As a Lindy Hopper, it’s pretty mandatory that you have at least one pair of Keds in your collection for dancing. They are comfortable, last for a long time and come in cool colours and now super cool designs. BUT did you know that Keds had a division that started in the 1930’s that were strictly for women called “Kedettes“? They did! and the line was stylish, really beautiful and with its shock-absorbing sole also comfortable (Keds history)!

Take a look at the following selection of vintage ads for Kedettes and start imagining how cute you would have looked on the dance floor with them on!

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes Shoes for Women featuring ballet flats and 1950s poodle and cat skirt.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

“Kedettes”-Keds Stylish Women’s Shoe Division

The Vintage Advertising

Love this dancing Kedette ad from the 1930s.

1930s vintage ad for women's Keds shoes-Kedettes. Ad features saddle shoes and open toe shoes.

1940s vintage ad for women’s shoes perfect for summer time fun! I will take the Green one’s, the Yellow ones, brown ones…..

1940s Vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes a division of Keds. The women's shoes are perfect for summer. Fun 1940s fashion illustrations.

1950s vintage ad: “Say Saludos when you buy your next pair of new Kedettes”.

1950s Vintage ad: 1950s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes shoes a division of Keds featuring a woman in mexican style clothing.

I just loved the colours AND styles in this 1950s ad and had to add it to the collection of pics.

1950s vintage ad: 1950's shoes ad for Kedettes shoes a division of Keds. Fun women's 1950s fashionable shoes.

All of these 1940’s Kedettes would be perfect in my closet, every single one.

1940s shoe ad for Kedettes shoes for Women. 1940s fashion.

1940s for Kedettes Wedges that are perfect for Spring and Summer.

Source: Etsy

I may be tall but I’m a sucker for a wedge and these wedges don’t seem to be too tall for little old me and they are so beautiful as well. 1940s ad.

1940s vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for Kedettes shoes-1940s shoes for women.

1940’s Kedettes are simply gorgeous and I have at least 10 dresses that would look perfect with them 🙂

1940s vintage ad: 1940s vintage shoe ad for women's shoes by Kedettes a division of Keds.

Would you like to own a pair of Kedettes? Here are some examples of what was on sale on the web at time of posting (head over to Etsy to do a search for more updated finds)

1950s / 1960s Kedettes in red, white and blue slip on. So cute! (Avail as of Nov 2023).

Vintage Shoes: 1950s / 1960s Kedettes in red, white and blue slip on. So cute!

Source: Etsy – BombyxVintage

Vintage 1950s Kedettes yellow ballerina flat slipper shoes. A beautiful pair of 1950s flat shoes made of bright yellow woven cotton fabric with a yellow cord loop on top.

vintage 1950s yellow flat ballerina shoes

Source: Etsy

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes canvas shoes lace-up sandals in blue and off-white.

Source: Etsy

Original Vintage 1940s /1950s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals.

Source: Etsy

There you have it, Keds was not always a brand for just running shoes. Now I don’t know about you but I think I might run off to ebay/etsy and see if any still exist in this world that I can drool over.

FURTHER READING:

Vintage Fashion: ‘Keds’ Turn 100
Vintage Fashion 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz 🙂

Man oh Man I’m seriously turning into the worst blogger ever, this work thing (which I’m grateful to have) is getting in the way of finishing these Viva posts. Sorry!!!

Okay here is my Friday at Viva.

What is VIVA? Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender is 4 days of 1950s culture. 1950s / Rockabilly Music, Dancing, Vintage Fashions, Car show and more! It’s an incredibly good time!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 16-The Friday

POOL DAY!

Normally this is not when I would have gone to the pool, I would have usually been seen on the Sunday when everyone else goes but this year I had a serious conflict this year. A favorite Toronto band “Tennessee Voodoo Coupe” had their set at 1:00pm on the Sunday and it was mandatory that I go and support the band. So my husband and my friends trucked it to the pool on the Friday instead and I was super thankful that Tom Ingram created a pool party for every day (with the AquaSonics playing good surf music I might add) so that I was not missing all the fun that is Sunday at the Pool.

Me and my girls 🙂 Bathing suit is from My Baby Jo and was a wedding present. Psst..check out the very cool tattooed men behind us. Wow amazing!

(Photos Courtesy of Dean Villafuerte and Michelle Marie)

My friend Dean who is normally BEHIND the camera is in front of it, looking very dashing I might add.

VIVA las Vegas 16 Pool -Rockabilly Style for Men.

Another friend, Josh and I goofing around for the camera..well I’m goofing around he is mister cool 🙂

VIVA Las Vegas 16 Pool Party-Rockabilly Style

View of the pool (Sunday is the BIG pool party so this quiet for a Friday).

VIVA Las Vegas 16 Pool Party-Rockabilly Party

I can’t handle the beauty that is this picture….wow!!!! The ladies have amazing Vintage style and the guy is a pretty cool Rockabilly guy.

VIVA Las Vegas 16 Pool Party Vintage Fashions and Rockabilly Style. BEAUTIFUL vintage swimsuits

AquaSonics keeping the pool party hopping.

Aquasonics VIVA 16 Pool Party Music-Surf Music

We stayed at the pool for about 3 hours and by the time we had left, I was feeling no pain and I really don’t know how it happened…oh right buckets of beer and my husband going MIA. Hey someone had to drink them!

Off I went for a nap time till it became night time…opps hehehe 🙂

Friday Night-Rockabilly Party

After my nap, I changed into my outfit for the night (reproduction sailor pants, saddle shoes and a cute 1940’s like top from Target) and headed to the Ballroom for another night of amazing music. I saw the “Phat Cat Swingers” who I loved and the band was the kind of music that was perfect for me to get my Lindy Hop on as well. Woo hoo!

Lil’Mo & the Dynaflos was next and they were really really great.

THEN the act of the night was “The Blue Caps with Graham Fenton” a tribute to Gene Vincent. All I can say was….WOW! Such a treat to have seen this performance.

Now for pics from my evening…..never really happened as most of us were having too much fun dancing to take pics. Insert another “opps” lol! But there were a couple of pictures that did manage to get taken.

Stroll Time! Learn about the dance & other dances done at VIVA HERE

strolling on friday night VIVA Las Vegas 16

End of the night photo!

So there is Friday at VIVA 16. Stay tuned for Saturday..the Car Show and Little Richard!

NOTE…I never did finish those posts BUT I did a whole series on VIVA 18 which you can read about below.

FURTHER READING ABOUT VIVA:

Liz