Deck shoes are more casual than loafers and other leather shoes and more elegant than sneakers. The appeal of deck shoes is that they combine functionality born from their use on the deck of a ship with a lightweight look that fits in well with street wear. In this issue, we will look at the background of the deck shoe and its evolution to its current form, while introducing notable men’s coordinates and standard models.
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What are deck shoes?Practical shoes born to walk on the deck of a ship without slipping
Deck shoes, as the name suggests, are shoes designed to be worn on the “deck” of a yacht or boat. Ships at sea are rocked by waves, and the deck is wet with seawater, making it very slippery underfoot. Deck shoes were invented as practical shoes to support sailors’ feet and reduce the risk of falling into the water so that they can walk stably under such conditions. Today, deck shoes are widely used not only on boats, but also as casual shoes that are both light and elegant.
Deck shoes developed by Sperry in 1935Canvas sneaker with sole inspired by a dog's sole
In 1935, Paul A. Sperry, an American yachtsman and inventor, invented a pair of deck shoes that were designed to be worn when wet. Sperry developed deck shoes to prevent slipping on wet boats. The original model was a sneaker with a cotton canvas upper, rather than the leather moccasin type commonly seen today.
The most distinctive feature is the finely cut rubber sole, inspired by the sole of a dog that runs on ice and snow without slipping. This structure, which enhances grip while allowing water to escape, is still used today as the ” Wave-Siping™ outsole. Even after the development of leather moccasins, this non-slip outsole is still a fundamental detail of deck shoes. Sperry continues to develop the “CVO” sneaker to this day as a deck shoe that carries on the tradition of the original.
In 1937, the design that leads to today The design appeared.Evolution to leather moccasin construction with slip-resistant rubber sole at its core
In 1937, Sperry developed the ” Top-Sider,” a leather moccasin model that is now a standard deck shoe design and is also known as a boat shoe.
The greatest features, such as the rubber sole with a fine cut, were reborn in a more elegant design, adopting a leather upper and moccasin structure that wraps the foot. In addition, the 360-degree lacing system that allows the user to adjust the fit through the leather laces around the footwear’s opening enhances the stability of the footwear. These shoes are still available at Sperry under the model name ” Authentic Original Deck Shoes. It should be noted that many of these leather-uppered deck shoes are made of oiled-up leather, which is highly water-resistant.
1940 From practical shoes to street shoes after 1940After being adopted by the U.S. Navy, John F. Kennedy and others loved them and they became a staple of Ivy fashion
In 1940, the Sperry “CVO,” a quick-drying cotton canvas deck shoe, was adopted as the U.S. Navy’s casual uniform shoe because of its functionality. Later, in the 1960s, they were favored by the East Coast elite, including John F. Kennedy, and became a part of the Ivy and preppy styles. In this trend, deck shoes have expanded from practical maritime footwear to a staple of street shoes.
Here are some men’s coordinates for deck shoes!
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