Men Should Dress Up on Sundays

Dress up on Sunday. It’s good for shoe salesmen.

From Boot and Shoe Recorder, 1921

Men Should Dress Up on Sundays

We need a difference between every day and Sunday footware

by By O. A. Hensel, Milwaukee

The style question with the young man of to-day seems to differ very much with that of the young man of fifteen and twenty years ago. We often notice now men at the theater or ballroom, no matter what their vocation, their wearing apparel has not the distinction, it should have. To-day we see them wearing soft shirts, soft collars, and ordinary shoes for Sunday or social wear.

On the other hand the young women go to the other extremes. They buy the newest of everything for next Sunday’s wear, and when Monday comes they forget to make the change which they should.

During the World War the enlisted men and boys adopted the khaki and heavy Munson last shoes, and we know that they made a hit with the feminine sex, and they apparently are still under that impression.

Candidly speaking, I believe that if the young men of to-day could be convinced of a difference between every-day and Sunday dress the men’s end of the shoe business would be very much improved.

via Vintage Engineer Boots

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Jack January 23, 2012 at 1:03 pm: I need to hear this
Bob January 24, 2012 at 6:29 am: I feel like such a heel!
Tim January 24, 2012 at 9:49 am: I grew up in the 60s and 70s and remember my father gathering his 4 boys together on the basement steps Saturday night so we could polish our shoes for Sunday morning church. We thought it was a common, national ritual.

Yesterday I volunteered to do a chalk talk at a local daycare. While most of the three and four year olds were asking me about my art supplies or what I was going to draw, one little girl blurted out, “I really like your shoes!” I was wearing my Sunday wingtips.
Peter January 24, 2012 at 10:40 am: This article has sole.
melvin shelburne January 24, 2012 at 11:01 am: I grew up in the fifty and sixties and was taught that the appearance of your shoes make an impression. Being in the military, I shined the toe and heel of my boots to make an impression, coming and going. My shoes and boots get shined regularly.
Bill January 24, 2012 at 12:52 pm: It makes my wife and my sons laugh. However the first thing that I look at when I meet any Doctor or Lawyer is thier shoes.
Wes January 24, 2012 at 2:08 pm: I was raised in the 70′s and 80′s, we were expected not only to wear dressier shoes on Sundays, but to dress in our “Sunday Best” as they say. Combed hair, collared button-down shirt, hand-tied tie, pressed slacks, and of course shined shoes, at a minimum. Shining those shoes helped me later in the military.

Today one of the first things I notice when meeting new people is their shoes. Especially on Sunday, but any day at the office where I am a hiring manager. If you take care of your shoes it shows, if they present you in a positive light, you are likely to get a better interview…at least from me.
Santiago January 25, 2012 at 5:08 pm: We the spaniards say:”With a good pair of shoes -and well combed- a man can go everywhere”
Peter2 January 26, 2012 at 8:28 am: Thanks Santiago! What a phrase!

and thanks to Brent and Kate. Again, love you site.
The Country Parson January 26, 2012 at 1:05 pm: I had dress shoes or boots drilled into me from early Childhood. Even today I keep a small shoe shine kit in the office for touchups.
Frank January 27, 2012 at 5:36 pm: I grew up hearing this constantly. I now find myself glancing down at shoes to help form my first impression. A good pair of shoes are important.