Black Cotton Canvas Bathing Shoes White Laces

Edwardian · 1910s · American

High-top canvas bathing shoes with ankle-height construction and white cotton laces threaded through metal eyelets. The black cotton canvas upper extends well above the ankle, creating a boot-like silhouette typical of early 20th century beach footwear. The shoes feature a flat, thin sole and squared toe shape characteristic of the period. The white lacing system uses long cotton cords that would have been tied securely to keep sand and water out during beach activities. This practical footwear represents the emerging culture of recreational beach bathing in the 1910s, when modesty requirements and concerns about rough sand or rocky shores necessitated protective foot coverage even for water activities.