Figure 1.--Here we see an American boy, presumably with his sister, in the 1920s. We see little boys like this commonly wearing sandls in the 1920s. This was much less common once boys began school. The boy here wears double-strap sandals. I'm not sure about the color.

We notice boys wearing various styles of strap sandals in the late 19th and early 20th century. While we have more information on America than Europe, we believe that this is a reflection of our greater archive of American images than the relative popularity of sandals. American boys wore sandals with various numbers of bars with and without center straps. The see boys and girls wearing all the various styles over time. We see boys weating closed-toe styles as both dress shoes and casual sandals. Quite a number of images in the late-19th century show mostly young pre-school children wearing strap shoes or sandals of various styles as a dress shoe. We see boys weating closed-toe styles as both dress shoes and casual sandals. Quite a number of images in the late-19th century show mostly young pre-school children wearing strap shoes or sandals of various styles as a dress shoe. We also notice many boys in the 20th century wearing sandals for casual wear. Both boys and girls wore closed-toe footwear. They were more popular with girls, but boys did wear them. Illustrators would usually provide an idealized picture seem to use the single strap style with white socks most commonly. The popularity and conventions concerning closed-toe footwear changed over time. The conventions before World War I seem quite similar to Europe. We do not note American boys, however, commonly wearing closed-toe sandals in America after World War I. The primary exception was very young boys. There are also differences within countries. Sandals have been, for example, more commonly worn in the American South than the rest of the country. Climatic factors probably explain this. There seem to be social-class connotations associated with cloest-toe footwear in America. We tend to see them being worn more commonly by the children of affluent parents.

Styles

American boys wore sandals with various numbers of bars with and without center straps. The see boys and girls wearing all the various styles over time. We also note an open-style at the turn-of-the-20th century, but it does not seem to have been very common. We note the Moon family wearing a more popular style in 1907.

Conventions

We see boys weating closed-toe styles as both dress shoes and casual sandals. Quite a number of images in the late-19th century show mostly young pre-school children wearing strap shoes or sandals of various styles as a dress shoe. A good example is American brothers, probably in the 1870s. We notice a few school children, mostly girls, wearing what look to be closed-toe sandals in the late 19th cebntury. A good example is a girl at the Onarga School in 1882. Another example of the the dressy usage is two American brothers, probably in the 1900s. We also notice many boys in the 20th century wearing sandals for casual wear.

Gender

Both boys and girls wore closed-toe footwear. They were more popular with girls, but boys did wear them. In fact wghhen they first appeared we seem to find more boys wearing them girls. A good example is Arthur Proulx in 1908. Gradually they became more associated as a gurl's style of footwear. A reader writes, "I grew up in California in the late 1940s-early 1960s, in a working-class neighborhood. The only time I remember seeing a boy wear closed toe T-strap sandals to school was when I was in junior high school (grades 7-9). The boy, I believe, was in grade 8 and a recent transplant from England. He wore reddish-brown T-strap sandals. However, the double-T-strap sandals (T-strap with a second cross strap part way up the vertical strap) were a different story. Although not common, they were definitely considered suitable for boys, at least younger boys. Throughout my grade school career (Kindergarten through grade 6) there was usually at least one boy grades K through 3 wearing brown sandals of this style. In the early one boys who lived up the street from me wore brown double-strap sandals of this style to Kindergarten. They were not common, but they were definitely considered okay for boys to wear. As late as the mid 1980s I remember seeing the younger brother a classmate of one of my children wearing red double-strap sandals of this style. Again, as far as I know, nobody considered them particularly "girlsih." Although I am aware that "one swallow does not make a summer," I do remember one of my college roommates in the late 1960s mentioning to me how he would would have had no qualms wearing double-strap sandals but did not like saddle oxfords (which I sometimes wore) because his little sister wore them."

Depictions

Illustrators would usually provide an idealized picture seem to use the single strap style with white socks most commonly. We do note published illustrations by Gutmam in 1909. Mostly he depicts single-strap shoes, but there does appear to be one boy shown wearing "T"-strap sandals.

Chronology

The popularity and conventions concerning closed-toe footwear changed over time. The conventions before World War I seem quite similar to Europe. We do not note American boys, however, commonly wearing closed-toe sandals in America after World War I. The primary exception was very young boys. We note an American boy wearing double bar center strap sandals in a beautiful baby contest during 1924. As is the case with other clothing styles, significant differences between Europe and Anerica develop after the War. Here there are exceptions. We note some images of American boys wearing sandals. One example is a younger American boy wearing white double strap sandals about 1930. Another example is Jimmy who wears double-strap sandals in 1934. Another example is a dancing class in Chicago.

Regional Differences

There are also differences within countries. Sandals have been, for example, more commonly worn in the American South than the rest of the country. Climatic factors probably explain this.

Social Class

There seem to be social-class connotations associated with cloest-toe footwear in America. We tend to see them being worn more commonly by the children of affluent parents.

Created: 12:23 AM 8/5/2005
Last updated: 2:51 AM 5/9/2006