Description:

Garbo Greta



Greta Garbo Personally Owned and Used Shoes

 

Black leather women's T-strap shoes, ca. 1920-40s, personally owned and used by Swedish-American movie actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990). The size 9 shoes have basket-woven uppers, partly braided T-straps, plain heel caps, and 1" high hob-nailed heels. Of probable American manufacture, the shoes may have been custom-made as there is no maker's mark. The moderate degree of wear suggests the shoes were one of Garbo's favorites. With isolated surface loss to the uppers and the left shoe's sock, and uneven wear to the right shoe's heel. Otherwise in very good to near fine condition. Each shoe measures 3.5" x 10.25" x 3.25".

 

Greta Garbo once famously remarked: "There's nothing attractive about the suffering face of a girl with ill-fitting shoes." These shoes, at once serviceable and stylish, demonstrate Garbo's pragmatic attitude towards footwear.  The actress often wore flats, loafers, or sneakers instead of high-heeled shoes.

 

Greta Garbo's sartorial style can best be characterized as relaxed classical. The actress had a European aesthetic; she prioritized comfort, practicality, and simplicity over fashion fads that were often short-lived or pain-inducing. She truly endorsed the adage of her favorite fashion designer, the Russian-American émigré Valentina Schlee (1899-1989): "fit the century, not the year." In this way, Garbo's fashions always appeared timeless.

 

At 5'7" tall and 125 lbs., Garbo maintained her lean and athletic figure through Pilates, yoga, and regular exercise. The dirty blonde haired, blue-eyed actress chose her clothing and accessories carefully to best showcase her body and face, and to cultivate a look of effortless elegance.

 

Garbo, along with fellow actresses Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich, are credited with popularizing androgynous clothing in mainstream American culture in the 1930s. Garbo appropriated traditionally masculine clothing, like Oxford blouses, turtlenecks, trousers, trench coats, and wide-brimmed hats, and made the look feminine. Several of Garbo's most famous "looks" incorporated such traditionally male clothing. Garbo preferred clothes that covered rather than revealed: long sleeves, low hemlines, and high necklines added to her mystique. She preferred dressing in black, brown, gray, and beige clothing for public appearances, but typically wore lighter colors and pastels in private. The Swedish Sphinx was also known for her artistic use of accessories: belts, sunglasses, scarves, and hats ranging from cloches and berets to turbans and fedoras.

 

Greta Garbo started her acting career as a hat model in a Stockholm department store. Discovered by Swedish filmmakers, the 20-year-old was brought to Hollywood in 1925 by movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. Garbo starred in 28 movies, both silent and talkie, before retiring at age 35. Her highly successful film career resulted in four Oscar nominations and such films as Grand Hotel (1932), Camille (1936), and Ninotchka (1939).  After retiring from the film industry in 1935, the actress lived semi-reclusively. She moved into a midtown Manhattan apartment after 1953, where "Garbo watching" tourists and press could often see her walking near her house.

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS. ALSO, ALL PACKAGES SHIPPED FROM OUR OFFICES REQUIRE A DIRECT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

December 5, 2018 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000