Figure 2.--This advertisement for closed-toe sandals appeared in a 1990s French clothing catalog. Here the impression is smart casual, worn without socks during the summer. Unfortunately it was scanned without engaging the descreening feature.

French boys commonly wore strap shoes, but this was primarily with dressy outfits. I am not sure when boys began to wear closed toe sandals for casual wear. I think probably the 1920s-30s, but this requires additional research. I do know that closed-toe sandals were veing widely worn by French boys by the 1950s, but primarily during the summer. The styles were less standard than in Britain and included styles with single bars, "T" straps, double bars, and a variety of others. As in England, they were worn much like boys now wear sneakers, but also could be worn for more formal occasions. At least by the 1960s they had become less popular for boys. As soon as sneakers appeared in the 1960s, they quickly replaced closed-toe sandals which are now rarely worn except by very little boys and girls. Colors have varied over time and by type of sandal or shoe and the age of the boy.

Terminology

The French have two different words for sandals. Open-toed sandals are 'sandales'. Closed-toe sandals are 'sandalettes'. These old words are still used today in France.

Usage

Sandals have been worn by French boys for both dress and casual wear, but this was primarily the strap shoe and thus not correctly characterized as a sandal, although the construction was basically the same. Early styles of sandals weem mostly the shoe-like closed-toe sandal. The differencecwas commonly th materials used. Different styles in part determined the function. The most common sandal for dress wear was the single bar strap shoe. This style was widely worn as a dress shoe by children in the 19th century and continued to be worn in the early 20th century. The English school sandal was commonly worn in the inter war years (1920s and 30s) for school and might even be worn with a suit. It was also worn as a casual shoe. Casual wear seems the most common usage for sandls. As in England, they were worn much like boys now wear sneakers, the English-style 'T' stap sandal in particular were worn both with a suit and for play. Many other styles were worn for play, including single-bar and open work styles. Sandals were especially common during the warmer summer months. At least by the 1960s they had become less popular for boys. We do not see the post-War German style of caual sandal being worn in France. As soon as sneakers appeared in the 1960s, they quickly replaced closed-toe sandals which are now rarely worn except by very little boys and girls.

Chronology

Younger French boys and girls commonly wore strap shoes, primarily with dressy outfits, into the 20th century. I am not sure when boys began to wear closed toe sandals for casual wear. I think probably the 1920s-30s, but this requires additional research. I do know that closed-toe sandals were veing widely worn by French boys by the 1950s, but primarily during the summer. FFrench boys wear classic closed-toe sandals even in the 1990s. They are still advertised in clothing catalogs. One HBC contrinutor notes that "Some of them are certainly older than 10 years. They have the old fashioned thin strap and some are white or worn with white socks."

Styles

The styles were less standard than in Britain and included styles with single bars, "T" straps, double bars, and a variety of others. We note many images of French boys wearing sandals as a casual dress style. Most of the images we have collected of French boys wearing dressy strap shoes, however, come from postcards leaving us unsure as to the extent that they were actully worn. Here we have some complications inthat some styles of sandals are also considered shoes, such as strap shoes. They are essentiaslly the same, but often seen as a shoe for dresswear and and csandal for play or casual wear--event though the style is the same. The material, however can vary. Tthe single-bar sandal or strap shoe was rimarily a dress shoe. As a dress shoe they were black Some French boys also wore them as a casual shoe beginning about the 1930s. Worn as a caual shoe they could be various colors, including white. Although not as commo as in England, Frech boys also wore school sandals. They wer qute a flexiblde style. HBC has noted them at schools, worn with suis, as well as by boy scouts. The open-work sandal was widely worn in France beginning about the 1920s. I'm not positive about the chronology. Certainly I did not see these sandals before World War I. I have noted them in the 1930s, but believe they may have appeared earlier. They were most popular after World War II. The open-toe sport sandal that became popular in America during the 1990s has not yet caught-on in France.

Hosiery

We note French boys wearing sandals with and without socks. This seems to be largely a seasonal choice. Sandals were worn with socks, often white socks. This could be for school, cassual occasions, or dressing up. Boys could wear sandals for dress occassions. If so they mormally wore socks. Younger boys might also wear strap shoes. It is often difficult to descrinate between the two. Boys wearing suits with sandals often wore kneesocks or short socks. Sandals were also worn during the summer, often worn with ankle socks or no socks at all. This was comparable to usage in England. We see quite a number of French boy wearing sandals without socks during the dummer for play. Not all boys wore sandals without socks during the summer, but many did.

Colors

Colors have varied over time and by type of sandal or shoe and the age of the boy. A French reader tells us, "Until the early 1960s, sandalettes were in varied-brown or white color. Little boy wore often white color while school boys more commonly wore brown. Since then we find other colors. Dark colors like dark blue are popular for boys. Today one can find "T" strap shoes in various color, but they are now only worn by girls. Little boys with shiny patent leather strap shoes are now rare even in fashionanle Paris." Another French reader writes, "White sandalettes for boys were very populain the late 1940s and early 50s, especially on Sunday. I remember wearing whitle sandalettes on Sunday yntil I was about 7-8 years old. My sister quite often had white strap shoes. My brother untill he was about 10 years old wore wore brown sandalettes to schol. My brother and sister took pianolessons together at a teacher's house. There were 2-3 each week. Our mother insisted that they put on their Sunday clothes for these lessons. Almost always this included sandalettes."

Created: January 20, 2000
Last updated: 9:20 PM 3/1/2015