Back in November, I found a pair of never-been-worn Fred Braun shoes. The olive color and kitten heel was such a cute combination, I couldn’t pass them up. It’s now August of the following year. I have yet to even attempt to wear them, and they fit me perfectly!
The post I wrote on Fred Braun received so many comments! Clearly, I had unknowingly stumbled upon a true Urban Shoe Myth. Fred Braun was a New York based shoe designer during the 1960s & 1970s. He had several boutiques throughout Manhattan, including: the Village, Lexington Avenue near 50th Street, and 34th Street. As the shoes became more in demand, they were carried in independent retailers throughout Brooklyn.
The shoes still have a cult following, and there are message boards where devotees reminisce about their favorite styles, and the iconic red and white striped boxes they came in. Fans explain that the shoes came in specialty sizes, and were beautifully made.
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Since I’m not going to wear these, I’d love to offer them to someone who appreciates them! I’m sure there is a happy home out there for this beautiful pair of Fred Braun shoes. They are unmarked, but fit me perfectly. I’m a US 8.5, European 39, and UK 6. I ship internationally. $50 and they are yours!
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CRAP! I am in love and only a size 7! I wish my foot was bigger, or you had smaller feet. They are gorgeous shoes.
When I was in high school there was a shop on the Grand Concourse. I’m the Bronx – where you went to buy Fred Braun flats. You then took them to the shoemaker who put taps on them. They were a status symbol. I wear size 10 now but I would love to have a pair!
I sold the pair to a really nice lady in Manhattan. Wish I was around during the heyday to see the store. I know there was also a location on the LES later. If I come across any more, I’ll be sure to contact you! Thanks for reading.
Fred Braun flat brown leather shoes, which we stylishly wore with bleached sweat socks (the bleach process turned them a warm beige) and bellbottoms, tights or stockings were amazing looking uber comfortable shoes! Mr. Braun was amazing with the numerous flat shoe styles that he created. I believe that the black girls from Harlem got this trend started. I remember I would spend at least a quarter of my after school part-time job paycheck to buy the latest style. I mustve had more than a dozen pairs! I wish someone would redesign his old styles!
Hi Ester. I agree with you! The shoes were of such high quality, and everyone loved them. Maybe a contemporary company will do a re-release of his styles!
Yes a co-worker and I were just reminiscing about the stylish Freddies we used to rock and the status symbol they portrayed. I had one of those hard to fit large feet and no matter what style of Fred Brauns I tried on, it was custom made for me. I hate to sound cliche, but those were the good ole days!
My Fred Braun’s were so well loved…! I went into a store in NYC while visiting my big sister from out of town, and she bought them for me. They were a claret or burgundy red tie shoe, with a round toe and stitching on top of the toes. They had a nice wedge, covered in the burgundy leather, with a sort of light colored gummy rubber sole. I wore them constantly and for a long time, until they just couldn’t be worn any more. Then I vaguely recall getting another pair, similar oxford tie with gummy bottom, a couple of year later… Anyone remember these?
Monica, certainly if you come across any more, please post! (7.5 or 8!!) Thanks everyone for sharing.
I’m always on the lookout! I can’t tell you how much I wish I could find a pair in my size (8.5). If I find anything, I will be sure to post! Thanks for reading and commenting :)
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