Boat Shoes

Photos by Salt Water New England

Camp Mocs

 

Camp Mocs for Women and Men

Camp Mocs, short for Camp Moccasins, are a classic casual slip-on shoe for men and women.  Flattering and easier than boat shoes, they are perfect for business casual when new and for everyday wear when older.   They were invented by Leon L. Bean, and L.L. Bean first introduced these shoes in 1936.

With white soles, they can be worn on boat decks.   A red sole is a fine alternative for autumn.  They can be worn with or without socks.     

Sperry Top-Sider Sneakers

Photo by My Father

For decades, after Paul Sperry in 1935 invented the iconic boat shoe with the "Razor-Siping" sole, no other brand would do.    

I started wearing Sperry Top Siders, cotton duck sneakers and the leather boat shoes, as soon as I could fit into adult sizes.   Growing up around boats on the Connecticut shore, and living a quarter mile from our yacht club and various boat yards, everyone had them.  And given they were made locally, we made annual treks to their factory to buy them directly.  

Which shoes can be worn sockless, and when?

 

The well known Anonymous has already posed this question, and I agree that it merits its own discussion.  How does your devoted and knowledgeable readership apply its sensibility to the matter of wearing shoes without socks?  

My own approach is that as shoes descend through various levels of formality, both their own intrinsic formality and the formality of the clothes with which they are worn, it changes.  I shall assume no one goes without socks when wearing any laced leather shoes. 

• Cordovan tassel loafers are always worn with a jacket and tie and, despite being loafers, are worn with socks.  

• Leisure handsewns are often worn without socks with khakis, cords, or reds, and socks are optional unless there a coat and tie are involved. When they are worn with shorts, LHS are worn without socks.  

• Bluchers, boat shoes, and other similar moccasins are reserved for casual wear, and the same principles that are applied to LHS work well with the caveat that the question of going sockless with any of them when wearing a coat and tie should arise only if you are that character who wears his poplin suit, bucket hat, OCBD, and repp tie with his bluchers simply because it is his nature.  He wears socks.  

In the realm of even more casual footwear such as athletic shoes and sandals, things become more, not less, complicated. 

• For things like tennis or golf, wear socks.  For running, they are optional, but you are required to keep your running shoes clean.  

• For sandals, socks are just wrong.  

• For Crocs you should wear a sheepish and apologetic smile and stay behind the hydrangeas in your own yard.  

I know I am very opinionated on these matters, but I will not so much as snicker or raise an eyebrow if you have a different approach.  

With kindest regards, Vecchio Vespa

 

 

 

Boat Shoes | Men's Boat Shoes from Dubarry of Ireland

Men's Regatta Boat Shoe made of their DryFast-DrySoft Nubuck Leather - Photos by Salt Water New England

 Dubarry of Ireland is well known and respected for their beautifully made Country Boots and Sailing Boots, and they apply the same high standards and thoughtful details to their classic Boat Shoes.  Also made in Portugal, they come in a wide variety of styles for both Men and Women and feature their NonSlip-NonMarking rubber soles.

• Men's Regatta Boat Shoe - Brown <https://www.dubarry.com/us/men/footwear/boat-shoes/regatta-boat-shoe-brown>

Mentioned in comments:

• Commodore XLT Boat Shoe - Chestnut <https://www.dubarry.com/us/men/footwear/boat-shoes/commodore-xlt-boat-shoe-chestnut>

Ultima Sailing Boots from Dubarry of Ireland

All Photos - Boots and Boot Spotting - by Salt Water New England. 

Dubarry of Ireland is not only famous for their beautiful and hard-wearing Country Boots but also for their iconic Ultima Sailing Boots.  Both successfully combine classic designs and materials with new technology and so many thoughtful details.

For example, the non-slip, non-marking soles - table stakes for use in the sailing world -  are also remarkably comfortable.  Sailing season has not even begun and I have been wearing them practically every day.   Waterproof and fast drying,  they need no breaking in. 

Available for Men and for Women.

• Men Ultima Sailing Boot - Brown <https://www.dubarry.com/us/women/footwear/sailing-boots/ultima-sailing-boot-brown>

• Women Ultima Sailing Boot - Brown <https://www.dubarry.com/us/women/footwear/sailing-boots/ultima-sailing-boot-brown>

Bluchers

Photos by Salt Water New England

Bluchers are a style of shoe that features an open lacing system, including an upper made from one piece of leather.  Four eyelets are preferable.

Bluchers are named after an 18th century Prussian general, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, who ordered a new design of boot that became the modern blucher.

The blucher may be the perfect year-round shoe.  It initially can be used for business casual, but has a long life in different roles as miles are heaped upon it, including sockless during the summer.  It is the shoe equivalent of the (unironed) Oxford shirt.

As with boat shoes, camp mocs, and snaffle bits, and unlike other dressier shoes, bluchers are perfect for wearing sockless in the warmer weather. 

Question for the Community: Cleaning and Conditioning Sperry A/O Topsiders

A Question for the Community:

I wear my Sperry A/O Topsiders (dark brown) all the time, including most days at the office.  Does anyone have advice and experience with cleaning and conditioning their Sperrys?  I am considering mink oil or Red Wing boot oil; any other thoughts?

Boat Shoes: Sperry A/O Topsiders