August Style: Boat Shoes Are In Again

Boat shoes | BCBusiness

Boat shoes are back as a fashion staple, reimagined and ultra stylish.

Sailing enthusiast Paul Sperry invented Top-Siders – also known as boat shoes – in 1935. These shoes were made of leather or waxed canvas that repelled water, and they had deck-gripping soles (inspired by the paw pads of Sperry’s cocker spaniel, Prince). Top-Siders entered the mainstream fashion lexicon through New England’s prep schools, and became staples for those wishing to either demonstrate or cultivate the look of old money (think: Ryan O’Neal in Love Story). Today, reimagined boat shoes are stylish again, and while you don’t need a boat to wear them, it certainly couldn’t hurt. – Steven Schelling

Clockwise from top left:
Crocs “Walu,” $74.99. Crocs Vancouver
Native Shoes “Howard,” $60. nativeshoes.com
Brooks Bothers men’s shoe, $148. brooksbrothers.com
Sperry Top-Sider, $110. holtrenfrew.com
Brooks Brothers women’s shoe, $148. brooksbrothers.com