Shoes

What could possibly be more fun than finding that very special pair of shoes? Finding them in your size, perhaps? It really is a chore to find cute shoes in "larger" sizes and the shoe industry exacerbates the problem by limiting sizes and changing styles seemingly with abandon. All one can do when the "right" styles in the "right" sizes show up is stock up for the long rainy spell, which will inevitably come, until they become available again. Fortunately, there are a few hold-outs among the ever-changing manufacturers who continue to offer classic styles in larger or wider sizes suitable for larger little girls.

For me, "dress shoe" means Mary Janes. One of the first shoe designs that distinguished between left and right feet (the strap goes toward the outside), Mary Janes remain a perennial favorite. Despite radical changes in fad or fashion, it is almost always possible to find this ever-so-cute style in stock, although not always in the color you might want.

The casual shoes I prefer are saddle shoes. Oooh, I really love saddle shoes. Everyone has seen saddle shoes, those black and white creations, with a red or white sole. Not everyone is aware that most of the major sneaker manufacturers produced a saddle-style sneaker, originally marketed to cheerleaders and sold through cheerleader supply houses. A Reebok ad for their saddle says, "...in all the history of cheerleading, no other shoe but the SADDLE has symbolized the American cheerleader." For some unknown reason, none of these manufacturers have continued to produce a saddle-style sneaker, although each and every Fall, virtually every shoe store in America has at least one style of saddle shoe prominently displayed.

Here is a sampling of the saddle shoes I have found, including a section of saddle shoes currently available from Muffy's. Muffy provided the pictures of those shoes taken from her current inventory of a 1,000 different saddles; she gets more all of the time. She has apparently cornered the market on end-runs, overstocks, lightly used and past season saddles, a truly enviable position.

	White non-marking non-skid rubber soles characterize this more classic-style cheerleading saddle shoe.
	A more updated version of the saddle. I have seen these in pink and white; the perfect complement to a white blouse and a pink poodle skirt with oodles of petticoats underneath. This one has a black finished sole and a patent leather-like saddle.
	These saddle shoes are similar to the above with a more "correct" coral sole. The "original" Spaldings had a coral red rubber sole. Black and white soles were offered later as "improvements".
	A pair of pink/white saddle shoes offered at auction on eBay. Pink/white is a wonderful combo for little girls.
	"Charlie Brown" -- These shoes were made with a crepe sole which provided excellent traction. The uppers were made of a thick soft leather. Another company offered this style in vinyl. These must have been uncomfortable!
	ASICS "Sharon" -- Offered in 12 color combinations to match your school colors.
	AVIA "Victory" -- 7 colors in a saddle of a more spartan design. Note that only a portion of the saddle is colored.
	"3 Cheers" -- virtually identical to the Charlie Brown above except these have an imprinted logo on the rear portion.
	"Jeepers Leapers" -- a canvas saddle in the style of a conventional "sneaker". Vans also offered this style of shoe in a variety of different color combos.
	Nike "Precision D" -- one of two differently named Nike saddle cheerleading shoes.
	Nike "Spirit" -- the other Nike saddle-style cheerleading shoe. Note the choice of colors offered in both styles.
	Pony "Dorm" -- Pony called this cheerleading saddle both the "Dorm" and the "Mary Lou Retton" though the Mary Lou/cheerleading connection is unusual...
	Reebok "Bop" - Reebok also offered this in a "muted" natural saddle for those who found the saddle's contrast too bright! Can you imagine that there are people who actually don't like the look of saddle shoes?
	This is a pair of "swing saddles" -- type being worn by fashionable swing dancers. These and the following styles are available from Muffy at http://www.muffys.com.
	A Willits black and white saddle, available from Muffy's. The standard saddle shoe, complete with the mandatory coral sole.
	A blue and white Willits with a white sole. This is the style worn by the girls in the parochial school up the street from where I grew up. Also from Muffy's wonderful collection.
	This snappy number, also from Muffy's, is an LA Gear sneaker style saddle in blue patent and white. Also available in charcoal patent and white. Did LA Gear make these in size 12W? Of course not... BooHoo!

If you are looking for saddles send Muffy a message at http://www.muffys.com/mail/ asking if she has the style you want in stock or can get it. In addition, Muffy has started shipping her own brand of the classic saddle in black/white, red/white and pink/white. Everyone needs at least two pair of saddle shoes, one for dressier occasions (maybe a plaid knife-pleated or circle skirt) and the other pair for jeans...

Muffy (what a wonderful name) actually found a pair of Nike Precision red/white cheer shoes in my size (12W). Zowie!!! I wanted a pair of those since I was the adviser to squads of Pop Warner cheerleaders, but could not find size 12W back then. They were mandatory for the girls, even though some of the parents did not like them. <It is good to be king!> Leave it to Muffy to find them; She is knowledgeable, very responsive and fun to work with...

Of course, Nike discontinued the Precision and the Spirit in favor of shoes with a huge Nike swash on the sides. Just recently, Nike discovered that the buying public does not necessarily want a huge billboard on their shoes! Now they are going to shrink the size of the logo! Duh!!! Maybe they will reintroduce saddle sneakers... I certainly can hope...

I even got a pair of "cheap shoes", Payless Coasters saddle. Funny, the man at Payless said their saddles did not go above 10; shows what the people in the central office know! I noticed on eBay that some enterprising individual had purchased a whole bunch of these shoes from Payless and was auctioning them at prices considerably higher than list despite the fact they were still available on the Payless site.

	This style of shoe never really goes out of fashion, a truly elegant shoe.... A classic white leather Mary Jane with lace-trimmed white anklets. Alas, these were available only in a children's size. Note how far back on the shoe the straps are fastened, creating the illusion of a longer, flatter foot. Tic Tac Toes offers "Sylvia", a similar style below.
	A similar style Mary Jane in a softer leather. The strap on this one is in a much more conventional position. This style is similar to Tic Tac Toes "Shag" style.
	A black patent leather Mary Jane, forbidden in parochial schools, worn with much more fancy, party-type, gold lamé trimmed anklets.
	Clunky-styled Mary Janes in black leather suitable for more casual wear. I saw a pair of black patent leather Doc Martens with a lug sole. Biggest size was 10. Sigh...
	Adding a bow to the front produces a more festive and more formal pair of shoes, perfect for the ball. Formal occasions demand either patent leather or velvet.
	For Christmas parties, absolutely nothing could be more appropriate than these glitter trimmed Mary Janes in red or green with matching handbag. These were available at Target only up to children's size 4.
	Doc Marten's Mary Janes have been offered in multiple colors, although I have never seen this style in sizes large enough for me. Sigh...
	Wild Pair, the ultra leading edge shoe store for teeny boppers had this pair of lug-soled Mary Janes in sizes up to 10. Excellent for casual occasions.
	A pair of red patent leather Mary Janes. The finish on these shoes looks every bit as beautiful as multiple coats of Candy Apple lacquer on a classic roadster. Why can't I get these in my size? Is that too much to ask?
	Nordstrom's, always a fashion leader, included these very stylish microfiber Mary Janes in their Fall/Christmas 1999 catalog. Unfortunately, this is one of the styles not carried in larger sizes by the company which prides itself on it very large selection of shoes and sizes.
	Tic Tac Toes (800.648.8126) manufactures the shoes offered below by Coward and Masseys, and also sells by mail. Top to bottom: Heather #538 (t-strap), Shag #522 (Mary Jane) and Sylvia #546 (ballerina), all have the nice sounding ˝" rubber heel. Price is around $40, sizing to 12W. Colors are black, white, gold, silver, red, navy, bone, pewter, black patent and white patent. No red patent leather though. Boohoo!!!
	Coward (800.362.8410), a division of Arizona Mail Order Company, carries the Tic Tac Toes "Shag" under the name "Jane" (item #GK47102). Price is $42.99, sizing to 12WW, colors are gold, red, silver, white, black -- no patent leather.
	Masseys (800.462.7739) carries a version of the "Shag" under the name "Jane" with a peculiar "poly" ž" heel which doesn't make the same nice sound on wood floors. Price is $39.95, sizing to 12WW, colors include black, bone, navy, grey, red, wine, purple, khaki and black patent leather.
	Roaman's (800.436.0800) offers this round-toed updated Mary Jane by Antonio Valle in Black, Bone, Brown, Sage, Pink and Periwinkle Blue in sizes to 12WW as catalog number 516 9022-1-245 for under $43.00.
	Muffy's <www.muffys.com> is offering these cute red (black is also available) Mary Janes in very durable, yet comfortable, leather in sizes to 12W for $79.00. These I will wear for years.

Taffy's Favorite Shoes