Figure 1.-- This family portrait shows five unidentified brothers brithers of varuious ages. The boys wearing knickers all wear high-top button shoes. The portrait is undated, but the knickers with button shoes suggest the 1910s.

American children continued to wear high-top shoes in the early-20th century. Laceups replace button shoes. We also notice various styles of strap shoes and sandals in the early 20th century. There were both ankle and instep strap shoes. The ankle straps disappeared after World War I. They were at first worn by both boys and girls, but soon became seen as a girl's shoes. Strap shoes even began to be called Mary Janes. Here there were social class factors involved. Sandals became less common for boys after World War I and the early-20s and do not reappear as a major style for boys until sports sandals in the 1990s. American and European footwear styles begin to significantly differ after World War I. The British school sandal never became popular in America. American sneakers did bot become popular in Europe until the 1970s. Saddle sholes also appeared, a destinctively American style. We see more low-cut oxfords after World War I in the 1920s, but they did not becomne the dominant style until the 1930s. There were a variety of different styles. The girls oxfords were similar to the boy's styles. Sturdy oxfords were standard schoolwear for both boys and girls. Girls had more options than boys including strap shoes and flats. Loafers were a popular preppy style in the 1950s and 60s. Noth boys and girls wore them. Penny loafers werea popular style. High top shoes peristed as a toddler style, usually done in white. We do see American boys wearing sneakers in the 1910s and they begin to become more common in the 1920s. They were discouraged at school and were seen as a casual style. This contginued to be the case until well after World War II, but eventually become the primary style for children, especially boys. The once basic sneaker becane available in a wide variety of styles abd became popular with girls as well.

The 1900s

American children continued to wear high-top shoes as they did in the 1890s. We continue to see button shoes in the early-20th century. Some younger boys wore low-cut shoes, but most school-age boys wore high-top shoes. Saddle shoes also appeared, a destinctively American style. The saddle shoe originated in America. The Spalding Company made the first saddle shoes in 1906. We also notice various styles of strap shoes and sandals in the early 20th century. There were both ankle and instep strap shoes. The Brown Shoe Company became the Buster Brown Shoe Company in 1904 and would play a major role in popularizing both the strap shoe for girls and the low-cut oxford for boys. High-top shoescontinud to beidely worn in the 1900s, but this was the beginning of major chnges in footwear styling for children. We see quite a number of boys posing for studio portraits barefoot for the first time. Boys commonly went brefoot throughout the 19th century, but it was usual to appear barefoot in studio portraits. This we do see in the 1900s. We do not think going barefoot was more common, only appearing in studio portraits more common. There was a regional factor involved here. Many if these studio portrait with barefoot children come from the South. And while we see bith barefoot boys and girls, itwas more common for boys.

The 1910s

There were important changes in American boys' clothing during the 1910s. The most significant is that boys began wearing knickers rather than knee pants that were commonly worn in the 1900s. Footwear trends were less chnged. Boys continued wearing high-top shoes, although laceups genrally replaced button shoes. Notice the high-tops the boys here are wearing (figure 1). We see low-cut shoes, but the high-tops were much more common. High-tops continue to be the principal shoe type worn by boys. We see American boys wearing sneakers in the 1910s, but they were just beginning to become popular and they were seennas a casual style. Most boys wore leather shoes to school, although we seem some boys going brefoot to school. Sneakers were seen as a decidely casual style. We still see ankle and instep strap shoes in the 1910s. We also see sandals. At school we motly see boys wearing high-top shoes. Girls footwear atschool was more varied. The ankle straps disappeared after World War I. The comtinue to see boys appearing barefoot for relatively formal occassions, at least duting the early part if the decade. What is not clear to us is if going barefoot was more common, but for some reason simply appears in the photographic record at this time.

The 1920s

We continue to see boys mostyly wearing high-top shoes, especially in the early-1920s. ther was a generl sgift from button to lave up shoes. It sws in the 1920s, however, that we begin to see modern footwear types and conventions emerging. We see fewer children going barefoot, both in studio portraits,. school pottraits, and family snapshots. We also seem high-top shoes, except for very young children, giving away to low-cut shoes of all styles sandals, and snakers/tennis shoes. Some low-cut shoes were worn earlier, such as strap shoes and sandals, but cvonventions shifted. Both boys and girls wore these shoes in the early-20th century, but by the lre -20s they were increasingly seen as girls' shoes. boys tended to shift from high-tops to low-cut oxfords. Strap shoes were suitable for younger children because learning to tie shoe laces is a kill children generalllt do not master until about 6 years of age, girls a little earlier than boys. Strap shoes even began to be called Mary Janes after Buster Brown's girl friend. Here there were social class factors involved. Sandals which appeared in the 1900s decade became less common for boys after World War I and the early-20s. Tthere was a social-class factor here. We rarely see worrking-class boys wearing sandals. American and European footwear styles begin to significantly differ after World War I. We have mo idea why. The widely worn British school sandal never became popular in America for boys. Sneakers became increasingly popular a popular as a casual style in the 1920s, at least fo boys. And we see more boys and girls wearing saddle shoes, at the time without gender conventions.

The 1930s

We see more low-cut oxfords after World War I in the 1920s, but they did not becomne the dominant style until the 1930s. There were a variety of different styles. The girls oxfords were similar to the boy's styles. Sturdy oxfords were standard schoolwear for both boys and girls. Girls had more options than boys including strap shoes and flats.

The 1940s

High-top shoes peristed as a toddler style, usually done in white. Sneakers had become importnt for boys wear, butvonly as lay style. They were discouraged at some schools. Most parents did not think of sending their boys to school dressed in sneakers.

The 1950s

Boys wore sturdy leather oxfords to school. Girls also wore tgem. Both black and brown were worn. Saddle shoes were also popular. Both boys and girls wore saddle shoes, but they were most popular with the girls. Most boys had sneakers as well, but did not wear them to school. They were very popular for play. Hugh-top Keds were particularly popular, often worn with jeans. Loafers were a popular preppy style in the 1950s and 60s. Boys and girls wore them. Penny loafers werea popular style. This contginued to be the case until well after World War II, but eventually become the primary style for children, especially boys. Children no longer commonly went barefoot, but we see some children barefoot in the early-50s. Sandals were not very popular for boys. Girls wore them as well as strap shoes. I remember a girlmI liked in school wore red twin-bar strap shoes. I don't recall boys wearing sandals, but I think that a few boys wore them in California. A demographic shift was beginning in the 1950s. With the invention of air comditioning, the population began a shift south. And this helped accentuate a desire for comfortble casual stules. This included footweaer. The immediate impact was the growing popularity of sneakers.

The 1970s

The once basic sneaker becane available in a wide variety of styles abd became popular with girls as well. American sneakers did not become popular in Europe until the 1970s.

The 1990s

Sandals do not reappear as a major style for American boys until sports sandals in the 1990s.

Created: 5:52 PM 10/29/2007
Last updated: 1:15 AM 7/1/2022