Figure 1.--Here are some of the children's shoes offered by Montgomery Wards in 1916. Note the different styles and colors.
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Figure 1.--Here are some of the children's shoes offered by Montgomery Wards in 1916. Note the different styles and colors. |
High-top styles are still dominant and Wards offered many different styles and colors. We also note two twin bar t-strap closed toe sandals which appear to be identical except for quality of leather and price. They were both available in men's, women's and children's sizes. The one at the right also did not come in half sizes. Not much ad copy, just "flexible Stitch-DownSoles". The ankle strap shoe at the bottom right corner of the page is of interest sincce it is called a "Mary Jane". In 1914, I noted ankle straps called "Baby Doll" shoes, not Mary Janes. There was a women's single strap shoe called "Mary Jane" in 1914. The year before, 1913, I didn't see any single strap shoes at all. There were two double bar women's shoes referred to as "sandals", no baby doll or Mary Jane shoes.
All these shoes are labeled "child's". This would suggest that they are all suitable for either boys and girls. We think older children might have had more definite ideas, but many of the the sizes here are for younger children.
We note quite a large range of styles and colors in the shoes offered by Wards. High-top styles are still dominant and Wards offered many different styles and colors. We don't see this variety from black and white photos of the time. We also note two twin bar t-strap closed toe sandals which appear to be identical except for quality of leather and price.
This appears to be a standard high-top shoe. These blutchers were a popular style for many year. The ad copy reads, "Child's heavy black kid hi-cut blutchers. Flexible turn soles. Wide with; sizes 5 t 8." They cost $1.65.
This is similar to the standard butchers, but with a velvet top. The ad copy reads, "Child's patent leather hi-cut button. Turn soles. Wide withs; sizes 5 to 8." They cost $1.35. I would have thought patent leather shoes would have been expensive, but these are not.
This shoe had a patent collar. The ad copy read, "Chil'd patent leather hi-cut button shoes. Flexible turn soles. Wide withs; sizes 4 t 8
This shoe was a destinctive blue. The ad copy coopy read, "Child's pertty, soft blue kid button shoes. Flexible turn soles. Sizes 4 to 8.
This shoe was a destinctive red. Ot looks very similar to the blue shoe, but cheaper. It onlu cost $1.00. Without a heel it was only $0.80. The shoe without a heel was for younger children, sizes 2-5.
Most of the shoes were black, but this one was done in tan leather. The ad copy read, "Child's tan button shoes. Flexible turn soles." They were done in sizes 4 to 8 and cost $1.15. Without a heel they were available in sizes 2 to 5 and cost $0.95.
This was a dress shoe done with four straps. Note the bow on the front of the shoe. The ad copy read, "Chil's patent leather strap sandals. Flexivle turn soles." They were done in sizes 5 to 8. Without a heel they were done in sizes 2 to 5.
These were inexpensive shoes made in canvas rather than leather. They are not, however, sneakers as they do not have rubber soles. The ad copy read, Child's prettu white canvas button shoes. Turn soles. Footform shape." They were done in sizes 4 to 8 with heels, but sozes 2 to 5 without heels. They only cost $0.75 with heels and $0.60 without.
There are several two-tone shoe styles. This is a good example. The ad copy read, "Patent leather. White cotton tops. Strong turn soles." They were done in sizes 5 to 8 with heels and cost $1.45. Without heels for sizes 2 to 5 they cost $1.35.
Here the same shoe was dome with both red or black tops. The price was the same. The ad copy read, "Child's patent leather button shoes." They were done in sizes 4 to 8 with heels and cost $1.05. Without heels for sizes 2 to 5 they cost $0.85.
This was a shoe for a child who had weak annkles. The diagram shows how extra support was added. The ad copy reads, "Chil's fine soft black kid ankle brace shoes. Footform shape. Supports weak ankles. They were done in sizes 3 to 8 and cost $1.30.
This black shoe was done with a snazzy red collar and what looks like red buttons. The ad copoy read, "Black kid button. Red leather collar. Strong turn soles. They were done with heels for sizes 5 to 8 and cost $1.20. Without heels they wrwe done in sizes 3 to 5 and cost $1.10.
There are a variety of strap shoes which Ward's refers to as sandals on the fith row., noth the old ankle strap style and the increasingly mpre popular insttep strap style. They were both available in men's, women's and children's sizes. The one at the right also did not come in half sizes. Not much ad copy, just "flexible Stitch-DownSoles". The ankle strap shoe at the bottom right corner of the page is of interest since it is called a "Mary Jane". In 1914, I noted ankle straps called "Baby Doll" shoes, not Mary Janes. There was a women's single strap shoe called "Mary Jane" in 1914. The year before, 1913, I didn't see any single strap shoes at all. There were two double bar women's shoes referred to as "sandals", no baby doll or Mary Jane shoes. I remember HBC had a write-up on Buster Brown. What year did he stop wearing single bar strap shoes, and they then were just worn by his sister, and subsequently called Mary Jane? If this happened before 1914, it's o.k., since there was a shoe listed in 1914 as "Mary Jane". However, if the Brown Shoe Co started calling the single bar style "Mary Janes" after 1914, then the story may not be true. The style may have been named after another Mary Jane.
There are also a variety of shoes for younger children. They are done in a surprising range of colors. I never noted this earlier.
There was a separate page for girls' shoes. Many were the same styles as seen here only in larger sizes.
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