Boat shoes (also known as deck shoes or topsiders) are typically canvas or leather with non-marking rubber soles designed for use on a boat. A siping pattern is cut into the soles to provide grip on a wet deck; the leather construction, along with application of oil, is designed to repel water.
The boat shoe made its comeback a few years ago, and soon after, a handful of designers tweaked the sailor staple but not enough to kill its blue-blooded roots. Now we get Boat Shoes 3.0, a technicolor explosion that will only get you dirty looks off of New England. Talking tri-tone colorways, neon yellow soles, and jailhouse stripes. Sure, you can wear them with anything from khakis to seersucker for a shot of adrenaline. But think outside the prep and wear them with camo shorts, gray jeans, Supreme gear, mostly anything that might piss off a sailor enough to show you his dirty mouth.
Companies like Sperry Top-Siders, Sebago and H&M all make an affordable shoe. Some like to show off a little so you can step up a little to Ralph Lauren & Bally on a higher end. The boat shoe has been an American staple since Paul Sperry was inspired by his dog running on ice in 1935. Just like the times change so do styles and innovations are made. This is just another example.
