A little while ago I wrote about my favorite vintage inspired shoe brand – Aerosoles. Well, now I found a new brand (at least new to the USA) that has several women’s vintage inspired shoes from the teens to 1950s that are just as comfortable as my beloved Aerosoles.
Let me introduce you to Hotter Shoes.
Hotter shoes was founded in 1959 as a slipper manufacturer in the UK. Today, it has been kept a small family business, expanded its line to mostly casual and dress shoes, and has become the largest manufacturer of shoes in the UK! They just recently established their online store to ship to the USA. It may not be long before we see Hotter shoes in our local stores, too (I hope so!).
Hotter designs shoes for comfort. They also make most of their shoes in wide and extra wide sizes! For friends who have a hard time finding vintage style wide shoes, Hotter fills a big need.
Are they really comfortable? YES! Yes they are.
[Full disclosure- I received a pair of the Rumba shoes to review. I would gladly be reviewing them even without a free pair.]
Hotter Rumba T strap Shoes– 1920s Perfection
The Rumbas have a nice light cushion insole that absorbs impact. There are also no funky design lines across the ball or toe area that can poke and rub my feet the wrong way. A smooth toe and body style on most designs means there is nothing to irritate my feet. The rubber sole is thick and sturdy (not great for dancing, but you can always alter them for dancing purposes.)
Rumba shoes have a nice rubber sole
With a low French heel height of 1- 3/4 inches they’re ideal for walking (I can’t walk in heels over 2.5 inches) and I will be able to wear these all day. And they look accurate to the 1920s. I was in need of T-strap black evening shoes, and these fit the bill perfectly. They come in several more colors, too, such as nude, pink, purple, and navy. Hotter also has the similar Michelle T-strap shoe with a taller 2- 1/4 inch heel (picture below in navy).
*My only issue with the shoes I have is they seem to run big. I am a true 6.5 and they run about a half size too big. Luckily, Hotter offers free returns with a prepaid label so there is no risk to exchanging (or returning).
(Update 2018) While the Rhumba shoe is now sold out, a similar shoe is the Viviene heel. Same T-strap design, same comfortable sole, slightly different trim.
Viviene heel in black
Now, I am not the only one who is in love with Hotter shoes. A few months back, I posted a picture of the 1940s style Donna shoes on Facebook and Pinterest. Holy smokes! Each post went viral. There are thousands of likes and comments from owners of the shoes who love them. I bought a pair of the Donnas as well as a few winter boots. Each is VERY comfortable. I can’t say enough about the brand.
Hotter makes something for every decade. Styles change every season, so take a look and see what’s in stock today:
Do you have a pair of Hotter shoes? Share your review in the comments below.
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
