Figure 1.--Here we see Walter Roberts wearing strap shoes with awhilte sailor tunic. It is undated, but looks to have been taken in th 1900s. It was a CYKO postcard whixh were first maid in 1904.

The time line for strap shoes in America is similar to that in Europe. While usage patterns varried substantially, especially for boys, the appearance of the strap shoe and stlistic trends were not greatly different. Strap shoes for children appeared early in 19th century. I have first noted them worn by boys with skeleton suits. We are not sure who developed this style of shoe or just why it was considered suitable for children. It was a European import, probably from France, but was widely worn in Euope in the ealy 19th century. It was not commonly worn by boys, but it is somnetimes seen at mid-century with boys still wearing dresses. Boys in the late-19th century, even boys in dresses often wore high-top shoes, including heavy boo-like shoes. European boys at the time were more likely to wear strap shoes. We are not sure why. Perhaps America probably had fewer amenities like sidewalks and delicate strap shoes were not like to hold upmas well as more substantial footwear. Stap shoes were seen again at the beginning of the 20th century with boys wearing Fautleroy and Buster Brown suits as well as a variety of other outfits. We also notice boys in dressy tunic suits wearing them. A good example is an unidentified boy in the 1910s. This boy wore double-bar strap shoes. Strap shoes were dressy shoes until the 1920s when they were worn by younger boys for play. They were most common in the early 20th century. A good example is Carl Kellison about 1910. We also notice the ankle strap shoe. A good example is the Nethery boys in 1915. Another example is Keith Birkin, we think in the 1910s. Strap shoes were still worn by American boys, mostly boys from affluent families, in the 1930s, but were much less common in the 1940s.

The 19th Century

Strap shoes for children appeared early in 19th century. We have first noted them worn by boys with skeleton suits. But this was a city style worn by boys from afflunt families, maning a small numner of Ameruican boys. We have little imagry to sutantiate this becaue photography was not available. Amd even after it wa available (1839), the number of portaits as wll as posing conventions limit the number of useful images. We are not sure who developed this style of shoe or just why it was considered suitable for children. It was a European import, probably from France, but was widely worn in Euope in the early-19th century. It was not commonly worn by boys, but it is somnetimes seen at mid-century with boys still wearing dresses. And with rhe appearance of the CDV we begin to get really large number of images (1860s). Boys in the late-19th century, even boys in dresses often wore high-top shoes, including heavy boo-like shoes. European boys at the time were more likely to wear strap shoes. We are not sure why. Perhaps America probably had fewer amenities like sidewalks and delicate strap shoes were not like to hold up as well as more substantial footwear.

The 20th Century

High-top shoes were still standard at the turn-of the 20th century. We do see more boys wearing strap shoes were seen again at the beginning of the 20th century. Both biys and girls wore them. More boys wore strap shoes with Fautleroy suits. And Buster Brown suits and tunic suits were normally worn with strap shoes or sandals. This was also true with a variety of other outfits such as Oliver twist suits. We also notice boys in dressy tunic suits wearing them. Waltr Robers hre is a good examole (figure 1). Another good example is an unidentified boy in the 1910s. This boy wore double-bar strap shoes. Strap shoes were dressy shoes until the 1920s when they were worn by younger boys for play. They were most common in the early 20th century. A good example is Carl Kellison about 1910. We also notice the ankle strap shoe. A good example is the Nethery boys in 1915. Another example is Keith Birkin, we think in the 1910s. After World War there was a significant divergence in genderconventins. Strap shoes were still worn by American boys, mostly boys from affluent families, in the 1930s for dressy occassions, but not to school. Strap shoe were even less common for boys in the 1940s. Some younger boys mif=ght wear them at mid-century. And we even see younger school age boys occasionally wearing them for very formal occasions even into the 1960s, but this was reltively rare and would have been for fomal occassions.

21st Century

We no longer see American boys wearing strap shoes in the 21st century.

Created: 10:33 PM 12/2/2013
Last updated: 4:00 PM 8/26/2014