Saddle Shoes

Each and every year my school shoes looked exactly the same as the year before.  My mother was convinced that Stride Rite saddle shoes were the only shoe for school.

Saddle Shoes - Pencil on Strathmore 300 series mixed media paper.  Click on image to enlarge.

Although my mother was an elementary school teacher, the essential nature of wearing saddle shoes was reaffirmed annually by our doctor, Dr. Wise (the name alone is enough to solidify his role as Divine mentor and advisor, right?)

Saddle Shoe - Pencil and .8 black Micron pen on 300 series Strathmore mixed media paper.  Click on image to enlarge. 

I always wondered how many children in her class each year has the "opportunity" to wear saddle shoes.  Historically, they were the "gotta have it" footwear for more than a decade.  I, however, was not in the GHI club.  I would try to wait as long as possible to make the shoe shopping trip in the hope that some miraculous new shoe style would make it big, and I would have other choices to consider.

Saddle Shoe - Pencil, .8 black Micron pen, black India ink (Pentel pocket pen) and color Indian ink (Faber Castille brush pens)  on 300 series Strathmore mixed media paper.  Click on image to enlarge.

I guess, in a way, that is what happened ten years into the saddle shoe routine.  Stride Rite, inched their way into the sturdy loafer market - penny holder and all!

Saddle Shoe - Pencil, .8 black Micron pen, black India ink (Pentel pocket pen), color Indian ink (Faber Castille brush pens) and FW acrylic ink on 300 series Strathmore mixed media paper.  Click on image to enlarge.

Although there was only one style and one color, it was Utopia in the shoe department the first year I could try on loafers.  In addition, the first year I got loafers was only the second year "slide on" shoes were allowed at school.  After the lengthy discussion about ankle injuries and shoe loss, the powers in charge gave non-tie shoes for the student body the "go-ahead." 

I have wondered, looking back, if it was the teachers and administrators that wanted to wear something besides a "comfortable oxford with ties" to work, as well.  Although we did not have school uniforms, we had the next best thing for everyone who went to school daily - the school dress code or perhaps I should more precisely say, ...the enforced school dress code.