If Only I Had Known.....

I owe a great deal to the preppy look. When I was a youngster in the early 1980's, I relied heavily on the classic elements of prepdom. Even back then footwear was of paramount importance to me. I loved my Sperry Top Siders and wore them 'til they fell apart. Literally. It was the perfect shoe for me as a college kid in the Arizona heat. They were rather expensive at the time (about $60) but well worth it.

Fast forward a few years into the early 1990s after not having worn Top Siders for some time. I decided to buy a pair of Sperry's for old time's sake. The damn things fell apart after two months! Well, errors in construction do happen with the best of brands. I bought another pair. Same thing happened. It was only then I learned the hard way about shoes made in China.

A few years ago I wanted to buy boat shoes (or moccasins) again. This time I learned that all of the mainstream brands (e.g., Sebago, Timberland) were made in China or other offshore places. So I gave up on boat shoes and focused on loafers.

If only I had known then what I know now. There are a few small manufacturers of boat shoes and moccasins here in the US. You won't find these shoes at Nordstrom or Macy's. The shoes pictured above are from Quoddy Trail Moccasin Company in Maine. They are not cheap at $216 ($30 less for unlined interior) but they appear to be very well made and they can be resoled according to the company's website. I haven't bought a pair so I can't speak from experience.

Based on visual appeal alone, LeDandy really likes Quoddy's camp moccasin. It is beautiful in its simplicity and has a unique elegance. The price sounds relatively good at $160.