Figure 1.--If the sandal is a color a boy would have trouble identifying, that is probably a girls' sandal. The single "H" strap and polkadots also identify this as a girls sandal. Also notice the jagged cut of some of the strap.
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Figure 1.--If the sandal is a color a boy would have trouble identifying, that is probably a girls' sandal. The single "H" strap and polkadots also identify this as a girls sandal. Also notice the jagged cut of some of the strap. |
Girls sandals have been largely similar to boys' styles. The most obvious difference is usually the colors. The girls' sandals often had very elaborate color combinations. While younger boys might wear sandals in basic colors like red and blue, girls were prepared to wear all kinds of shades in purple, lilac, pink, various pastels, and other colors. The straps are often thiner are shaped differently. The girls' "H" strap sandals often had only one over lapping strap while boys often had two. Girls' sandals also might have stylistic features like polkadots. While it is no always easy to precisely define the differences between boys and girls sandals, most German boys would be able to instantly tell the difference. Even though no one has ever set down and explained the differences to boys or written down the rules.
The most obvious difference is usually the colors. The girls' sandals often had very elaborate color combinations. While younger boys might wear sandals in basic colors like red and blue, girls were prepared to wear all kinds of shades in purple, lilac, pink, various pastels, and other colors. HBC tends to be neutral in such matters, but after viewing some of the color combinations worn by the girls, has to wonder about the fashion sence of the German girls. These have to be some of the most hideous color combinatiins observed in 5 centuries of European costuming. The basic rule that if the sandal is a color a boy would have trouble identifying, that is probably a girls' sandal. While boys can usually deal with red, blue and yellow, when you get down to liclac, fuscia, ect. than that is a girl's sandal.
The straps are often thiner are shaped differently. The girls' "H" strap sandals often had only one over lapping strap while boys often had two. Often not all the strap edges are smooth cut. The firls straps might have more elaborate edging like jagged teeth-like edges.
Figure 2.--These girls wear plainer colored open toed sandals in both the "T" and "H" strap styles. |
Girls' sandals also might have stylistic features like patterns. The most common is polkadots. Again some of te color combinations are quite startling.
Not all German sandals are clearly made for boys or girls. Some sandals can be worn by both boys and girls. This usually meansm however, girls wearing the plainer styles worn by boys. Of coirse boys would not wear the idebntifialably girls' styles.
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