Sperry Topsiders

By Andrei Khmelnitski

The Sperry Topsider is pretty much the perfect shoe. Not only are they some of the most comfortable shoes that I have ever worn in my life- even without socks (more on this subject)- but they also convey a sense of casualness and class, I am convinced, better than any shoe in history.

The idea for the Sperry Topsider was first conceived by Paul Sperry in the wee year of 1935. Having grown weary of slipping on the slick decks of his boat, Sperry decided to fix the problem. He noticed his cocker spaniel had a remarkably easy time keeping his footing on deck and took note of the pattern of grooves on the dog’s pads. He applied this same concept to a rubber soled shoe and found that it allowed him to gain a significant amount of traction on deck. The shoe quickly gained massive popularity with sailors worldwide, and in the coming decades became a fashion statement.

Having said all this, I find it ridiculous how much controversy there is over these little wonders. By far, the thing I hear most when rocking these loafers is the argument that I shouldn’t be wearing boat shoes if I 1)Don’t own a boat, and 2) If I do own a boat, won’t be going on it in the immediate future. I’d like to rebut this question, look at your feet. What kind of shoes are you wearing? Are they a pair of Vans,a skateboarding shoe? Or perhaps a pair of high top Nikes, a basketball shoe. I’m going to go ahead and venture a guess that 98% of the people currently wearing Vans will not be touching a skateboard in the next week, and 97% in the next month. As far as the high tops, I doubt that ANYBODY will be wearing their “fresh pair of Jordan’s” to a basketball game out of fear of damaging their kicks. Again though, I’m only assuming.

Which brings me to another important topic about boat shoes: assumptions. Why does everyone assume that the idea of a boat shoe wearer ACTUALLY owning a boat to be ridiculous and outlandish. You don’t know me. Maybe I have a boat, but just don’t want to flaunt my wealth, who knows? Another common assumption about people wearing boat shoes is that they are elitists, which for the most part might be true, but still; don’t assume that the kid sitting next to you in class thinks he’s better than you, or has more money than you just because he’s wearing boat shoes. Mind you chances are he/or she probably does especially if he/or she isn’t wearing socks.

Alright people, let me settle this once and for all:  you don’t wear socks with boat shoes. It’s not an opinion, or a style, it’s a cold hard fact. These shoes are DESIGNED to be worn sockless; I would it really make sense to wear a shoe on a boat that’s meant to get wet with a pair of socks that aren’t. No not really. Those who wear socks with Sperrys should receive a cold slap to the groin and have their boat shoe privileges revoked for a period of time determined by the extent of the sock wearing.As a common wearer of the sockless Sperrys I’ve heard all the arguments for not wearing socks, most of them starting and ending with the words “That’s disgusting,” My answer to that:  it’s really not, try it out, or don’t, I don’t really care. Just don’t get on my case about it. Another common argument is that “it’s too cold to wear Sperrys without socks”. If it’s too cold to wear Sperrys without socks, it’s too cold to wear Sperrys, simple as that.

In the end it doesn’t really matter. What you wear and how you wear it is an expression of who you are and what you represent. Wear socks with your Sperrys,just keep in mind, this shows everybody you’re the type of person that does wears socks with your Sperrys, and if you’re proud of that, the more power to you.  Boat shoes remain for me a symbol of modesty, class and etiquette I highly doubt another pair of shoes will match in my lifetime, or yours for that matter.