Footwear: Red Wing Postman Oxfords

Recently when I visited the Red Wing HQ I picked up a pair of the Red Wing Heritage Postman Oxfords and I love them. I had a chance to give them a wear this week in during fashion week in NYC. They made their debut at the influencer dinner that I attended and they received a lot of compliments. They brake it extremely easy and are really comfortable. What attracted me to this shoe was the military like shine that they have, they looked like something a army sergeant would wear and I needed something like this in my repertoire.

The Red Wing Heritage Postman Oxford, a shoe originally developed for American policemen and postmen in the 1960’s. Ervell customized the shoes for each look, and included a lucite wedge insert in some women’s versions.

In the early 1960’s, policemen still walked their beats and the postman walked his mail route. Of course they needed comfortable and sturdy footwear for the eight hours spent on their feet. Red Wing responded with style #101, a sturdy black oxford with a moldable insole. It could be polished to meet their uniform requirements, but tough enough for everything their day encountered.

To promote the shoes, Red Wing began advertising using illustrations from Norman Rockwell. He is often referred to as the best-known American artist of the 20th century. He was known for illustrating advertising and promotional pieces, but he was also highly selective in which projects he chose to complete. Fortunately, Red Wing Shoes was an ideal match for his talents. Our boots were worn primarily by hardworking, everyday Americans. These people were very often the subject of Rockwell’s heartwarming paintings. With a lighthearted and instantly identifiable style, his artwork was a reflection of America at the time. His illustrations for Red Wing Shoes told visual stories of the workplace and featured the tagline, “Wear Red Wing Shoes…for people who work.”