Saddle Shoes

Saddle shoes came on the fashion scene with major impact in the 1940's and 1950's in the US and saddle shoes are recognized as a uniquely American fashion. The saddle shoe is a simple, low-heeled shoe, typically of white leather, with a saddle-shaped over-the-top strip of brown, black or occasionally blue leather. The sole of the saddle shoe is typically of coral red rubber,, but sometimes either of white or black rubber. The traditional design has remained unmodified, and saddle shoes today are available in stores and on the Internet, retaining an apparently universl and timeless popularity. Saddle shoes are made for both men and women, with the design and construction identical for both. Saddle shoes are also available for children and are quite charming in small sizes.

Saddle shoes are definitely a casual shoe. The original version, however, though casual, was worn with everything but dess clothing. The saddle shoe came into fashion strongly in the 1950's, accompanied by the poodle skirt for women. Young people, including college students, quickly adopted the saddle shoe fashion. Saddle shoes were sometimes worn by young women with the traditional poodle skirt, and for a time, with long sweaters and often a string of pearls.

Some stores today specialize in period clothing, and these stores including on-line outlets, advertise saddle shoes and authentic poodle skirts. There continue to be customers for both, but assuredly for saddle shoes. Saddle shoes are advertised in brown and white, tan and white, black and white, and blue and white. All the saddle shoes advertised are of authentic design, including rubber soles. One company at least advertises saddle shoes with slightly higher heels.

It is difficult to understand the popularity of saddle shoes, apart from the simple fact that they are rather classicly sporty in appearance. The term " saddle" refers to the slightly saddle-shaped strip of brown or black across the white shoe. One theory might be that the suggestion of the saddle relates, obviously, to horseback riding...and this association might call to mind social class and privilege. This might be a subconscious reason for the positive response to the original saddle shoe design...particularly as the saddle shoe was introduced more or less at the end of the great depression. Whatever the reason, the saddle shoe is apparently here to stay in the fashion world. This is evidenced by the fact of the continuing manufacture and advertising of the saddle shoe, and the fact that large numbers of consumers continue to purchase and wear saddle shoes.

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