legs and pops out even the flabbiest calf muscle. Thighs never look so good as when those quads are engaged for balancing the rest of your body atop a towering pair of platforms. Really, that’s exercise! But even a flat can be flattering if you wear it with the right attitude and that comes from confidence. It never hurts to have a look in the mirror and make sure you’re making the statement you want with those Mary Janes. It can also give you a little lift to see just how great you look with a bit of a chunky heel to give those arches a lift. Even if you’ve never been happy with the shape of your legs you can always find footwear that gives you the look you want. Sometimes it helps to add stockings for even a bit more flash or control. Patterned or shiny, they can add some shape or change the size of your calves and ankles, even your thighs. They can also help remove any concern about the color of your skin, bruises, blemishes, and scars.

You’ve got lots of options for the calendar girl look. It fits any style for any occasion if you know how to work it. Sneakers will do the trick if you’re doing an outdoor, beachy or teen styling. Oxfords are fine and there are plenty of flats that have T-straps and Mary Jane styles, even loafers will work but they’re more convincing with a rounded toe so you might have to hunt that down. Wedding wear is always a treat in this fashion vein because the options are limitless and there an amazing number of fancy footwear manufacturers who embrace the lacy, sweet and sexy styles that make these more of a confection than plain old walking wear. Parties or a night out demand comfort that invites dancing and standing around looking fabulous. There aren’t a lot of rules in this game, but there are lots and lots of options and some suggestions. Tried and true are the Mary Janes, with or without heels, ankle or T-strap, it’s a style that says innocent but tends very easily toward the naughty with just the right details. The particular footwear originated in a 1902 Buster Brown comic strip. It’s even named after the cartoon character who wore them.

So when we say tried and true, it’s very nearly the original. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s tricky to make a chunky, thick-soled flat work with the calendar girl look but if you’re determined it’s certainly worth a try. Add ankle socks with a bit of lace around the cuff and a thick ribbon lacing and you’re very likely to pull it off. Flip flops are fair game with the right nail polish, sandals absolutely but we would caution against socks with completely flat sandals with little foot covering. They are meant to show skin and are likely to disappoint if it’s covered by a sock. Also, taking into consideration the amount of layering and the number of colors on your footwear. Ankle socks are fine but they play better in pure white with a bit of trim or a color that offers a complement to the real star: your footwear.