subject: Why Bass Weejuns Just Won't Go Away [print this page] In the world of fashion and foowear, there is a whole universe of shoes that are simply designed to be in style this year and this year only. Yes, you heard right, this year. Not next year because theshoes are only meant tobe in style this year. Designers in order to stay viable must create new styles, completely brand new looks that will come out this year and then another new style to come out the following year. Study the shoe styles and you will seethe answerclear as a bell. Sometimes it is a wonder why people would even want to buy something like a pair of shoes knowing full well that the look will be obsolete and money wasted if the they are still in good condition. One shoe that never went out of style and has a following year after year are Bass Weejuns. If you are not familiar with Bass Weejuns, you will be familiar with the their influential style, the humble penny loafer. Bass Weejuns penny loafers have been around since 1936 after the son of G.H. Bass, John Russell Bass styled a hand stitched mocassin based on a shoe that he saw a Norwegian fisherman wearing at the time. It was a simple concept but changed shoes forever.
Prior to the penny loafers, most folks wore, (if they had any money for shoes at all) simple looking oxford shoes. Just a basic laceup devoid of any look, simply made for fuction as a shoe. Bass's Weejun penny loafer turned the entire shoe world on it's head with a revolution no less admirable than the first Iphone was for cell phones. Picture it's smack in the middle of the 1930s, money is very hard to come by due to the Great Depression and this new shoe comes out that doesn't really look like anything that people wore before. The Weejun sort of had the Native American Mocassin thing going on but those were much cruder looking in style. They have a full leather sole like any other quality oxford shoe has but they weren't oxfords by a long shot. Besides, how can you wear a shoe that doesn't have laces and have them stay on your feet without you fighting to keep them on your feet. The answer that made them stay on your feet and be extremely comfortable is the hand stitched mocassin construction. You see the top of the vamp orupper part of the shoe starts to break in and mold to the wearer's foot almost immediately once you start walking in them. That is how they stay on your feet, and that is how they are so comfortable. It didn't take long before the throngs of college students started wearing Bass Weejuns, remember this is way before Nikes. By the clean timeless look and versatility, the Penny Loafer has become an Iconic design that will stay a classic for generations to come. Weejuns are also available in a Kilt Tassle style as well that has a more formal appearance.
