‘Best school shoes ever’ on Polyvore

Found over on Polyvore is this selection by daizyjayne – best school shoes ever! in black or brown…Harrison Idaho T-Bar Shoes.

Reappropriating t-bar school shoes

What is a secret hipster to do with her almost new pair of t-bar school shoes following graduation. Start wearing them again!

DIY Crown, DIY gingham top, Dangerfield dress worn as skirt, Harrison t-bar strap shoes, silver cross from my best friend, pink prison rosary from eBay, vintage Polly Pocket bracelet

These are the shoes I had to wear as part of my school uniform and my mother insisted on getting a new pair for my final year. At the time it made no sense to me since my old pair would fall apart in the middle of the year when no one cared anymore but no.

I had to live my life obeying the rules. I’m tempted to begin wearing them again since there’s a lot of life left in the leather but I still need to figure out how to avoid looking like a high school student through style.

I’m thinking of drawing some smiley faces on them with fabric paint or painting them in coat after coat of glitter which is a little difficult given the perforated holes. I’ll think of something though- don’t you worry about me.

DIY crown, Romance Was Born dress, vintage pink collar from etsy (SinkVintage), cardigan from my mother, childhood socks and my old school shoes (Harrison Idaho T-Bar)

I realise I’m a bit late to jump on the bandwagon of Easter-themed outfits but I have only myself to blame because I’ve been planning this one for ages and only lacked the motivation to execute my idea in full.

ASOS faux fur coat, second hand t-shirt, Meadham Kirchhoff X Topshop skirt, POMS earrings and Harrison T-bars

This outfit is really my way of channeling me inner space queen meets Hollywood actress vibes. For once I was able to create a unique outfit the day before I wore it. Usually I’m torn between what skirt or shoes to wear but for once it all kind of made sense in my head.

Dangerfield soupy dress and socks, American Apparel shirt, thrifted crochet jacket, POMS earrings and necklace, dog brooch from ginettepomette (etsy), buttons from Melbourne Art Fair and Harrison T-bars

T-bars aren’t just for school

T-bars school shoes aren’t just for the classroom – fashionable ladies know how to pull them off with any look.

I have put together an edit of my favourite styles and pieces for the colder weather.

pinafore dress//Topshop floral print top//Topshop felt Fedora hat//Urban Outfitters T-Bar brogues//Clarks grey sweater dress//Monki floral pattern skirt//Topshop grey coat//Monki yellow beanie hat//Monki black Chelsea boots//Asos

The T-Bars are actually my school shoes, but I love them enough to wear them out of school as well, generally with frilly/cartoon socks and dresses or skirts!

T-bar shoes are on trend

You don’t have to be a schoolgirl forced to wear a uniform to buy a brand new pair of t-bar school shoes.

For my shoes I wanted to go with something a little different. I recently picked up these school inspired buckled shoe in a patent leather, and if I’m honest I think I’m in love with a pair of shoes! This style of T-bar shoes are really on trend right now and I’m glad of it. I paired them with some white frilly socks. I think it adds a really cute school girl theme to the outfit, and adds an innocent look.

These t-bars are by Schuh.

‘Making Meadows’ is our very own on-trend chunky flat design for the new season. A black patent leather upper features buckle detailing with a T-bar adding a dainty touch. The silhouette sits on a sturdy sole unit.

You can take the girl out of school

You can take the girl out of school, but you can’t take away her memories of t-bar school shoes.

I bought these brown leather schoolgirl’s T-bars* (they are real standard-issue footwear for some schools here) last month to wear with thick woollen socks, cuffed at the ankles or knee-high, when the weather gets cold in the next few months.

Quite similar to what I used to wear to the all-girl school that I attended more than 20 years ago.

It was a set of uniform that wasn’t designed to be worn in hot and humid Singapore (before classrooms were air-conditioned) – a loose navy blue pinafore with three huge box pleats running down the front and the back, belted at the waist, over a white short-sleeved blouse. With white socks, folded, and white canvas shoes.

We used to run around without the mandatory belt – we had to let air in under those layers somehow, and getting those box pleats to sit all neat and tidy under the belt was hell! Very often, we were sent to the headmistress’ office by prefects for breaking the “uniform” rule.

When I finished high school, I didn’t think I’d want to wear another pinafore-like thing for a long time but I did. And always without a restricting belt.

Pretty in Pink (t-bar shoes that is)

Black t-bar school shoes are a dime a dozen. Brown ones are a little rarer. But PINK t-bars?

Say hi to Miss Hayley. Her shoes are ‘Jenny’ by Wilde.

httpz://www.fashionhayley.com/2013/06/too-cool-for-school.html

On the weekend I bought my second pair of these colourful school uniform shoes (in purple and for 50% off), this pink pair was my first and I realised I’ve never blogged them before. In Australia these t-bar style shoes are the shoe of choice for most school uniforms in both primary and secondary school, of course only in brown, black or navy not pink or purple. I fell in love with these colourful ones as soon as I saw them at iShoes on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy over a year ago, I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to blog them. I love reworking traditional styles of clothing in unexpected ways.

As to the rest of her look.

I never had a school uniform growing up, my primary school and both my high schools were inner city public schools without uniforms for whatever reason. Not having a uniform I used to look at the other kids on the tram in their matching school uniforms and feel sorry for them. There I was in my 90s ‘grunger’ outfit consisting of red flared pants with faux fur triangles, a tie-dye purple slip skirt over the top of the pants and a vintage diy cropped band t-shirt with my midriff exposed.

Essentially my outfit was the exact opposite of a boring ol’ uniform but part of me thought the uniforms were rather cute, especially the pinafore dresses of a local private school. So when I saw this cute pink love heart print pinafore dress on ASOS I immediately bought it and put together a look which is in part school uniform inspired – a kawaii school uniform if you will.

Nice combo, don’t you think?

MacRob girls and platform shoes

Girls at MacRob are allowed to wear black t-bar or laceup shoes with their school uniform, but not other types.

15 May 2009

http://www.macrob.vic.edu.au/news_letters/2009/Iss13_150509.pdf

Black lace-up leather school shoes, t-bar sandals may be worn but are not recommended for winter wear. Platform shoes, slip-on shoes or black sneakers are not acceptable

But it doesn’t mean a MacRob girl can’t try on her new platform heels at school.

Or hang out with her ballet flat wearing friend.