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Loafers with Tassels

Loafers with Tassels – Tassel Loafers

The traditional Mod tassel loafer shoes are as distinctive as they are iconic. A classic choice, always in style, as smart as they are comfortable and practical. They are the perfect smart-casual footwear to take you from day to night.

They are perfect to dance in, especially when combined with a leather sole. When worn with casual attire they can instantly bring your look up a notch.

The key buying factor with tassel loafers is always to go for the very best that you can afford, quality shows and does not come cheap.Look after them well, remember to polish soon after an all-nighter, as the talc could dry out the leather.

Paul Lukas. Actor. The story goes it was he that asked Alden to copy a european tassel loafer, which started the shoes becoming popular !

The world has been in love with loafers for over half a century, but what accounts for this legendary status?

A Little Brief History Lesson.

Tassel Loafers, with their aura of timeless sophistication, often evoke the elegance of the 1920’s, thus confusing some clothing historians into mistakenly believing that this is where they date from. In fact they originate from the post World War 2 era, when tweed jackets, Shetland sweaters and penny loafers were synonymous with the upper tier university campus.

As college students graduated, they wanted to wear a shoe as comfortable as their slip-ons, but with a touch more sartorial elegance.It was at around this time that an actor named Paul Lukas, ( a rather debonair character from such classics as “The Lady Vanishes”), returned from a trip to Europe with a pair of Oxfords.

The shoes sported little tassels at the end of their laces, which Lukas thought made them look more lively. He approached a couple of New York shoemakers to see if they could craft him something similar.

Aldens Tassel Loafers

They took the job to Aldens, manufacturers of quality shoes since 1884, whose company president at the time, Arthur Tarlow, came up with the tasseled loafer. The earliest examples were often 2-toned, and soon became popular in Hollywood. That makes Alden’s model the original, and Paul Lukas the first man to wear this style of footwear.

In the USA the tassel loafer is often seen as synonymous with lawyers, a symbol of elegance and the good life for successful professionals and business men.

Classic Bass Weejun – Notice the threaded boat shoe style lace around the angle

In the UK the shoe is popular with some business people with a bit of flare, but for most people will know the shoe, because of the MOD – Skinhead fashion.

The styles are different though, some tassel loafers are a very soft shoe, which is a very popular casual shoe in the USA. The Alden style is more traditional harder leather shoes. The classic MOD style is like a BASS Weejun. The Skinhead style is more rounded and heavy looking.

The styles we have for sell here are the ‘Merton‘ similar in style to the classic Bass Weejun and the heavier ‘Rudeboy‘ Two Tone shoe. Both types are very popular and come in black, brown and Oxblood. The ‘Merton’ also comes in a mottled blue leather.

 

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Tassel Loafers Review
Delicious Junction, Loake, Ikon and Bass Weejuns get a review. 4 different types of Tassel Loafers, including a womens pair!

Oxblood Tassel Loafers

Oxblood Tassel Loafers

The Tassel Loafer (or Tassle Loafer) is a classic Mod style. For me it started with The Specials and the Two Tone movement of the late 70’s. In many of the pictures, the band can be seen in a cross blend of MOD, Skinhead & Rudeboy style. And on their feet a mixture of shoes, but two favorites, Brogues and off course Tassel Loafers.

The Specials, 7 people with 3 of them wearing Tassel Loafers. And the iconic sleeve.

The tassel loafer is a variation on the Penny Loafer. Examples of the shoes can be seen certainly in the 50’s with the IVY League look, Alden’s and Bass Weejuns everywhere. The original shoe was a copy that Alden made, I believe in the 30’s. The Alden loafer is more pointy than the traditional MOD loafer.

As we know a lot of the look for MODS and Early Skinheads was taken from the IVY League look and I also think the Jamican Rudeboy look. The Jamican look I assuming came also from Black America!

Recently I have been trying to find Blue Note, Modern Jazz players wearing the shoes, but no luck yet, but I do seem to think this may also be why the shoe in on the scene.

Style wise, there several variations, Bass Weejun just have the Tassel, where as Loakes Brightons come with the feather. IKON is very similar to the Loake. Delicious Junction, who we stock, do both styles. The Merton is very like the Bass weejun and the Rudeboy, as it name suggest has the classic feathers.

The Rudeboy has the leather upper and sole. Stitching at the back of the shoe and a hi shine. Meaning the shoe looks great straight out of the box. To me the box is important as well, as I like to keep my shoes in tip top condition, so a decent box means I can keep them on top of the wardrobe out of harms way.

The Classic look, look at the guys towards the back, harringtons, monkey jackets and loafers. The guy in the foreground in Tassel Loafers

Colour wise, the shoes comes in 3 colours, Black, Brown & the very Popular Oxblood. The Oxblood colour is not a pure colour, but very nice effect in a cherry red , which has had a slight bit black shoes polish added which gives it a Vintage look. If you look at the picture you can see the effect. It reminds me a lot of the look that Trad Skins went for in the 80’s when they were trying to distance themselves from the OI Boys.

Notice the Mottled effect

The shoe as always looks great with a suit and jeans. Looked after the leather upper and leather bottom will last ages. I personally have a pair and they are really comfy and not at all like the cheap shoes I had as a 2nd generation mod in the 80’s.

The Oxblood Tassel Loafer is a very popular style with us, feel free to ask questions.

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Tassel Loafers Review
Delicious Junction, Loake, Ikon and Bass Weejuns get a review. 4 different types of Tassel Loafers, including a womens pair!

Boxing Boots

Boxing Boots
Not sure why these became MOD, if at all!

Again, popular around our way and I think because of a few pictures of The Jam. Were they a Northern Soul thing?

Rick Buckler can be seen wearing some red ones on the front of The Snap compilation. And at the time Weller was wearing a lot of Lonsdale, so perhaps it was a ‘I will give these a go’. I await an answer on this one.

From Steve Overbury

In fact some of the lads used to wear Lonsdale boxing boots on the street, but they had Rizla-thin soles and wore out very fast – still stylish uppers, but nothing twixt foot and floor – and since they cost more than Monkey Boots they were a short-lived and expensive fashion statement.

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Moccasins

Moccasins
Type Moccasin into Google image search and you will see lots of comfy slippers. In the early 80’s they were little tan slip on shoes, worn by casuals. But start researching back further and you will see some smart but very casual shoes.

Gucci made very nice moccasins. Loake make some very nice moccasins. Their style is different again, the soft leather makes this a very comfortable shoe for casual occasions. The good ones don’t come cheap, but they exude class.

Below are some examples of 80’s style moccasins along with what I think are actually classic shoes.

Cycling Shoes

Cycling shoes
I see Cycling Shoes as an extension of the sports look. Fred Perry is the obvious sports look for the aspiring MOD, casual but smart. I always thought the cycling shirts had a splash of MOD about them. Loads of variations, small runs on the clothing made them very desirable for a smart but casual look.

The Cycling Shoe has the cool look of different lines, little breathing holes and unique styling, much like the Bowling Shoe.

Bowling Shoes

Bowling Shoes
In Richard Barnes MODS book he mentions that he had a friend that walked out with his Bowling Shoes still on after going bowling. The story implies that a chance accident started a MOD fashion, whether it is true or not I can see why the style is liked.

The multi-colour style of the Bowling Shoe works in the MOD environment, slightly flash. The only pair I have had were lovely and soft, but were instantly useless in the rain. Countless people have brought out variations on the theme since the 60s.

Again, they were massive in the MOD revival which I suspect because Melandi and Shellys made it very easy to buy via mail order. Adverts in music mags such as Melody Maker, NME and Sounds mean that outside of London you could access a pair. Again Weller and The Jam can be clearly seen wearing Bowling Shoes on The Snap cover, which is a clear endorsement.

“I just used to go with them to Carnaby Street on Saturdays and it was there where we used to buy our clothes, especially for school. I bought a pair of Jam Bowling Shoes (chisel toe of course) from Shellys and the worst trousers money could buy, just because we thought Paul Weller wore them.”

SUPER CORSA’S WORLD

I seem to recollect that you could get just about any colour combinations. The shoes did deem to be a lot more flat looking and a chisel toe.

The pairs that are available now are pretty good. Mate of mine here in boro wears an ikon pair and they look pretty good.

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Other Stockists:
There are loads try IKON | Retroshu

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The Jam Stage Shoes (Badgers)

The Jam Stage Shoes
When “Going Undeground” got to number 1 in 1980 the UK was in full MOD Revival swing. And there on Bruce Foxtons feet in the video was a pair of Jam Stage Shoes.

I believe Shellys were the suppliers of said shoe. I wonder if they sponsored The Jam at the time. Like Bowling Shoes and the Jam Stage Shoes you could buy them mail order and in a variety of colours. Red White and Blue was a fav colour for any young MOD. Now I think they look look a little dated but I do like the fact they stand out a mile.

See on a few websites these being referred to as badgers ! There are few people that make and sell these now.

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PICTURES:

Mod-Shoes-The-Jam-Bruce-Foxton-Jam-Shoes-Badgers-02pg Mod-Shoes-The-Jam-Bruce-Foxton-Jam-Shoes-Badgers mod-shoes-jam-shoes-stage-going-underground-video-02 18 mod shoes scooter mod with jam shoes

Monkey Boots

Pete Townsend in The High Numbers wearing Monkey Boots

Monkey Boots
Often thought as a Skinhead fashion, the Monkey Boot creeps on to the MOD stage for couple of reasons.

1. Hard MODS, basically late 60’s MODS becoming skins would wear them
2. Weller and Ian Page can be seen wearing some in a few pictures on MOD revival.

I have had a few pairs.  Once worn in, they are really comfortable. The elusive brown ones have been really hard to get hold of for years but are now being re-made. Some the traditional skins I know say that their stitching is not the same. I only have seen one true old pair of browns, which were bought on a car boot sale here in Peterborough and they were a girls size!

The tread of the Monkey Boot has a distinctive tractor tyre design and the composite material they are made from is durable. Monkey Boots can last a lot longer than DMs and mile for mile they are better value. They were the standard issue Czechoslovakian army boot of WW2. Monkey boots are available in most towns in the UK.

There are variations of monkey boots, Trickers make a very nice boot, leather sole and the detailing is amazing, but they are not cheap, and you normally have to order and wait 6 months.

There are currently several kinds of monkey boots for sale, the ones we had made , shown below, to be very well made and a quality item at a reasonable price, throw in that they are made in the UK, adds to the offering.

PICTURES:

Pete Townsend in The High Numbers wearing Monkey Boots
Pete Townsend in The High Numbers wearing Monkey Boots
I think he may have needed some new boots ! Monkey Boots again !
I think he may have needed some new boots ! Monkey Boots again !

Monkey Boots mod shoes oxblood monkey boots 04 mod shoes black monkey boots 04 mod shoes oxblood monkey boots 02 mod shoes Delicious_Juntion_Finsbury_Monkey_Boot5

Chelsea Boots

Chelsea Boots
I am not sure about Chelsea Boots. Why? Because I see them more a fashion thing, than a pure MOD thing. I know you can say the same about loafers, but everyone wore Chelsea Boots. Goths wear them now and they suffer a little from being what people think of 60’s MOD imagery.

According to the advertising this is “MODS”� Mid-60′s customers queue for Anello’s shoes, Drury Lane, London WC

Also, and as much as I love them, The Beatles wore Chelsea Boots. So are they MOD?

There are many variations of the Chelsea Boots, but the iconic 60’s look is the thin, but very pointed boot, with a Cuban heel.

“We all dressed in that look” said Granny Takes A Trip founder Nigel Waymouth, then a blues-mad student. “Pea jackets, very tight jeans and pointed Anello & Davide shoes. Probably a matelot shirt. I’d go to the Railway Hotel in Richmond and the Gee Club in Ealing to see Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies.”

In terms of these days, there are loads of Chelsea Boots to be had. These boots look pretty good. http://www.scorpioshoes.com/mens-2/shoes-5/formal-slip-ons-50/paolo-vandini-veer3-mens-leather-chelsea-32695.htm  These boots look good, but I think they are a little Austin PowersMOD! http://fantasyshoe.com/mod-60s-retro-boots-shoes/fur-cuban-heel-winklepicker-beat-boots not for me, but perhaps you?

Boots We Sell

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PICTURES: 

mod queing for chelsea boots mod shoes mod shoes delicious junction chelsea boot universal DJ-BOOT-BRN-1 mod shoes ladies 60s chelsea boots amy-5-paston-perfo-sand_1_1 mod-shoes-womens-chelsea-boots-amy-melvin-hamilton-01 38 mod shoes question mark and mysterions chelsea boots 21 mod shoes the chords billy in chelsea boots mod shoes mod chelsea boots KINGS-ROAD-BRN-001 mod shoes mod chelsea boots KINGS-ROAD-TAN-001