Saddle shoes first appeared in 1906. Initially, they were designed for indoor sports. The reinforced instep was intended to provide extra support for strenuous activity. Young golfers quickly embraced the shoe style. Saddle Shoes are a few all-American shoes and are considered the grandfather of modern athletic footwear. They are distinguished by their oxford, lace-up style and are made of leather with red clay-colored rubber soles. They usually have one color at the front and heel and a contrasting “saddle” in the middle that supports the instep during sports. Originally the shoes were white with a black contrast piece, but they can be made in any color combination. The popular Jitterbug and Lindy Hop dances spread like wildfire, and the dancers often wore saddle shoes. In the 1950s, almost every American girl had a pair of saddle shoes.
The shoes ranged from brown leather with blue saddles to brown leather with pink saddles to white leather with yellow saddles and almost every colour combination. The traditional shoe had started its third act thanks to its endless possibilities. The shoe was a favorite of teenage girls, cheerleaders, and preppies throughout the 1960s and ’80s. In recent years, saddle shoes have captured the attention of hipsters worldwide. In addition to the classic white and black styles, manufacturers began to offer colorful versions of the classic shoe.
Here are some beautiful photos of young girls and women wearing Saddle Shoes from the 1940s to 1960s.
