T-bar sandal


A T-bar sandal or T-bar shoe is a closed, low-cut shoe with two or more straps forming one or more T shapes.
Classic T-bars for children are typically made of blue or brown leather, have two thin straps forming a single T shape and fastened with a buckle, a broad and rounded toebox pierced with a pattern of holes, a low heel, and a crêpe rubber outsole stitched-down to the upper. Among boys, T-bars are traditionally worn with socks, short trousers and a shirt.

History

First seen in Europe and America in the early 1900s, T-bars became very common among children in the 1950s, particularly among boys where they supplanted pre-war Mary Janes. T-bar wearing declined after the 1960s nonetheless, following the cultural and clothing revolution that swept the West.
Today, T-bars for children, particularly the more classic styles, are often considered semi-formal shoes, appropriate for school. They may also be viewed as formal shoes for boys, suitable for religious ceremonies, weddings, visits, and birthday parties for example. More modern styles are also worn in casual settings, however: playgrounds, shopping centres, etc. Although less popular than in the past, T-bars remain a timeless classic of children's fashion and, for many people, a symbol of childhood.

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