Every book I’ve ever read, from Mark Twain to John D Fitzgerald*, has it that American kids in the 19th century absolutely *hated* shoes.
My hypothesis is that shoes were expensive**, and kids were wearing them well past the point they outgrew them.
*Great Brain series.
**and clothing in general, but probably particularly shoes, as I think home production of those was not as commonReport
I don’t know, but I suspect, that shoes were something that really sucked in earlier eras- especially inexpensive shoes. I live in modern times with highly comfortable shoes and yet I still prefer sandals or bare footedness so I may also be biased.Report
Stiff leather shoes and running around the neighborhood don’t mix well, even if they do fit.
I tend to wear a single pair of running shows every day until long past their “expiration” date. As they stretch, my feet spread. When I buy a new pair I know they’re going to be uncomfortable until (a) they soften up a little and (b) my feet get used to being compressed again. I can wear the current pair from the time I get up until I go to bed. The new ones, well, about dinner time for some weeks I’ll pull them off and go “Aaahhhh.”Report
Every book I’ve ever read, from Mark Twain to John D Fitzgerald*, has it that American kids in the 19th century absolutely *hated* shoes.
My hypothesis is that shoes were expensive**, and kids were wearing them well past the point they outgrew them.
*Great Brain series.
**and clothing in general, but probably particularly shoes, as I think home production of those was not as commonReport
I don’t know, but I suspect, that shoes were something that really sucked in earlier eras- especially inexpensive shoes. I live in modern times with highly comfortable shoes and yet I still prefer sandals or bare footedness so I may also be biased.Report
Stiff leather shoes and running around the neighborhood don’t mix well, even if they do fit.
I tend to wear a single pair of running shows every day until long past their “expiration” date. As they stretch, my feet spread. When I buy a new pair I know they’re going to be uncomfortable until (a) they soften up a little and (b) my feet get used to being compressed again. I can wear the current pair from the time I get up until I go to bed. The new ones, well, about dinner time for some weeks I’ll pull them off and go “Aaahhhh.”Report