All aboard! If Crocs were the “ugly” shoe from 2023 and Clarks Wallabees of the comeback queen from 2024, boat shoes are the unexpected shoe trend of 2025 – and they have already wrapped us.
The college shoe from Nautical-meets was created in 1935 (Yep, 90 years ago!) By Paul Sperry after hurling from his boat, but noticed his dog, whose paws were of course not slippery. Inspired Sperry, patterned patterned grooves in an empty rubber shoe box and, according to the brand, develops the world’s first non -slip boat shoe. Typically defined by flu-like rubber soles, robust leather laces, water-fame and coloring materials (apart from the trendy suede styles) and a slim silhouette that is reminiscent of a Loafer-Mokcasin-Freuher-Hybrid, are functional, but also surprisingly … fashionable?
A few years later, they became the official shoe of the US Navy. When President John F. Kennedy made her casually in the 1960s, they cemented their place as Adrpty wardrobe base food. In 1980 the official Preppy manual, which was written by Lisa Birnbach, even showed Sperry Top-Siders on the cover and described it essential as Adrptes. Since then, brands such as GH Bass, Sebago and Tod’s have also become synonymous for the style.
