Creepers

Last July when I first saw Rhianna sporting a pair of Brothel Creepers on stage at the X-Factor, I have to admit I was surprised and a little dismayed at what could only be the next fashion craze advocated by the singer. At first I took a double take, I didn't actually believe at first glance that she was wearing them, but she was.

 

Soon after this sighting, creepers started to crop up frequently in the pages of Vogue and on shop shelves like New Look. I found it quite interesting that no more than two years ago, I had been wearing Brothel Creepers for around five years and at times was laughed at for my unusual footwear, I recall one comment in which the person asked if I was wearing orthopaedic shoes.

Fashion is shallow, we all know that, sometimes some of the silliest trends have hit it big time because one person in the limelight percieved to be 'cool' is wearing it.

Brothel Creepers first came about in the second world war for soldiers in the desert in North Afirca because of the climate, however, in the 1950's, they became popular with Teds or Teddy Boys. The crepe sole and leather design soon became very fashionable and creepers were worn by much of the mainstream as a smart, stylish shoe. Recognised by the apron of different material or patterned design, Brothel Creepers were no longer just a subculture hit.

Creepers were worn by the Rockabillys of the 1950's, Rockers of the 1960's, Goths and Punks of the 1970's and the Psychobillys of the 1980's. The Creeper was so popular amongst future youth subcultures most probably due to their original Teddy Boy origin. Even the likes of Paul Weller was seen wearing a pair in the days of The Jam...and wasn't he supposed to be a Mod?

Teddy Boys

I remember my first pair of Creepers. I'd been living in London a few months, I'd recently ditched my punk attire and had begun to venture into other areas of music and my dress followed.

I'd started listening to more Rockabilly music, wearing leopard print coats and short tartan skirts. My hair was long and black, but I'd cut myself a short fringe. Unbeknown to me, I'd started to morph into what could only be described as someones confused 1950's nightmare.

I'd spotted a pair of Creepers a while before this, in a shop window on Camden High Street. I decided to buy a pair, so one Saturday, I went in the shop and came out ecstatic with a pair of size 5, black and pink leather Creepers, with about a 2 inch triple crepe sole wedge on them. The apron was lined with a pink rim and smack bang in the middle of the apron was the head of a female hellcat in - yes, pink.

Unfortunatly the only picture I could find

Painful as they were when I first started wearing them, they were very loved and worn to such a degree that eventually the shoe started to move away from the sole and I could no longer wear my favourite shoes.

About a year after mouring the loss of my Creepers, I decided to get a new pair. That years development had well and truly got me addicted to Psychobilly and anything Rockabilly and 50's Rock 'n' Roll. I was ready to upgrade to a new sort of Creeper and these were my absolute favourite. These Creepers were black suede leather, with the same two inch crepe wedge sole. This time though, as well as being suede, the apron was a gorgeous leopard print fur. Again, very sore the first few times worn but eventually the most comfortable shoe in the world. Sadly, these shoes ended up going the same way the first ones did, only I attempted to glue them back together, which didn't work. The D-ring also fell off so the laces looped through a safety pin for the remaining six months of their life. These shoes ended up with a friend.

The final pair of Creepers I owned and still have were quite different to the other ones I had. This pair are slightly more masculine than the previous pairs and have a lower sole. The sole is black and the shoe was white and leather and the apron is a white with a black rim and inside has a black dashed design following the line of the apron shape. Surprisingly, these shoes had no breaking in pain at all considering how hard they felt. These ones are similar to the ones worn by Paul Weller in the late 70's.

As someone who has worn this style of shoe for some time (and I'm only 25), you can imagine my shocked reaction that Sunday evening when Rhianna strolled on stage in them. I have nothing against Rhianna, but I do find it difficult to understand that a shoe style that has been around for over 70 years, worn by teenagers and adults alike, the fashion industry and highstreet has suddenly gone beserk for them, just because a popstar, who probably has no idea where the shoes come from has started wearing them. It's the underground Punk label 'BOY' all over again. Worn by Jessie J and Rhianna, this has also been catapulted into the mainstream, a label that has been around for almost 40 years.

Now as we all know, the second something becomes current, the price goes up.
I've had friends in their late 30's, early 40's, who have said Fred Perry polo shirts once cost around £10, Ben Sherman shirts used to be £2. These days you'd be lucky to find anything by these two makes for under £50. What I'm interested in finding out is what people are now forking out for a pair of Brothel Creepers. I read something recently on one of Sian Conways pages stating that she had spent 57 Euros on her pair. My first pair cost me £20. My second cost £30 and the third pair cost £35, the price increase just due to the quality of the shoe. I wonder if these particular make of Brothel Creeper have gone up in price as well, or if Creeper lovers worldwide are being ripped off by larger companies like Topshop. Here's something for you, a link to Underground where I got my creepers from and my god how the prices have gone up. Try ebay! Happy Creeping!

http://www.underground-cybershop.co.uk//acatalog/creeper_shoes_roundtoe.html