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| A TIMELESS CLASSIC - LEOPARD PRINT GLAMOUR MULE |
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| POLLYS OF CALIFORNIA -- GLAMOUR MULES WORN BY STARLETS, STRIPPERS, PIN-UPS AND COCKTAIL WAITRESSES! |
While most "authentic" Polly's have a suede insert
in the sole, this pair with the Polly logo has the "spoon shaped" dimpled sole which is not at all that uncommon. Indeed,
illustrations of Pollys in vintage Frederick of Hollywood catalogs often show these exact differences in the padded
sole, although the heel height is highly exagerated.
| POLLYS FEATURE A WOOD AND METAL STILETTO HEEL |
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| A 4-1/2 INCH HIGH HEEL ADDED JUST THE RIGHT HEIGHT TO FLATTER THE LEGS AND FLEX THE CALF MUSCLES |
| MOST AUTHENTIC POLLY'S HAVE A NON-SLIP INSERT |
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| THESE SHOES HAVE THE MORE COMMON TAN COLORED SUEDED LEATHER INSERT ALONG WITH THE "THREE BAND VAMP" |
| A PRIVATE LABELED POLLY - NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND |
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| THESE POLLYS FEATURE THE "TOE SHAPED" LEATHER INSERT AND A SYMETRICAL VAMP |
| POLLYS HAVE A UNIQUE, TEXTURED TAN COLORED SOLE |
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| THESE HEELS ARE REMARKABLY COMFORTABLE TO WEAR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME |
| TOTALLY GLAMARAMA -- TIGER STRIPED POLLY'S |
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| I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THESE COST ME! I JUST CLOSED MY EYES AND CHARGED THEM ON MY CREDIT CARD! |
| ACTRESS BARBARA EDEN - BEFORE I DREAM OF JEANNIE |
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| CLASSIC PIN-UP PHOTO OP AT A CAR SHOW - BIKINI AND POLLYS REQUIRED |
| BLACK KID LEATHER WITH SILVER TRIM - SIZE 10 |
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| THESE ARE THE ONLY POLLY-LIKE STYLE I'VE EVER SEEN WITH A DARK WOOD PLATFORM SOLE! |
| FROM THE BETSEY JOHNSON COLLECTION - "STARBURST" |
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| I JUST HAD TO HAVE THESE! ATTENTION GETTERS AND LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS! |
| MISS MARILYN MONROE |
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| HER LAST MOVIE FEATURED A SWIMMING POOL SCENE WHERE SHE WORE POLLY OF CALIFORNIA MULES AND A SMILE |
| POLLY'S IN THE SLINGBACK STYLE ARE QUITE RARE |
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| FREDERICK'S OF HOLLYWOOD OFFERED POLLY'S THROUGH THEIR CATALOGS FOR MANY YEARS |
| ACTRESS VIRNA LISI |
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| BATHING SUIT CHEESECAKE WASN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT A PAIR OF POLLY'S |
| ACTRESS LISA GAYE IN A BATHING SUIT PIN-UP |
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| POLLYS IN THE 1960S FEATURED REAL LEOPARD FUR -- SOLD BY FREDERICKS OF HOLLYWOOD |
| MEN STILL DREAM OF BARBARA EDEN |
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| A STUDIO PROMOTION PHOTO SESSION MADE SURE BARBARA WORE POLLYS |
| POLLYS WERE VERY POPULAR WITH STRIPPERS |
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| THE "SLIGHTLY SLUTTISH" REPUTATION OF POLLYS WERE DUE TO THEIR POPULARITY WITH BURLESQUE ARTISTS |
| BURLESQUE PUBLICITY PHOTO FROM THE 1980'S |
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| ELABORATE COSTUMES WERE REPLACED BY MINIMAL THONGS BUT THE POLLYS WERE STILL THERE. |
This quote is from an auction
on eBay: "I love these
50's metal tip wooden platform mules. It is impossible to wear them without hugely increasing your sex appeal. They are like
wearing guy magnets on your feet!"
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| POLLYS MADE A FASHION COMEBACK IN 2004 |
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| ONE OF THE STYLES WORN BY JESSICA SIMPSON IN THE "DUKES OF HAZZARD" MOVIE |
| ON THE SET OF "THE DUKES OF HAZARD" |
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| JESSICA SIMPSON IS WEARING THE POLLYS OF CALIFORNIA MULES SHOWN ABOVE |
THE END OF AN ERA? NEVER!
One of the most frequent searches to my website involves Polly
of California mules, a fashion icon of the 1960's. These mules, with their laminated plywood platform and high heels
were first advertised in Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs in the Spring of 1961, selling for $15.99. Called "glamour
clogs", they had an all-wood high heel and may have been manufactured in Italy. The advent of the half wood
/ half metal heel that became a Polly's signature did not appear until the 1964 catalogs and it was guaranteed
to be non-breakable. These shoes continue to be available from several retailers into 2007, including designer Betsey
Johnson, who has included them in her collection at $200 a pair, in various unique styles, as well as New York
City fashionista Patricia Field, Trashy Diva on the West Coast and Marciano Guess (at their boutiques?). But e-retailer
REMIX probably has the widest selection of styles and colors at www.remixvintageshoes.com (click here!) While Polly of California has closed,
the company that makes the wood platform and heel "units" is still in business. Thus, the availablity of the shoes from
the above named retailers in various styles. A classic shoe from the 1960's, it gained wide appeal for its sexy appearance
and flattering way with its high heel and bare look, yet was a very comfortable shoe to wear. A favorite of movie
actresses, pin-up models and their photographers, cocktail waitresses from coast-to-coast as well as Burlesque Queens (it
was so much easier to slip out of on stage than a Spring-o-lator!!!) it is now gaining popularity on eBay where the price
of the leopard print mules at the top of this page sold for $175 in June of 2006. On occasion, these mules bring
higher prices on eBay than they do if you were to purchase them direct from their retailer! These same leopard print,
fake pony fur Polly's are sold by Remix for about $158.00. Fashion trends come and go but Polly of California glamour
mules continue to be a hot item, even after 50 years!
Note: I've recently been contacted by the President of the company that
now makes the "Polly Mule" and he has provided me with more history and background. An update to this section is planned
for the near future! Thanks, Scott!
| ANKLE STRAP POLLY'S -- A RARE FIND |
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| SOLD AT KENT'S OF BROADWAY IN BALTIMORE - WHERE THE STRIPPERS FROM "THE BLOCK" BOUGHT THEIR OUTFITS |
Polly of California is actually a brand name. Like many other brand names, it has become associated with a particular
item, in this case the famous wood platform mule with a half-metal heel. The history of this shoe will soon be featured
here in this location thanks to the President of the company that continues to make all the "Polly Mules" sold today.
His Polly's are for sale under the brand name of other retailers like Betsey Johnson, Marciano for Guess, BeBe and
Re-Mix Vintage Shoes.
| VIVA LAS VEGAS! PINK LEOPARD POLLY'S |
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| MY PERSONAL FAVORITE POLLY'S. THESE ARE SO TOTALLY 1960'S BOMBSHELL! |
| "DAISY DUKES" AND ANKLE STRAP POLLYS |
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| WHILE MOST POLLY'S WERE MULES, THERE WERE VARIOUS STRAPPY VERSIONS AS WELL |
| POLLYS IN LEOPARD PRINT BY FRANK MORE |
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| A VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF POLLY'S WITH A UNIQUE VAMP DESIGN -- CALL THEM BAD GIRL SHOES! |
| PURPLE GLITTER POLLYS FROM BETSEY JOHNSON |
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| THE BETSEY JOHNSON COLLECTION FEATURES THESE AND THE CLEAR VINYL STARBURST MODELS |
| MY "STARBURST" POLLY'S -- WORKIN' IT, GIRL! |
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| THESE REALLY TURNED A LOT OF HEADS THE NIGHT I FIRST WORE THEM! |
| MY FIRST PAIR OF POLLY'S WERE BOUGHT IN THE 1970'S |
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| THESE RED LEATHER "TWO BAND" POLLY'S WERE FROM THE OLD KENT'S OF BROADWAY WHERE BLAZE STARR SHOPPED! |
| JUST PURR - FECT FOR A COCKTAIL PARTY |
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| ACCESSORIZE A LITTLE BLACK DRESS AND TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE! |
| VIVA LAS VEGAS RETRO 60'S LOOK WITH HANES HOSIERY |
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| THESE TWO-COLOR POLLY'S ARE NOT AS COMMON -- THEY ARE A SIZE 8 1/2 M AND ARE JUST A LITTLE TIGHT |
| MY BLACK LEATHER POLLYS BY RE-MIX |
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| RE-MIX VINTAGE SHOES IS OFFERING MORE STYLE VARIETY AND COLORS FOR THEIR LINE OF AUTHENTIC POLLYS |
| NEW FROM RE-MIX -- METALLIC POLLYS |
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| I THINK THE 3-TONE VERSION ON THE LEFT WOULD GO VERY WELL WITH LEOPARD PRINT DRESSES |
| SPEAKING OF LEOPARD PRINT CLOTHING - NOT MUCH HERE |
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| A MODERN PIN-UP IN POLLYS EXUDES CLASSIC SEX APPEAL |
| JOLEEN OF CALIFORNIA SENT THIS PHOTO OF HER POLLYS |
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| A WHOLE NEW GENERATION IS BEING INTRODUCED TO POLLYS. JOLEEN CUSTOMIZES SOME SHOES WITH GLITTER |
| BETSEY JOHNSON'S STARBURST POLLYS IN GOLD |
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| VIVA LAS VEGAS! WIGGLE DRESS, CUBAN HEELED SEAMED STOCKINGS AND POLLY'S! |
| VINTAGE YELLOW LEATHER POLLYS -- SIZE 9 1/2M |
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| THE PERFECT ACCESSORY FOR A 1960'S ERA FULL SKIRTED DRESS WITH MULTI-COLORED CRINOLINE PETTICOAT |
| 1973 -- FREDERICKS CATALOG -- STRAPPY SLINGBACKS |
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| POLLYS ALSO CAME IN VARIOUS SLINGBACK STYLES. NOTE THE "SPOON HANDLE" DIMPLED SOLE. |
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