Hardy Heritage - Topic of the day 11/20/23
Let's talk about what most people consider
"heritage" or "classic" items (Levi's 501s, Bean Boots, etc). Do you have a favorite? Is there any item you think doesn't deserve the love it gets? Is this just another way to call something timeless??
36 Replies
a lot of items under that branch i feel are mostly there because of the functionality of it. feel like bean boots are one of those things that people came around too or so ugly that they're cute. but functionally they're great so continues to be a classic.
Maybe only newly considered classic but timbs
Nike killshot 2s
canvas sneakers?
There’s definitely like neo-classics I feel like
What’s the go to pair?
Converse, I guess? But Superga has been around for a long time too.
MFA doesn't seem to really like polo shirts right now, but the Lacoste polo shirt probably qualifies.
Still love a Lacoste polo around the house, they’re so comfortable
how about puffer jackets, invented by Eddie Bauer in 1936
You joke but now that I think of it is a killshot not just a derivative of the GAT? Is a GAT a heritage 
Damn you cooked with this one
I feel like for me the classic pair of canvas shoes is either Converse or Sperry’s. Depends on the type of shoe you want.
Would say Vans but they kinda just copied Sperry 🫢
Vintage style ones are pretty great tbh. Modern ones just aren't as fun most of the time. TNFPL and some more fashion focused brands do good iterations, but your standard fair from REI aren't interesting really at all imo. Especially from a heritage perspective
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzthEGrOpbF/
Pretty sure Keds are the actual OGs. Worn a bunch by dancers in the 30s and 40s bc of the new rubber soles for street dances like Lindy Hop
Would you rate Crescent down works? I have one of their italian vests that is built like a tank.
Damn I didn’t know that
I guess Sperry innovated the design with the non slip sole
Yeah people would switch shoes between social dancing which included a lot of ballroom styles like waltz and what-not and then put on their sneakers to dance Lindy Hop in the competitions and do aerials and stuff
I’m not asking cause I doubt your validity but because I want to read, where did you learn this?
I like their stuff! Rocky Mountain Featherbed is also really nice. I do quite like the original style from Eddie Bauer tho. The vintange ones can still be found used for not that bad
No worries! It's kinda institutional knowledge in the Lindy Hop community. You might be able to find primary sources looking for talks from Frankie Manning. This is a blog post from Bobby White about the topic (I haven't read it in years so I'm fuzzy on exactly what it covers). But he has interviewed basically every living dancer from that era.
https://swungover.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/swing-fashion-keds/
Bobby
Swungover*
Swing Fashion: Keds
Sorry I’ve been off schedule the last few weeks; I’ve got something big planned, and was hoping to put it out today, for Frankie’s birthday, but I’m too busy to finish it of…
So they preferred a little bit of slip to the sole, vs sperry’s or vans which had the really grippy soles
Actually the opposite. I'm not sure why Sperry's or vans weren't chosen since the CVO was first released in 1935 iirc. Probably had to do with availability in Harlem NY. Also it was mostly follows that wanted to swap from dance heels to sneakers since they were the fliers generally in the aerials
Keds had been around longer (1917?)
So they were probably more widely available
The CVO probably didn’t get as popular until after the war because I think it was used by the navy on the boats
And similar to khakis, they were then appropriated by college students
That's my guess yeah. I do know that it was keds and not other canvas sneakers that were popular with the NY dancers and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers but they also danced in leather shoes quite a bit
Now this is the type of heritage conversation I was looking for when I thought of this topic
Obscure history of casual garments
My favorite
Yeah! It's cool bc keds are some of the most popular shoes for Lindy Hop still for the same reasons. They're cheap, widely available, have nice soles for dancing that style, etc.
Another server I'm in has been having a kick on traditional moc hunting boots which I think are super fun. There's a ton of really interesting iterations from brands like Visvim and the more traditional examples from Russell Moccasin. They can be really chunky and I think a really easy shoe to use different types of leather and materials while still looking good more often than not
Even the plain models look really nice. This is one of the earliest examples from ~1920s
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyrOQJspLbJ/
russellmoccasin
These boots are some of the earliest surviving examples of the Bird Shooter model. These were made for the Von Lengkurke & Antoine store in Chicago in the late 1920’s. VL &A was later acquired by Abercrombie & Fitch who were also Russell dealers.
Likes
409
Instagram
i always like to mention PF Flyers in the canvas shoes convo because i feel like they are underrated 😤😤😤
they kinda do fit the bill for a “heritage” brand too, at least in my mind
100%
I love PF Flyers, I just don’t love high top sneakers
yeah i totally feel that, they’re the only pair of hi tops i own now
love the look of Vans high tops but no longer love the feel lol (guess i’m getting older)
I think cowboy boots don’t get enough love. Here’s a beautiful pair from Graham Ebner. If I were rich as hell I would love some of his boots: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtEaIf-Oklm/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==
grahamebnerboots
I’ve never had more fun making something as I did making these. From the illustration and design to the actual cutting and sewing they really pulled me out of my comfort zone. I’m very hard on myself when critiquing my work and these are no exception but I am very proud of these. These represent the level of work I can product and the kind of wo...
Likes
1009
Instagram
I was thinking the same. Might just get a shirt from him instead
The pocket tees are pretty nifty
@warpweftwatergate got some nice cowboy boots
Always buy boot
when in doubt, boot
Lucchese is where it’s at if you’re looking for mass market