Truman Capote's Swans and Their Chic Shoe Style [PHOTOS]
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
In a pre-reality-show era, way before the invention of social media and the rise of the Kardashians, the New York City socialites were helping to shape the fashion landscape of the 1960s and 1970s. With their elegant outfits and classic footwear, the ladies who lunch would meet during the working week for social meetings, and as soon as paparazzi pictures of them hit the newspaper, their style would start to be emulated by others.
A sneak peek of this era is now shown in “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.”
More from Footwear News
The series, created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen and Michael Zam for FX, tells the story of Truman Capote’s friendship with socialites of New York City, whom he would often refer to as his “Swans.” Babe Paley, Lee Radziwill, Slim Keith, Ann Woodward, C.Z. Guest, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli and Pamela Harriman were all part of this group at some point in time.
Costume designer Lou Eyrich was in charge of bringing the ‘60s and ‘70s fashion to show, dressing actresses Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Demi Moore and others to play the real-life characters. Their outfits and shoe choices represent a period in fashion that saw a continuation of the ladylike aesthetic (a popular style of the 1950s) while embracing modern silhouettes and shapes after the Mod era.
In the footwear arena, short and stacked heel silhouettes were trending, such as kitten heels, Mary Janes and pointed flat shoes. The Chanel two-tone slingbacks were growing in popularity and the socialites were obsessed with Hélène Arpels’ classic pumps.
Inspired by “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans,” FN takes a look back at the footwear choices of New York City socialites from the 50s, 60s and 70s. See photos below.
Best of Footwear News
C.Z. Guest, 1968
C.Z. Guest, Truman Capote and fashion editor Diana Vreeland in 1968. Guest went classic with her footwear choice.
Lee Radziwill, 1964
Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy (r) and her sister Lee Radziwill walk near Hotel Carlyle in New York City. Radziwill was wearing bow-embellished pumps.
C.Z. Guest, 1962
C.Z. Guest wearing green flats by her pool.
Lee Radziwill, 1962
Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy, with her young son Anthony Radziwill (1959 – 1999) in Ravello. Radziwill is wearing pointy flat shoes.
Lee Radziwill, 1960s
Lee Radziwill, sister of Jaqueline Kennedy, sitting on a couch and wearing buckle-embellished leather pumps.
Lee Radziwill, 1962
A portrait of Lee Radziwill, voted among the World’s Best Dressed Women for 1962 in the annual International Fashion Poll, wearing classic pumps.
Ann Woodard, 1955
Ann Woodard wearing shiny pumps with bow embellishments.
C.Z. Guest, 1954
C.Z. Guest at her family’s Palm Beach estate in Florida, 1954, wearing short-heeled pumps.
Babe Paley, 1954
Babe Paley, January 1954. The wife of William S. Paley is seen wearing classic black pumps with short heels.
