Back to School

What do the words "Back to School" conjure up in your mind? Book bags, paper, pens and glue? Well, when you work at a shoe store the first thing that comes to my mind is shoes.

Forty-some years ago, when I went back to school we didn't have many options. It was all about "support" and "arches." The biggest name in girls shoes was Bass and the place to get them in Toms River, NJ, was Florsheim Shoes on Main Street. It was a really big deal to get new shoes. Our parents didn't care if we outgrew our shoes during the year, we still had to wait until August to buy new ones.

My back to school shoes were Bass Platform Oxfords (just like those shown left). Not only did they make me feel important, but they made me taller by about an inch and a half. And to a brace-faced, bottle cap eyeglass wearing, nerdy tween that meant everything! I looked a lot like Sue Heck from "The Middle" without the bubbly personality or self confidence.

My girlfriend, Judy, had a pair of Bass Weejuns (below right). You basically had two choices - those with fringe and those without. They were all leather and all cordovan color. And you just weren't cool if you didn't put the pennies in your loafers.


It must have cost an entire week's paycheck for a pair of shoes back then, so when we got them we took care of them and didn't dream of wearing them anywhere else besides school, church or synagogue. I wore those shoes Monday-Friday with skirts and pants. We didn't wear jeans to school in those days, if you can believe that. I got two pairs of corduroy pants from the Copper Rivet store before school started and they also had to last me all year long...despite growth or wear.

Up North, school always began after Labor day weekend, unlike Georgia, where our kids go back the first week in August. Since my mother refused to buy me new summer clothes, I would always start the school year wearing a pleated plaid skirt, button-down shirt and Shetland wool sweater with my knee socks and Bass shoes. By lunchtime my button-down shirt was completely soaked with sweat! (It's still hot as hell in September).

Kids today are fortunate. They have more choices than they realize...from sneakers with characters on them to Nikes, sandals to Sperrys and many, many more. This year's hottest selling shoes for teen girls was the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. And the most popular color by far was white (shown left). I sold more of those shoes than any other shoe in our entire store. Why? I feel certain it wasn't either support or arches. I think it's nostalgia. Their parents and grandparents used to wear them (mostly for PE). Not me, I had the "Reeboks with the straps." LOL!

I don't often reflect on those awkward days of yon, but something about the words "back to school" always take me right "back" there. There's something nostalgic about children getting fitted for shoes after wearing flip-flops all summer long and complaining how tight they feel.

Here's wishing everyone a terrific school year!

Happy feet make for a happy home!
Erica