Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows a a boy and we at first thought his dad. W now think he may e an older brother. The boy is wearing a knickers suit. They unusually are standing on either side of a table with a vase of flowers. This is rather an unusual setting There is no indication of the place, photographer or names of the people. The knickers help date the portrait to the 1910s. Also note the lace up shoes. American portraits taken in the 1900s were more likely to have boys drssed in knee pants and button shoes.

One major element in footwear is the type of closure used to secure the shoe or other footwear item on thefoot. There are several different types of footwear closure. The most common methods in modern times is laces, but there are severaal other methods depending on the type of shoe, country, the chronology, gender, and age. Other types of footwear closures include buttons, buckles, velcro, and even zippers. Not all foowear is made with closures. Wooden clogs, flip-flops, and loafers do not have closures, but most footwear has some type of closure to help secure shootwear on the foot. Low-cut buckle shoes were standard in the 18th century. We note lace-up low-cut shoes in the early-19th century. We note high-top shoes becoming popular in the second half of the 19th century. They often had button closures. This varied from country to country. The button closures were almost universal in America. Not so common in other countries. Button shoes were not as common in Europe, at least not as universal as was the case in America. Suddenly button closures in America after several decades of dominating footwear very uickly disappeared in the late-1900s and early-1910s. Since then laces have dominted male footwear. This included boy's footwear. Younger boys who cold not master tying a shoe knot might have strap shoes or sabdals with buckle or button closures. This was more common in Europe than America, at least for boys. Girls also had lace up shoes, seen as a practical, sturdy school style. Many women and girls, however, wore footwear using straps and buckles. Closures were similar for boys and girls in the 19th century, but became more differentiated in the 20th century.

Types

One major element in footwear is the type of closure used to secure the shoe or other footwear item on the foot. This is especially important for children as they are so active. And thus it especially important to secure children's footwer on the foot. There are several different types of footwear closure. The most common methods in modern times is laces, especially for boy's footwear. Many American boys hae rarely worn anything but lace closures. There are, however, severaal other methods wich have varied depending on the type of shoe, country, the chronology, gender, and age. Other types of footwear closures include buttons, buckles, clasps, velcro, and even zippers. Button closures were especally important in the second half of the 19th century. They became cloe to universal in America and were widely worn by men and women as well as boys and girls. We are not sure at this time why they were so populr. Wih high-top styles they were esir to put on than shoes secued with laces. Buckel shoes were poplar in the 18th century. We do not see them again to to any extent until sandals and various kinds of strap shoes began to be worn in the 20th cetury. This was especially the case for women anf girls. I recall shoes in the 1950s that had a kind of clasp closure. They dod notprove very popular. Velcro began to be used in footwear, mostly for younger children in the 1970s. For some reson we do not see this very much any more. Wesee ippers being used, mostly with boots and boot like shoes, but this is a fairly minor usage. Not all footwear is made with closures. Wooden clogs, flip-flops, and loafers do not have closures, but most footwear has some type of closure to help secure the shoe on the foot.

Chronology

Footwear closures used have varied over time. This has included both fashion trends and technological develoments. Low-cut buckle shoes were standard in the 18th century, although we do not hsve much information. Clogs were common in Europe, but we have no information yet about America. We know much more about the 19th century. We note low-cut shoes in the early-19th century, but we do not yet have much information about closures. With the development of photography do we begin to have detailed information, but not at forst. Dags and Ambros were commonly posed so we can not se the footwear (1840s-50s). With the appearance of the CDV we suddently have a wealth of detailed informaion (1860s). We note high-top shoes becoming popular in the second half of the 19th century. We are not sure why. As far as we can tell it was essentially a fashion development. They often had button closures. The photographic record suggests that high-top styles were virtually universal in America. This can easily be observed in the photographic record. They were much more common in America than any other country. We are not sure why button closures became so important at mid-century and were so popular for an extended period. The chronological trends have varied from country to country. Suddenly button closures in America after several decades of dominating footwear very quickly disappeared in the late-1900s and early-1910s. Since then laces have dominted male footwear becoming virtually universal as far as closures go. This included boy's footwear. At first this mean largely-high top shoes. We also see boot like footwear with a rediculous number of eyelets to lace. Younger children mught have strap shoes and sandals with clasp closures which did not require tying shoe laces, a difficult task for younger boys. Unlike Europe, school-age boys did not commonly wear these styles. They were, however, popular with girls of all ages. strap We see new methods in the late-20th century: spring snaps, velcro, and zippers. Velcro was especially popular for younger children who can not yet tie their laces.

Destinctive American Trends

The button closures were almost universal in America. Not so common in other countries. Button shoes were not as common in Europe, at least not as universal as was the case in America.

Age Issues

Laces required some skill in tying a knot. This was beyond the capabilities of younger children. This is one reason why strap shoes and sandals are so common with pre-school children. Even by 1st grade not all boys have mastered the skill. Here girls seem to learn nore uickly than boys. Younger boys who cold not master tying a shoe knot might have strap shoes or sabdals with buckle or button closures. This was more common in Europe than America, at least for boys.

Gender

Girls also had lace up shoes, seen as a practical, sturdy school style. Many women and girls, however, wore footwear using straps and buckles. Closures were similar for boys and girls in the 19th century, but became more differentiated in the 20th century.

Created: 1:38 AM 4/4/2017
Last updated: 11:44 AM 4/15/2017