Figure 1.--High-tops continued to be standard wear for American children and teenagers in the 1890s. The potrait is ubndated, but the mount and clothing strongly suggest the 1890s. Both boys and girls wore these huigh-tops. We see both lace-ups and button shoes. The unidentified Brooyklyn boy here wars a Norfolk suit. The jacket has very small lapels and he wears knee-length knee pants with long stockings and long undewear. He is in shown in a faux rural stting. Notice that the backdrops amd props, never staged an urban setting. The boy's footwear is a good example of lace up high tops. Notice the hooks at the top of the shoe to make lacing a little easier.

We note large numbers of American boys wearing high-top shoes, but the pattern varied significantly over time. We are not sure when the style first became popular or why. . We do not notice them in the first half of the 19th century, although admittedly our archive is limited. We have a variety of paintings and drawings and although the number of items is relatively small, they all show low-cut shoes. And even at mid-century we do not know a lot. Photography appears, but both Dags and Ambros (1840s-50s) were commonly posed so the shoes did not show, even the advent of photography does not help a lot. We do finally begin to see shoes with the advent of CDVs (1860s) which were made in very large numbers. And they are often low-cuts. At the beginning of the decade they are all low-cuts. The Civil War (1861-65) seems to have initiated major changes in fashion, and footwear was one of the items affected. High tops appear to have been adopted very quickly, interestingly for such a major fashion departute. This seems to habe occurred in the late, 1860s although we can not yet be more specific. Both fashion anf technology seems to have been involved. They were almost universal for boys and girls in the second half of the century, especially by the 1870s. And they were not just for children. Adult men and women also began wearing high-tops. High-tops were by far most common shoe type in the second half of the 19th century.

The 1800s

We do not notice high top shoes imn Americva during the first half of the 19th century, although admittedly our archive is limited. We have a variety of paintings and drawings and although the number of items is relatively small, they all show low-cut shoes. A reader writes, "As I look through images if I see an old one from the early 1800s I'll send it to you. I don't think they were worn with Skeleton suits, but who knows maybe we will find an example."

The 1840s

And even at mid-century we do not know a lot. Photography appears, but Dags (1840s-50s) were commonly posed so the shoes did not show, even the advent of photography does not help a lot.

The 1850s

Ambros appeared in the 1850s, but like Dags which continued to be made were commonly posed so you could not see the footwear.

The 1860s

We do finally begin to see shoes with the advent of CDVs (1860s) which were made in very large numbers. And they are often low-cuts. At the beginning of the decade they are all low-cuts. The Civil War (1861-65) seems to have initiated major changes in fashion, and footwear was one of the items affected. High tops appear to have been adopted very quickly, interestingly for such a major fashion departute. This seems to habe occurred in the late, 1860s although we can not yet be more specific. Both fashion and technology seems to have been involved. One author tells us, "The big increase in high tops in the middle of the 19th century occurred when women demanded better footwear to use outdoors because of the unpaved filthy streets, etc. High top shoes were made in the millions during the Civil War which was facilitated by the new (McKay) sewing machines, and the style caught on." We notice many boys wearing high-top shoes, both lace-us and button shoes. A good example of lace-ups is an unidentified Boston boy.

The 1870s

They were almost universal for boys and girls in the second half of the century, especially by the 1870s. And they were not just for children. Adult men and women also began wearing high-tops. High-tops were by far most common shoe type in the second half of the 19th century.

The 1880s

American children and adults in the second half of the 19th century mostly wore high-top shoes. Both boys and girls wore them. The huge photographic records is mostly studio portait and the vast majority of children in these portraits ear high-top shoes. Low cut shoes existed. We see one unidentified boy wearing low-cut shoes in 1885. This was, however, unsual. The vast mumber of chidren wore high-tops. Of course the children drssed up in their best clothing foe portraits. Many childrem especially rural children went barefoot during the summer. But when they wore shoes, they mostly wore high-tops.

The 1890s

High-tops continued to be standard foot wear for Americans in the 1890s. In Euroope we notice various types of low-cut shoes and sandals. We with few exceptiin mostly seehigh-top shoes for boys and girls in Ameruca. Actually they were not really children's wear, adults, both men and women also mostly wore high-tops. Thet were not universal, but close to it. This would continue into the early 20th century, although American footwear became a little more diverse even in the 1900s decade. We see both children and teenagers wearing high-tops in the 1890s. We see both lace-ups and button shoes, although until the turn-of-the 20th century, button shoes were more common. We wee preschool children wearing them. A good example is Harry Houston, about 4 years old. The unidentified Brooyklyn boy here in a faux rurral stting is a good example of a younger teenager wearing high tops (figure 1) Older teens also wore them. Notice the headstand base at the top of the shoe. Even in the 90s, photographic emulsions were still rather slow.

Sources

Bolen, Bill. Sandals, Mandals, and Mary Janes.

Created: 12:36 PM 8/14/2013
Last updated: 6:58 PM 1/11/2023