Figure 1.-- |
|
We notice three basic variations for the three mahor types of single-bar "t"-strap school sandal. The classic style of school sandal was commonly worn by British school boys from the 1920s through the 1960s. Only in the 1970s did the new style with the wider center strap appear. While the style for boys began to change in the 1960s, the most pipular style for girls continued to be the narrow cenrter strap style. Not only did the style for boys begin to change in the 1960s, but older boys increasingly objected to wearing them. While they continued to be acceptavle in elementary school, most boys in seconary school wanted proper shoes. The center strap of medium length appeared in the 1960s and proved to be increasingly popular in the 1970s. At first it was only increased to an inch or less. It proved to be especially popular with the boys who generally preferred to wear shoes that were different from those worn bvy the girls. The width of the center stap was increased to an eveb greater width in the 1970s. The center strap of the shoe on some styles was increased beyond 1 inch. Eventually the center strap became so wide that the school sandal came to look much like a shoe, except for a very narrow slit at the side. This style became much more popular with the boys than the traditional style which the narrow center piece that the girls continued to wear.
The classic style of school sandal was commonly worn by British school boys from the 1920s through the 1960s. We are not entirely sure about the chronology, but we tend to see boys wearing heavy high-top shoes before World War I and after the War we see boys wearing sandals in the 1920s. We note sandals being worn in America duing the 1910sm but not to school. We are not sure to wehat extent this happened in England. The narrow-center strap was the only sdtyle wiorn in the inter-War era and in the immediate post-War era. We are not sure when the wide center-straps appeared, perhaps the 60s. Thed wider center straps increased in popularity during the 1970s, at least for boys continued to wear sandals with the narrow center strap. This was especially common ast prep schools where the school specifid the brand and model. While the style for boys began to change in the 1960s, the most poppular style for girls continued to be the narrow cenrter strap style, in fact the essentialy exclusive type of sandal worn to school. Not only did the style for boys begin to change in the 1960s, but older boys increasingly objected to wearing them. While they continued to be acceptavle in primary schools, most boys in seconary school wanted proper shoes. We occasionaly see first year boys wearing them, but rarely boys after that first year.
|
The center strap of medium length appeared in the 1960s and proved to be increasingly popular in the 1970s. At first it was only increased to an inch or less. It proved to be especially popular with the boys who generally preferred to wear shoes that were different from those worn bvy the girls.
|
The width of the center stap was increased to an eveb greater width in the 1970s. The center strap of the shoe on some styles was increased beyond 1 inch. Eventually the center strap became so wide that the school sandal came to look much like a shoe, except for a very narrow slit at the side. This style by the 70s and especially the 80s became much more popular with the boys than the traditional style which the narrow center piece that the girls continued to wear. Some schools had specific rules about the brand and model. Others just specified sandals and color. In this case the boys espeially after yhe first year pushed for the wide strap type that looked like a shoe. We still noted the narrow center strap sansals, but they became a sedtibct minority at the schools and age was a major factor. The older the boys, the more likely they were to wear the wide center strap sandals. Girls continued to wear te narrow center strap sandals. These wide center strap sandals were especially bcommon in stte primary sdchools.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Sandal Pages:
[Return to the Main English "T"-bar school sandal page]
[Return to the Main English school sandal page]
[Return to the Main English footware page]
[France]
[Ireland]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
