Fashionably on course with casual boat shoes

Whether on the high seas or on land - with boat shoes you cut a fine figure everywhere. The light and hard-wearing leather shoes in moccasin style are also sailing through the world with us this season. The waterproof classics with all-round lacing have eternal status, both in terms of durability and style.

The history of boat shoes

Sailing shoes, also known as top spiders or docksides, have come a long way from mere workwear to indispensable classics on warm summer days. Before the advent of boat shoes as we know them today, sailors and boatswains could not find a firm footing on the slippery decks of their boats. The shoes they had at their disposal simply did not offer enough stability and slip resistance.

The passionate amateur sailor Paul Sperry also had to struggle with this problem. After almost losing his life on a slippery boat deck once, he spent several years working intensively on ideas for a prototype shoe that would provide much better grip on the wet and slippery boat decks. One winter day in Connecticut, he took his cocker spaniel Prince for a walk and was amazed at how effortlessly he frolicked over the icy surfaces. So the amateur sailor took a closer look at his dog's paws and discovered they were full of cracks and ridges. He then decided to carve a pattern similar to that of his four-legged friend's paws into the rubber sole of his waterproof shoes. After some development time, the knife-cut profile still known today was created and the prototype of the legendary Top Spider was born. In 1935, Paul Sperry thus laid the sporty and fashionable foundation for the boat shoes that are now an indispensable part of maritime fashion.

Ahoy, boat shoe styling tips

One thing is clear: the boat shoe feels most at home near the water. But it doesn't always have to be on the high seas, it can also be worn wonderfully on the beach promenade. The combination of a fashionable top and simple trousers in flowing fabric allows you to keep your casual style elegant and simple.

Tip 1: Boat shoes are worn barefoot. Socks take away the charm of the shoes and are simply out of the question in terms of style.

Tip 2: If you want to avoid the pearl Paula look, never wear a polo shirt, pearl earrings and sailing shoes at the same time.

Tip 3: Make a style break and combine women's boat shoes with feminine dresses, maxi skirts and fabric trousers. Why not go for a colourful model in red, green or blue and bring a breath of fresh air into your summer style?

Combine boat shoes for men:

Boat shoes for men are a classic. You can pull them out again every year. Fortunately, they are worn less and less with a pollunder over a polo shirt and enjoy new fashionable ease in the form of summer cotton trousers with rolled-up trouser legs and plain T-shirts or shirts.

Tip 1: Although sailing shoes are closed lace-up shoes, you should not wear socks with them. They are basically meant to be worn barefoot.

Tip 2: There is no question that boat shoes bring with them a certain elegance, but they are still not suitable as footwear for a suit or dinner jacket.

Tip 3: Make sure the colours of the shoe match the rest of your outfit. Go for denim shorts or trousers if your boat shoes are blue or brown. Wear a simple white T-shirt with them.

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