Bringing Back the Saddle Shoe
In the year 2020, after almost a decade of the Saddle Shoe declining in popularity, I have decided to bring them back.
If you are anything like me and love to watch TV shows and movies set in high schools during the 1950s-1990s or the early 2000s, you have probably noticed one common shoe worn by many teenage girls: the saddle shoe. After noticing this iconic shoe multiple times, I asked my mom if she remembers this shoe to be as popular as portrayed. She told me yes and that she even had a pair of her own. I have been quite intrigued with this shoe and, more importantly, why no one wears them anymore. It’s understandable that with fashion trends changing weekly, a shoe can go unnoticed. Still, the saddle shoe has been iconic for over 50 years and you would think it would be in every vintage collector’s closet, but it seems that they are mostly worn as part of a 1950s costume. This year, however, I decided to bring back the saddle shoe. After years of watching Gilmore Girls, where Rory Gilmore wears her saddle shoes with her Chilton uniform, and now recently watching The Queen’s Gambit, where saddle shoes are worn throughout the series, I am finally adding saddle shoes as a unique addition to my wardrobe that I am excited to style.
Wearing clothes that are either out of style or not currently trendy can bring up some anxiety and hesitation. While attending school in person, I always felt judged for what I would wear to school. Either your clothes are “too basic,” or they are too out there. During the pandemic alone, I feel as though I have gone through different phases of outfits—going between leggings and a sweatshirt to occasionally wear a dress and heels only to walk around my room and get ready for the first time in months. Many of us have felt the pressure to look a certain way, but I have been letting myself wear what I think looks cool whether or not it fits the generic style—this mainly consists of sweater vests and corduroy pants. When buying clothes that I want to feel both comfortable and stylish in, I figured I might as well get the pair of shoes I have been interested in for so long, even if they are not back in style.
I’ve never understood why the saddle shoe has stopped being so popular. I wanted to learn more about the history of the saddle shoe, and what I learned was quite surprising. Although they became extremely popular in the 1950s, the saddle was first made notable in the 1920s as men’s loafers. During this time, women began fighting for gender equality and bending the norms of women’s fashion, and the saddle shoe became footwear for all genders. The first time the saddle shoe’s popularity dipped was during the Great Depression. Later, the shoe became more durable while its price remained low, with more colors offered as well. The 1940s were when the saddle shoes finally began to take form into what they are today.
Many teenage girls began wearing the shoes to school and the shoe’s popularity increased significantly. The way to wear them was scuffed and worn-down, unlike the 1940s, the 1950s when it was a time to show off a nice, clean new pair of shoes. Wearing saddle shoes to school to show them off and be a part of the crowd was common. Not only was the saddle shoe cute, but they were also extremely comfortable and were a part of the standard cheerleading uniform until the mid-80s. The saddle shoe then did fall in sales again due to the decade of rebellion during the 1960s. The saddle shoe declined until the early 2000s, when it made almost an entire halt in sales.
I have been waiting for the saddle shoe to come back for years, and since no one else has brought them back, I decided to get a pair and wear them anyway. They look similar to the Dr. Martens Oxford shoe as well as the Adidas Superstar, which have been back in fashion in recent years. The most important lesson I have learned over the past few years is that you should truly wear what you feel comfortable with, as long as it is not hateful towards anyone, religion or culture, even if it is not trendy or in style. Getting to the point of not caring what others think about what I wear has been years in the making. Still, I am excited to wear my new pair of saddle shoes, and if you are interested in getting a new pair of comfortable and cute shoes, I would recommend the saddle shoe, and we can bring them back together!

Akasha is a well-experienced veteran on the Newspaper staff who has been a member of Newspaper club since freshman year and lead the club as president her sophomore year. When she is not working on publishing a new edition of The Owl, you can find Akasha in the school auditorium, running through dress rehearsals and singing in the ensemble for Boulder High’s theater program. She is also one of the Co-Presidents of Women's Empowerment Club at BHS! This year, Akasha is looking forward to being a part of the newspaper staff again and hopes to spread more awareness around the school about the school paper and create a more significant following. She is interested in the field of journalism due...
The saddle shoe, who knew! I’m impressed by your motivation to make this seemingly over shoe back in business. PS they’re very cute
Wearing what you want will never go out of style in my books. If I had a three-piece suit, you know I would be wearing it. Saddle shoes look so fun and make me want to dance! There is this culture around clothing in school that makes it interesting to think too hard about what to wear. Strangely enough, I have heard an alarming number of girls talk about how they are afraid to dress more modestly, which is a whole other topic. Great article!
I love this article and love that you are bringing them back and have decided to wear them!! They are super cute and if I had a pair of saddle shoes I would definitely wear them! It is super interesting to hear about how they were popular in the 50s but began to decline in sales with the more rebellious movements of the 60s. I also think it is always fun to see things that you love like saddle shoes on TV shows as you mentioned with Gilmore Girls and The Queen’s Gambit. Overall, this is an awesome article!
This article is very interesting to me. I have seen a lot of style from the 50s, 70s, and 80s become more and more fashionable nowadays. The style is constantly changing and it’s so interesting to see the ‘old’ fashion now become the ‘new’. I love the saddle show and to me the low top laced vans look very similar. The style seems to be very similar with small changes. I loved the way you wrote this and appealed to the audience to make everyone feel involved!
This article is very interesting to me. I have seen a lot of style from the 50s, 70s, and 80s become more and more fashionable nowadays. The style is constantly changing and it’s so interesting to see the ‘old’ fashion now become the ‘new’. I love the saddle show and to me the low top laced vans look very similar. The style seems to be very similar with small changes. I loved the way you wrote this and appealed to the audience to make everyone feel involved.
I thought this was a really good article. I have always liked ‘older’ style trends, especially from the ’80s. I think that there are many styles that have continued over the years and they can be seen stemming from hundreds of years ago. I think the saddle shoe has influenced many shoes that are popular today and because it has been around for so long it will probably come back in style. I liked how you gave background history to the saddle shoes and why you think they should come back to popularity. I agree!
I really enjoy the history that you’ve incorporated in this article. I find it really empowering that saddle shoes were originally loafers for men, that became popular for all genders. The twenties were definitely an awakening for the inclusivity of clothing. Flappers began showing more ankle and even saddle shoes became androgynous! I also think it’s interesting to observe old fashion trends resurface. Personally, I’ve also been rediscovering my style over quarantine, through thrift stores, and second-hand online shops. I really enjoyed reading this and I like the inclusive ending that you wrote.
I absolutely loved the stance you took with this piece! Modern fashion society and social media are always so judgmental to things that are even somewhat out of the ordinary, and I feel like people need to start just going for it and wearing whatever they want. I think that the saddle shoe makes for an iconic vintage look, especially with how similar it is too popular Doc Martens. Since quarantine began, my sense of clothing has taken a wild ride, and I’ve taken up the ideology that I should wear what I want because I like it, not because other people like it. Statement shoes are so great, and I think the saddle shoe is truly a great way to look great and make a statement.
The LOVE THE SADDLE SHOE.I HAVE THE BLACK & WHITE.I WANT A PAIR OF TAN &WHITE..IF YOU FIND OUT PLEACE LET ME KNOW.
This article needs editing.
Beyond that, the shoes were most popular in the 1950’s which is SEVENTY years ago, not 50. Fifty years ago would be the 1970’s and they definitely were not popular then. They were still being worn by cheerleaders in the 1990’s according to the yearbooks I have. They were popular with cheerleaders because of the soles.
My mother wore them all through elementary and high school. Catholic schools still wear them. My friend, Felicia, has a daughter in a parochial high school that is $$$. They are required to wear saddle shoes (they even tell you what brand). They cost $85.
I love the look of them, sure wish they’d come back in style.
I would wear them now if I had any guts. 🙂