Uh… Nothing scratches that Seven year itch quite like the sexy frou frou of the marabou slipper shoe!

and…

If it was good enough for Marilyn, then its good enough for us, hey dolls?!…

With her wondrous and curvaceous wiggle, Marilyn Monroe was often seen wafting around her hollywood haunts, overtly femininely and flamboyantly feathered.

Especially around the film set of the Seven year itch, which was to become the foot in the fashion door for the feathered footwear we so love and adore!

She, along with many other starlets of the 1950s often pussy-footed around in this popular slipper of choice.

Where did these fluffy, feathered foot fancies fly in from.. I hear you ask?!

Well…

“Marabout” was a much beloved trimming in the late eighteenth century, applied to many millinery marvels, flamboyant feather boas and a multitude of marvellous muffs. (ooh errr!)

Historically Marabou (as we know it) was spelled Marabout and taken from the Marabou stork, in particular it was the under-tail down that provided the fabulous, frothy feathers that frequently feature in clothing and footwear.

Taking to coloured dyes well, this feather became perfect for the fashionable and trendy timeless trimmings.

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Here’s Mr Marabou Maker himself!!

Ok so this fella probably isn’t selling those sassy little mules to you right now!!! 

But….

It wasn’t to be long before the classy and classic creator Mr Roger Vivier (Dior’s shoemaker) created some of the most elegant examples of this sumptuous style.

Soon becoming incredibly successful, the slinky slipper soon bombarded the boudoirs of buxom bombshells, quickly becoming the perfect choice for pairing with a pretty peignoir gown.

Thinking thoughts of Flirty fun-time & Fabulous Frou Frou….

 As the new found feathered friends for female feet, these fluffy delights became a flirty feature upon many of the mid century movie maidens.

Strutting with the sass of the smouldering screen siren and feistily fluffed up with some serious sex appeal from the boudoir bombshells, these backless slipper shoes were flying off the shelves.

With the likes of The Metropolitan museum stating that –

‘No object better epitomises the sex kitten glamour of the 1950s, than the marabou mule.’

So its no wonder this simple mule became the desperate housewives ‘glam bunny’ bedtime tool.

Get your Vintage man smitten, with your inner pin-up kitten…

So for all you pin-up kittens, its time to get your claws out and slip your feet in to some feathered footwear.

You too can saucily set out to cause mayhem with your man, come that bubbly bedtime hour!!

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Where to puuurr-chase…

With the ever fabulous vintage sellers on eBay and Etsy, you are sure to find some fantastic feathered finds with a quick click of your fingers.

 Although not readily available in many shops these days, some modern versions can still be found in online shoe stores.

The Must have back in the day brands  to look out for are…

– Polly of California

&

– Frederick’s of Hollywood

Now you’re all set, go get feather foraging like Folly!!