Children's Shoes: Loafers


Figure 1.--

One of the most popular shoe styles for boys and teenagers are loafers before sneakers became dominate were loafers. Although not nearly as commonly worn by cildren, it was once a major shoe style for them. It was particularly popular among boys because of its moscasin-like comfort and the fact that there were no laces or buckles to be bothered with. Loafers are informal leather shoes that are slipped on rather than ties on with laces. They were popular at a time when sneakers were not as widely worn as today. Loafers are worn by both boys and girls. Often boys and girls wer different stles of lioafers, but some styles like penny loafers are worn by both. I'm not sure when loafers first appeared, but I believe about the 1940s. The Bass shoe company is most associated with the loafer and they probably introduced the classic penny loafer--the Bass Wejan. I know they were widely worn in the 1950s. The loafer is most associated with the preppy look of the 1960s. There were various styles for loafers including the barrel and penny style. The barrel style had little rolls or barrels to the side of the small shoe tounge. The penny style had a little slot to hold a coin, but usually a dime instead of a penny. The phones in the 1960s had a standard dime (10 cent) charge, so the coin could always be used to call home.

Description

Loafers are informal leather shoes that are slipped on rather than ties on with laces. They were made in several different styles.

Popularity

One of the most popular shoe styles for boys and teenagers are loafers before sneakers became dominate were loafers. Although not nearly as commonly worn by cildren, it was once a major shoe style for them.

Age

Loafers were particularly popular among boys because of there moscasin-like comfort and the fact that there were no laces or buckles to be bothered with. They were not, however, as much worn by younger boys as by teenagers.

Types

There were various styles for loafers including the barrel and penny style. The barrel style had little rolls or barrels to the side of the small shoe tounge. The penny style had a little slot to hold a coin, but usually a dime instead of a penny. The phones in the 1960s had a standard dime (10 cent) charge, so the coin could always be used to call home

Conventions

The loafer was a casual shoe style. They were popular at a time when sneakers were not as widely worn as today.

Gender

Loafers were worn by both boys and girls. Often boys and girls wer different stles of loafers, but some styles like penny loafers are worn by both. Barrel loafers on the other hands were only worn by boys.

Chronology

I'm not sure when loafers first appeared, but I believe about the 1940s or 50s. I know they were widely worn in the 1950s. They were especually popular in the 1950s and 60s. They began to decline in the 1970s as sneakers became the shoe if choice among boys.

Manufactuerers

The Bass shoe company is most associated with the loafer and they probably introduced the classic penny loafer--the Bass Wejan.

Clothing Styles

The loafer is most associated with the preppy look of the 1960s.

Personal Accounts

Texas, 1964

One clothing fad I remember from Fall 1964, the year my class began junior high school, the seventh grade. The shoes of choice that Fall were dark brown or cordovan "penny loafers", and with them we wore khaki, dark blue, or gray slacks and a button-down collar oxford shirt of a pastel color (usually blue, yellow, or pink; pink seems a little odd for the time, but we did) and crew socks of a matching pastel color. Shirt and socks HAD to be of matching pastel colors.





Christopher Wagner





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Created: September 28, 2000
Last updated: September 28, 2000