The moccasin is a shoe that is quite popular today, thanks to its comfort and elegant appearance. But it is interesting to know its history and the changes it has undergone over the years.
The moccasin, although it has never been given much attention, originates from Norway. When the soldiers returned to the USA after the First World War, they did not want to part with this wonderful footwear that they had discovered among Norwegian cattlemen. The shoemaker Aurlan did not miss the opportunity to export his country's footwear and created the predecessor of the moccasin, although this model had laces, and managed to sell it at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. However, the moccasins most similar to those we know today were created by GH Bass in 1936 and he called them "Weejuns", a very American name, which was completely far from its origins.
This shoe then became the most common item in men's clothing, so much so that they found great use for the adornment called a mask that is on the upper part of the shoe. It was used as a purse, in which parents kept a penny for their children, so they could call home on a public telephone if something unexpected happened to them. This is why this model is still known today as the PENNY.
In the 1970s, loafers fell out of fashion, but once they were over, they came back even stronger, now being worn by men, women and school-aged children. From James Dean to JFK, based on the charisma left by "Rebel Without a Cause" he managed to stop seeing them as old men's shoes, and made them adored by young people. Michael Jackson also influenced his fame, making black loafers his dancing shoes.
In the field of business, politics and other more formal settings, the loafer has also been present, Gucci has created a loafer "formal enough to be acceptable in business settings, when worn with a suit." An alternative that appears at this time, is a somewhat more elegant loafer, the tassel loafer or also known as TASSEL, which became characteristic of lawyers in the time of President Bush.
Thus, the long life of this footwear has given rise to different variants that we will describe in more detail below.
TASSEL
This is the most formal type of loafer, as it has a higher, more closed shape. It is defined by a bow that runs along its side and ends in a knot at the front on the tongue, with a tassel at each end as decoration. It is formal, but much less so than the lace-up shoes we will see below. It is correct to wear it with suits, but it is much more appropriate to wear it with dress pants or jeans.
PENNY
They are characterized by having a kind of mask as an ornament on the upper part of the tongue. Its name comes from the English custom of putting a penny in the mask. It is a model suitable for wearing with a morning suit, for everyday use, but it is usually used more for looks with jeans, less formal.
BEEFROLL
The main feature is that the mask is secured with a seam finished in knots. Otherwise it is almost identical to the previous model, but more modern and currently the most used.
These shoes never go out of fashion, but they are also open to changes and variations in color and texture, so that they can adapt to any style in the best way.
