Closed-toe Sandals: Multiple Straps


Figure 1.--This American boy is wearing a sailor suit with bloomer knickrs and multiple-stap closed-toe sandals. The photograph is undated, but HBC estimate that the portrait was taken anout 1905. Note the wheel barrow, horn, toys, and teddy bear. The blocks spell out "O You Kid". This boy looks to be about 5 years old.

The differnce between sandals and shoes is not always clear, especially closed-toe sandals. We are not sure if this multiple-strap footwear at the time was considerd a shoe or a sandal. We are not sure how common this type of footwear was. We note relarively few portraits of childrn wearing this type of footwear and believe that this means that they were not very common. While not as common as the other type of closed-toe sandals, HBC has noted some period portraits with children wearing multiple straps which appear to extend well above the ankle. They look like the boy is wearing stripped socks. The chronology of these multiple strap sandals, however is different than that of stripped socks which we note more in the 1870s and 80s. We are not sure when these sandals first appered. We note these multiple stripped sandals primarily in the early 1900s before World War I (1914-18). These sandals were worn by both boys and girls. As we have only a limited number of images, we are unsure as to what age child more commonly wore these multiple-strap sandals. The examples we have seen look black. We do not know if there were other colors. They appear to hve been worn for both formal occssions as well as play. As a result, we note this type of footwear worn with both formal as well as casual clothing. We have noted this type of footwear in America. We do not know if it was worn in other countries as well.

Sandals nd Shoes

The differnce between sandals and shoes is not always clear, especially closed-toe sandals. We are not sure if this multiple-strap footwear at the time was considerd a shoe or a sandal.

Popularity

We are not sure how common this type of footwear was. We note relarively few portraits of childrn wearing this type of footwear and believe that this means that they were not very common.

Construction

While not as common as the other type of closed-toe sandals, HBC has noted some period portraits with children wearing multiple straps which appear to extend well above the ankle. They look like the boy is wearing stripped socks. The actual number of straps has varied.

Chronology

The chronology of these multiple strap sandals, however is different than that of stripped socks which we note more in the 1870s and 80s. We are not sure when these sandals first appered. We note these multiple stripped sandals primarily in the early 1900s before World War I (1914-18).

Gender

These sandals were worn by both boys and girls.

Age

As we have only a limited number of images, we are unsure as to what age child wore these multiple-strap sandals more commonly. We have noted portraits of children, usually from from abot 3-8 years of age wearing them. But afew images sho boys of perhaps as old as 10 or 11 wearing them.

Color

The examples we have seen look black. We do not know if there were other colors.

Conventions

These multiple-strap sandals appear to have been worn for both formal occssions as well as play. As a result, we note this type of footwear worn with both formal as well as casual clothing. The boy here wears these multiple-trap sandls with a sailor suit that had bloomer-kniers. Salor suits were versitile garments. A boy could wear the for both formal occassons and play. We have noted this style of foot wear worn with a wide vaiety of garments. Unfortunately many photographic images have no provinance to help us evaluae them.

National Trends

We have noted this type of footwear in America. We do not know if it was worn in other countries as well.






Christopher Wagner





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Created: May 11, 2002
Last updated: May 11, 2002