I quite fancy this idea which comes to us from a Brother in Provincetown, out on The Cape.
New White Soled Boats are worn as house slippers until your outside boats need replacing - Then your indoor boats graduate to outdoors & you buy a new pair to wear indoors.
This process breaks in your boats ready for outdoors & saves money on slippers - Why buy another kind of shoe/slipper when you can follow this fine old Yankee rotation system?
Buy whatever brand you like, but keep those soles White, I'm informed.
- Everybody has their own rules!
Best -
A moment to muse on The Cape:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/USA_Cape_Cod_1_MA.jpg
http://www.maverickchartersltd.com/images/cape-cod-ma.jpg
http://www.frostshoes.com/graphics/SEBB72757_Lg.jpg
http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/sperry-topsider-jcrew-1.jpg
http://blogs.glam.com/glamchic/files/2007/06/sperry.jpg
http://www.chatham-marine.co.uk/shop/men/shoes/shoes-special-offers/buy/pacific-washable-deck-shoe-Taupe-D548/
Where do we all stand on the importance of the White sole?
I don't care for the white ,plastic sole, though I did as a kid. Dark chocolate upper and white sole. I suppose that's the classic look. I prefer a coloured sole now and tan leather.
I do wear new boat shoes inside the house for what it's worth. I wear the old ones sailing and mucking about, until they wear out and I insert the newer pair.
Interesting to hear that this isn't just limited to one guy in P-Town, Admiral.
Do you also know others who do this? Is it really a common Yankee thing?
I can't say I have ever done this. I basically wear the old ones until they are destroyed or disgusting and then they sort of end up as really dirty work shoes. Then I buy a new pair and beat them down, too. I think I've had my current pair about 3 years. It's probably close to time for a new one, as the white has turned grey and the leather is stained in various places.
I wouldn't wear boat shoes to shovel shit, never mind round the house or anywhere else for that matter. They are hideous footwear and even though I have mellowed in my tastes over the years I will never wear such a despicable shoe...
Boat shoes can arouse a lot of antipathy in the UK.
What is it about them that invites your ire?
Last edited by Alex Roest (2009-10-14 02:07:43)
No Alex, it IS about the people who wear them.
Upper (middle) class chinless, buffoons in rugby shirts with the fuckin collars turned up, a jumper wrapped round their shoulders and a shapeless pair of shorts (even in the winter). No socks and those horrible fuckin shoes on. They are all called Hamish or Rupert and have braying donkey voices. They are loud, tasteless, arrogant and don't have a clue about any form of style... and then they run our fuckin country.
Other than that, I like them.