Moccasins, top siders, loafers, ... many men do not fully understand the difference between all these types of shoes. Stylish summer shoes came into our everyday life not so long ago, but the history of these shoes dates back to the time of the North American Indians, long before the beginning of our era.

Today we will look at the history of moccasins and find out why some moccasins are made without soles, while others are made specifically for drivers. What is the difference between moccasins and top siders (yacht shoes) or loafers. In addition, we will give some tips on what to wear with moccasins and are they worn with socks?

What are moccasins?

Moccasins have a long history, but first, let's clarify what the term actually means. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes moccasins as “flat shoes made of soft leather, the soles of which may be flexible, hard or soft; in moccasins, the soft sole runs in a seamless piece from the heel to the toes, where it joins with the outer seam to the U-shaped part lying on top of the foot. The upper part of moccasins is often decorated with embroidery, beads or other ornaments. Another authoritative edition, Wikipedia, defines moccasins as traditional North American Indian shoes, which are made only from rawhide, sewn with awls, needles and sinew threads.

Modern moccasins are made from different materials:

• textile,
• suede leather,
• Genuine Leather,
• leatherette.

There are men's moccasins, women's, and also unisex. In addition, moccasins are divided into types:

• casual loafers,
• loafers for office
• sport moccasins,
• evening or business moccasins.

The sole of moccasins is made of rubber, rubber or leather. Note that some people claim that a genuine moccasin does not have a separate sole. Indeed, the moccasins of many Indian tribes did not use soles, because the soft leather was ideal for woodland and hunting. The tribes that lived in the mountains often attached a separate sole made of bison skin, so moccasins were suitable for them. environment.

Soft leather shoes with heels or suede loafers are often advertised as moccasins but are technically incorrect. They refer to the "moccasin style" with a U-shaped leather top.

History of moccasins

Moccasins are considered the traditional footwear of North America. Although it can be argued that moxas were invented by the Indians. Some historians believe that moccasins entered the modern United States approximately 30,000 years ago via the Bering Sea from Asia. Subsequently, the style was adapted by the Indian tribes and due to the different climates and different habitats in North America. Appeared different kinds moccasins, each suited to a specific climate and tribal habitat.

Etymologically, the word moccasin or "mohkisson" comes from the Algonquian language Powhatan and means shoes. In fact, most of the native Indian tribes of North America had similar words for shoes, but since the Algonquians were the first people encountered by Europeans around 1615 in North America, the term was brought to England where it was adopted.

In addition to North America, shoes similar to moccasins were found quite recently, in 2008 in a cave in Armenia. Moccasins are approximately 5500 years old.

In the swamps of Ireland, moccasins were found, made approximately 700-900 BC. A characteristic feature of the find was that they were made by the sewing method without excess skin and a separate sewn heel part to protect the leg.

Original moccasin style

Although there are different styles of moccasins that have evolved due to different Indian habitats and climates, they can be roughly divided into two types: hard-soled and soft-soled moccasins.

Typically associated with the western plains and deserts of North America. The hard sole was often made from tough buffalo leather and was designed to protect the wearer's feet from the thorny cactus and prairie grass typical of the area. In addition, they protected from sharp stones. Hard-soled moccasins were usually made from two or more pieces of skins. Usually, moccasins were sewn with a raised toe, so as not to touch the seam on sharp stones and not injure the leg through the resulting hole.

Typically associated with the Eastern Forests of North America where it is mostly woodland with leaves and pine needles covering the ground so the feet do not require hard sole protection. Soft-soled moxas were often made from only one piece of leather. The sole was folded around the foot and fastened around the instep; some were secured with a seam on one side and not in the center. However, the most basic style is the simple center stitch. The two pieces form a U-shaped piece that serves as the front piece. Some had an extra piece that served as a cuff.

These two main types of moccasins were the start of the emergence of a huge variety of moccasin styles among different tribes of Indians. In fact, these styles were so distinctive that it was possible to identify the tribe by their moccasins. The experts went further, identifying the various tribes from the trail of moccasins.

Leather moccasins

Hard-soled moccasins were made from soft, untanned, Brown deer, buffalo or bison skin. You can also find moccasins made from suede or elk skin. They were gathered inside out, and thus the seam was hidden. Animal tendon was used for stitching. The knot was made on the outside to provide comfort. Overcasting and running stitches were commonly used. The structure of the moccasins was rather mediocre, however, each tribe had distinctive decoration techniques. Beading, embroidery and dyeing were used to embellish the moccasins. Women of certain tribes often lengthened moccasins higher, giving fashion to the emergence of a new type of footwear - boots.

Moccasins were created for both comfort and practical use. Moccasins allowed the wearer to "feel" the ground as they walked, while protecting their feet. In addition, moccasins did not make noise when walking, which was necessary when hunting an animal or a bird.

Since moccasins were designed for specific habitats and terrain, it was not surprising that very soon they became the footwear of choice for Europeans. Among European settlers, they were favored by hunters and traders who travel long distances on foot.

Moccasins remained popular with European settlers due to their practicality. But as the country became more industrialized at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, moccasins slowly began to lose their popularity. By the time of World War II, they could only be found in resorts and souvenir shops. After the end of the Second World War, a new generation decided to follow the path of natural beauty and renew the popularity of moccasins. By this time, advances in the industrial sector had made it possible to create moccasins in a variety of leathers and colors, thus giving the models style. Very soon their popularity was restored, which is evidenced by the fact that in 1946 the Minnetonka Moccasins company was founded.

Today, most moccasins are double-soled for added durability and durability. Moccasins appeared for drivers with rubber soles or rubber inserts; began to sew top siders with thick non-slip soles, began to make hard leather loafers with hard soles for a business dress code.

The original moccasins are rarely worn outdoors because the pavement and concrete are too hard for them. Some use moxas as indoor shoes.

What is the difference between moccasins and loafers and top siders? Modern moccasins are leather shoes with a thin sole without a heel, decorated with fringe, tassel or bridle-shaped jumper. A characteristic feature is the presence of an external seam that holds the block and the upper part of the moccasin together. Sometimes there is decorative lacing.

Loafers, unlike moccasins, have a rigid sole and heel. Most often, loafers are made of tougher leather than moccasins. This is the most formal shoe among the three types of shoes.

Top siders also differ from moccasins in having a thicker and stiffer sole. A characteristic feature of top siders is a white corrugated sole that does not slip on the deck of a yacht or ship. In addition, there is a lacing on the top-siders, which fulfills its intended purpose - it secures the shoes to the foot. In the case of moccasins, lacing is a decorative element.

Today, the most popular style of moccasin is for driving. Technically, this is not a real moccasin, but rather a new type created by the owner of the Italian company Tod's - Diego Della Vale. His father owned a shoe company that made exclusive shoes for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. At the age of 16, he came across an interesting pair of moccasins that were made in Portugal. Although they were poorly made, he considered them an interesting specimen and brought them home. Today they are the core of the Tod's brand.

Toda's driving moccasins have rubber spikes on the soles. Usually they are used as casual summer shoes in which you can drive a car or just walk. Unfortunately, these shoes wear out quickly and cannot be restored. Most people give them up as soon as the spikes wear out. Sometimes, the shoemaker will be able to glue or sew on a new, more durable sole, however, in doing so, he will affect the character of the shoe.

Finding moccasins can be a challenge. The problem of too much choice among the thousands of brands represented in all price categories.

What to wear with moccasins

Due to the fact that moccasins differ from each other in model, leather quality, color and various decorative elements, some may be appropriate with, others exclusively with.

Moccasins in classic business colors (black, brown, navy blue, burgundy, burgundy, amber, emerald) with a minimum of decorative elements will fit under and business dress code, where a classic suit is appropriate. Tassel loafers are also suitable, as this decorative element is borrowed from loafers - the most formal type of shoe from the summer "casual three".

However, do not show up in moccasins for important business meetings, it is better to wear loafers.

Sports moccasins, which are sometimes difficult to distinguish from light leather sneakers, are appropriate to wear with breeches, shorts, jeans. It is convenient to take long walks in sports moccasins, but it is better not to run. As you remember, the lacing is decorative and you can easily lose your boot while running.

Non-standard moccasins made of suede, velor, velveteen or just bright colors (red moccasins also belong here), look good in smart-casual and casual styles. I think bright moccasins are a great reason to diversify your everyday look. Wear casual chinos, a t-shirt with an interesting pattern, a blazer, or unusual, bright loafers. In my opinion, if not in the summer to carry out such experiments with style, then when?!

Digressing from the topic, are moccasins suitable for spring, autumn or winter? The answer is simple - no. Although there are moccasins with fur, I can hardly imagine a person in a coat, tied with a scarf and moccasins. You do not go, I hope, in boots in the summer? So don’t wear moxas in winter ... well, unless you got into a car in a warm parking lot, went to a shopping center or a club, then you can;)

Are moccasins worn with socks

A very popular question. Usually moccasins are worn without socks, but this is not a panacea. Recently, people have come up with the idea of ​​wearing very short socks that do not peek out from under the shoes. In addition, you can wear colored socks for the chosen style.

Personally, in the city it is more convenient for me to wear moccasins with socks, because after 2-3 hours of walking my legs sweat and you can earn yourself a couple of corns. On the beach, it is more convenient to wear moccasins without socks, as walks can be alternated with gatherings in a cafe and your feet do not have time to sweat. In addition, without socks, the feet are fresher from a light breeze.

It is important to note that we are only talking about genuine leather moccasins. Only in moccasins made of genuine leather can you hope that your feet will be naturally ventilated.

Top brands of moccasins

To date, the production of moccasins is centralized in three places: USA, Europe, Australia. Over the past 100 years, the moccasin race has included both big-name brands and small-town factories that are mono-produced (i.e. they only produce moccasins and nothing else). So, let's start looking at each continent separately.

American moccasins

A distinctive feature of moccasins from the USA is practicality and comfort. The most famous manufacturers of American moccasins:

• Allen Edmonds is one of the few companies that has survived the threshold of 100 years of existence and still makes quality shoes.
• Bass has a good range and relatively low prices for quality shoes.
• Sebago - you need bison leather shoes, this is for them.
• Timberland - they don’t seem to sell moccasins, but there are top siders.
• Florsheim is an old company where you can buy loafers and top siders.
• Minnetonka Moccasin is the first brand in the US to officially launch moccasins.
• Hush Puppies - make good casual shoes, including moccasins.

European moccasins

Moccasins from Europe are characterized by their style and model diversity. Writing the advantages and disadvantages of each brand is a utopian task, so we will simply list them.

• There are many brands from Italy: Tods, Gucci, Zegna, Fratelli Rosetti, Moreschi, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Dsquared², A. Testoni, Alberto Guardiani, Costume National, Trussardi.
• French moccasin brands: Hermes, J. B. Weston, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Lacoste.
• English moccasins: Wirdsmith, Richmond.
• German moccasins: Harai, Adidas, Hugo Boss.
• Moccasins from Spain: Zara, Balenciaga.

Australian moccasins

On the most remote continent, there is only one manufacturer of moccasins - Ugg Australia. Yes, yes, they also make uggs. By the way, it is Ugg Australia that produces moccasins with fur.

Finally

Moccasins are one of the oldest types of shoes, along with sandals or wicker shoes. While Archimedes made discoveries in physics, mathematics, laid the foundations in mechanics and hydrostatics, Indians from North America have been wearing moxas for thousands of years. The conclusion is simple: moccasins are shoes for all time, which will not be easy to refuse, it is worth putting them on once.

(American Indian Art Magazine, Summer, 1977)

The study of moccasins presents a challenge to both collectors and students of American Indian art. Apparently, the countless styles of moccasins are the cause of confusion when trying to determine tribal affiliation. However, paying attention to tailoring (cutting), materials and ornament, this can be sorted out. Time and effort will not leave you without a reward.

Plains Indian moccasins with decorated soles have attracted collectors' interest for many years. As a rule, the soles were embroidered with beads, but sometimes porcupine quills were used for this. A sufficient number of moccasins of this type have survived to this day, they can be seen in many museums and many private collections. Samples are presented in modern expositions organized by museums and in exhibition catalogs. They are also listed in many auction catalogs and hold a fairly high price at the time of sale. The interest in these moccasins has created some misunderstandings that cause concern for people who seriously study the art of the Indians.
In an attempt to provide a simple explanation for this type of moccasin decoration, merchants, writers and collectors have coined incorrect terms, which we see also used by many museums, confident in the reliability of these misleading terms. Some of them define moccasins with decorated soles as "ceremonial", "wedding" and "funeral". The use of these terms gives the impression that such moccasins were made specifically for this purpose. This is not true. I am not saying that they were never worn during religious events or during a Christian marriage ceremony, or were not put on the feet of the deceased before burial. However, these moccasins were not made for these specific purposes and cannot be called that.
The most exaggerated name is "ceremonial". It is used as a convenient interpretation for all kinds of Indian objects (things) that seem unusual. It is time for us to use this word more carefully. The name "wedding moccasins" should be immediately ruled out as a misnomer. It is enough to see children's moccasins in the center of PHOTO No. 2.
The term "burial moccasins" is dramatic, conjuring up a "chief" dressed in pompous attire for a journey into the Lands of the Happy Hunt. The reason for this is Hollywood, although it originates at an earlier time. The term may have come from an overzealous merchant explaining to his customers that it is impossible to wear loafers with beaded or needle-decorated soles. Some studies give reason to refute the opinion that such moccasins were intended for the dead. In remote groups (communities) in geographically scattered settlements, it was the responsibility of family and friends to prepare the body of a deceased person for burial. And this had to be done immediately. There is simply no time to make and decorate such shoes. Making moccasins in anticipation of the death of a person is not typical of the Indians and implausible. Often there are dolls on which moccasins are completely embroidered with beads. That the Indians could decorate their children's toys in a manner associated with death seems unlikely. Traces of wear are visible on many moccasins of this kind. Inside moccasins, stains from dampness or sweating of the feet are often visible. The wear on the outer sides of the soles is more than obvious. And it is quite common to see worn beads due to wearing moccasins on an uneven surface. Two pairs of moccasins, presented in PHOTO #3 and #4, show severe damage, in large spaces the beads have completely worn off. The article is accompanied by several photographs that clearly show living Indians wearing moccasins with decorated soles.
One can only guess when the idea of ​​decorating the soles of moccasins came to life. I have examined moccasins with decorated soles in many museums and private collections and found that the vast majority of them were made by westerners or teton sioux. I believe they came up with the idea during the early reservation period, a time of great change and stress for the sioux. The destruction of the old social system led to new realities of life. The popularity of Grass Dance spread, Pow Wow became more socially significant. This was important for the self-esteem of the individual and the collective reputation, for the people to believe in their future.
The limitations of reservation life ensured that the sioux women had ample time to make intricate beaded and quilled objects. It was a time of experimentation and innovation in their crafts and arts. The widespread acceptance of factory fabrics obtained from the government, from merchants, or from ordinary reservation shops, introduced new patterns and methods of sewing. There is an extensive range of sioux-made items that are not found in collections of things made before 1880, but are visible in photographs taken before that time. These are trousers, vests, jackets (coats), gloves, hoods for women and short pants for boys.
A distinctive feature of the sioux art of the time is fully beaded pieces. Traditional items such as women's dresses, baby cradles, pipe bags and moccasins were decorated in this way. The idea of ​​full beading extended to commercial items such as small suitcases, pewter (tin) cups (mugs), and even glass bottles. The all-over moccasin decoration, including the soles, is just another example of the sioux style of beading that was popular at the time.
The few other tribal examples I have seen all come from the Fort Belknap, Montana reservation. They were made by gross ventre or assiniboin women. Fort Belknap was originally a gross ventre reservation. Later part of assiniboin was also registered here. The close association of these two tribes led to the development of a style of reservation art that was fully established around 1890. In the extensive collection of photographs taken at Fort Belknap by Sumner W. Matteson in 1905(06?), I could not find any difference in their art. I prefer to identify the specimens presented here as the Fort Belknap style unless there is information indicating tribal origin. Reservation style development occurs on several reservations inhabited by more than one tribal group. Limited knowledge and confusion about the arts and crafts featured at Fort Belknap has led to many specimens being misidentified as blackfeet. While sioux moccasins with decorated soles are commonplace, examples from Fort Belknap are not common. One pair of moccasins, attributed to assiniboin, is on display at the North Dakota Historical Museum in Bismark. Another pair can be seen at the Indian & Fur Trade Museum in Medora, North Dakota. Another pair is shown here (see PHOTO #4).

There are several publications illustrated with fully embroidered moccasins, which are attributed to other tribes, which do not coincide with earlier references. After careful examination of these photographs, I came to the conclusion that the identification was incorrect and that they were sioux moccasins. These inaccuracies probably follow from the collection history: samples were often incorrectly identified by the place of their purchase (on the reservation) ...
Moccasins with decorated soles were made for a short period of time, from the early 1880s until about 1910, when they fell out of fashion. This is exactly the period when sioux artists and craftsmen were so productive. This style of moccasin decoration certainly developed among the western sioux, with much of the work being done on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. For some inexplicable reason, this style spread from sioux to Fort Belknap where it was popular. a short time, and then went out of fashion, like sioux. Interestingly, two photographs of men wearing moccasins with beaded soles (PHOTO No. 5 and 6) were taken on the same day, July 4, 1905. One pair was made at Fort Belknap and the other at Kyle, Pine Ridge Reservation.
Of the nine pairs of moccasins presented in this article, seven are western, or teton sioux. One pair belongs to the Orientals, or santee sioux. And another one from the Fort Belknap, Montana reservation. There are no collectible histories for any of these moccasins except for the pair in PHOTO #2, far right, which was acquired by artist Joseph Scheurele in the Pine Ridge reservation around 1905.
Five pairs of western sioux moccasins are very typical of them. They are all made of cowhide (livestock) and cut to the standard two-piece pattern for the plains, common to hard-soled moccasins. The tongues are sewn on in all cases. Every pair of moccasins with beaded or needle-embroidered soles that I have examined have soft leather soles. However, due to earlier inaccurate descriptions of this type of moccasin, the reader may be led to believe that the soles were made from rawhide. Four pairs of moccasins have decorated tongues, standard for moccasins of this type. Embroidered with lazy stitch, tendons. Most rows (stripes) of beads are of normal width, but in some places there are rows (stripes) of beads wider, used to fill free space. The moccasins in PHOTO No. 3 are somewhat unusual, with a short fringe laced to the front. This pair of moccasins has an unusually wide row of green beads surrounding the moccasin, which is sewn in the middle with the so-called crow stitch. Faceted brass beads were used on one pair of moccasins (PHOTO #2, right). Faceted metal beads, brass and iron (?), came into use around 1890 and were popular with the sioux. It is found on a variety of items and can help determine their age. It is interesting to note the tendency of the sioux during this period to increase the number of horizontal rows (bands) of beads around the perimeter of the moccasins. This reduces the embroidery space on the front of the moccasin and increases the height of the border. When a triangular pattern is used on the border of moccasins, it often gives them an unmistakably Cheyenne look (PHOTO #7). If the identification is based only on this feature, then it may be erroneous.
Two samples of needle-embroidered moccasins with decorated soles are presented in this article. Both pairs belong to the western sioux and are cut according to the standard pattern for the plains from two pieces of leather. They are made of cowhide, tendons are used. On one pair (PHOTO No. 9), the top of the moccasins is decorated with beads and needles, the soles are decorated with beads. Decorated buckskin tongues. An interesting variation of the US flag on the front in yellow and blue (cyan) colors (PHOTO No. 10). Flag poles extend from the horns of an ornament depicting a horned headdress. On the top of the moccasins there is a “fringe” wrapped with needles. The use of patriotic symbols in beadwork and needlework was popular with the sioux at the time and appears on a large number of items they made. (“The American Indian and the American Flag” Flint, Michigan, 1975) The soles of one pair of moccasins are decorated with porcupine quills, and this is unusual (PHOTO #8). Stripes embroidered with yellow, red and magenta (violet) needles are on the front and on the soles. Along the perimeter of the soles there is a border of turquoise-blue beads. A short extension is added to the tops of the moccasins, a narrow ribbon of black fabric is sewn into the seam.
A pair of moccasins, identified as oriental sioux, is the most unusual (PHOTO #1). They were made around 1890 from deerskin. Made from two pieces. In this pattern, the tongue is part of the top, a third piece of leather is added (sewn) to the top of the moccasins. The main beading technique on the top of the moccasins is applique, both tendons and threads (cotton) are used. Ornament - stylized flower. On the soles there is a geometric ornament, lazy stitch embroidery with sinews. The tribal affiliation of these moccasins is in doubt. It is believed that they were made by a fugitive (refugee) santee, who settled in one of the sioux reservations in South Dakota. These moccasins are cut and embellished in a style that shows mixed influences.
Many Santee were displaced by the Minnesota Rebellion in 1862. Some fled to Canada, others west to the Dakotas and Montana. The impressions of their wanderings were reflected in the development of a later interesting and distinctive decorative style. Ornaments were usually stylized or abstract florals in both beads and needles. Glass fine-cut beads were often used.
This article presents not only sioux moccasins. In PHOTO No. 4, gross ventre or assiniboin moccasins from the Fort Belknap reservation. Made around 1890 from deerskin, two-piece pattern with sewn on tongues. The embroidery technique is mainly applique, the border is embroidered with a lazy stitch. Geometric ornament. Both tendons and threads (cotton) are used.

The moccasin photographs used in this article are courtesy of Joan Heim, except for PHOTO #4.

(Translated by Filin, 2010)

1) Moccasins. Eastern Sioux (?). Around 1890 Chandler-Pohrt Collection. Glass fine-cut beads and metal beads (brass and iron) are used in a stylized floral pattern on the top of the moccasins and in a geometric pattern on the soles. (See also cover).

2) Three pairs of moccasins: adults' moccasins on the left and right, children's in the center. Western sioux, circa 1890. Chandler-Pohrt Collection. Acquired by artist Joseph Scheuerle at Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, circa 1905.

3) Moccasins, western sioux, circa 1890. Chandler-Pohrt collection. The fringe is added to the front of the moccasins, which is unusual.

4) Gross ventre - assiniboin, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana, circa 1890 Chandler-Pohrt Institute, Lessard Collection, Mission, South Dakota. Noticeable damage to the beadwork on the sole.

5) Celebration on July 4th, 1905(06?) Reservation Fort Belknap, Montana. Gross ventre and assiniboin. The man in the center is wearing moccasins with decorated soles. Photograph by Sumner(a) W. Matteson, the negative of this photograph is the property of the Milwaukee Public Museum.

6) July 4th, 1905(06?) celebration at Kyle, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Western sioux. Moccasins with decorated soles are visible in the lower left corner of the photo. Photo by Fannie Hoyt, Chandler-Pohrt collection.

7) Moccasins. Western sioux, circa 1890. Chandler-Pohrt Collection. Four rows (stripes) of beads on the moccasin border.

8) Moccasins. Western sioux, circa 1890. Chandler-Pohrt Collection. Both the soles and the top of the moccasins are decorated with stripes embroidered with porcupine quills.

9) Moccasins. Western sioux, circa 1890. Chandler-Pohrt Collection. The fronts of these moccasins are decorated with needles, and the soles are decorated with beads. An enlarged image of embroidery with needles on PHOTO No. 10, and embroidery with beads on PHOTO No. 11.

In pre-colonial and colonial times, moccasins were used by Indians in almost all of what is now the United States and Canada. They were less common in California, on the northwest coast, on the Plateau, where not only in warm weather they preferred to walk barefoot, but also in winter, using moccasins only to protect their feet from rough ground and in severe frosts. In the Southwestern United States, woven and leather sandals were used in antiquity. Various woven shoes were also used in the Southeast, where leather moccasins, apparently, began to spread only about 1000 years ago. And also throughout the southern part of the mainland, it was often preferred to walk barefoot. And for women, wearing moccasins was even less typical. Moccasins were also used by European settlers, especially hunters, trappers, explorers, and others.

Different tribes had their own traditional ways of cutting moccasins. Initially, only rawhide of deer, elk, bison, less often beaver or other animals was used, but quite early the Indians also began to use purchased tanned skins. Initially, moccasins were sewn only with the help of an awl or piercing with sinew threads, vegetable fibers and leather straps, or they used needles made of bone, forged copper. Porcupine quills and plant thorns were also used. Later, steel needles and factory threads appeared.

The shoes of the peoples of the North and the Far East have a certain resemblance to Indian moccasins. Southwest moccasins have counterparts in northern Africa.

Cut features

One-piece moccasins with center seam embellished with porcupine quills, East Woodland, XVIII or early. 19th century

Loafers with soft soles

In the forest zone and originally on the Great Plains, moccasins were made entirely of soft suede rawhide. buckskin, deerskin), devoid of the front surface. The skin was oriented with the bakhtarma inward. Patterns and, accordingly, finished products from different tribes differed in shape, small details and ornamentation. Although this does not exclude the use of several types of cuts in one tribe, since similar types of moccasins were used by the most different nations. But each pair of moccasins is usually very individual.

More often completely or with the exception of small details, moccasins were cut from one piece of material. Archaic is widespread among Eastern Forest Tribes, to a lesser extent in the Plains (Eastern Sioux) and also known in California and the Northwest Coast. the simplest option moccasin with one vertical seam forming folds (small or very large) in the middle of the instep ( puckered-center-seam-style). There is a second seam at the back. Lillooet, Nootka, Cherokee, Seminole, Alabama, Muscogee moccasins of this style (they are also called "swamp moccasins") were more often sewn not with veins, but with leather straps. At the same time, instead of a knot on the toe itself, a smooth or serrated extended tip of the strap remains. In the Southeast, the soles of moccasins could be coated with tree resin for protection. Moccasins with a central seam until the middle of the 18th century. worn by the Apaches. They are preserved for ritual dance by the Navajo and as ceremonial dance by the Osage. The latter are sewn together through only four pairs of holes in front and two pairs in the back using pieces of coarse veins. Such a cut of the modoki complemented chopped off toe, but only on summer moccasins. Also the simplest, kuapo moccasins and women's osage, however, they have a seam that runs not along the rise, but along the sole. Later, the old style often began to be replaced by moccasins of other cuts.

On the northern and central plains, as well as in the forest zone and in the mountains, many tribes used moccasins made of one piece of soft leather, having a side seam passing along the toe and then only from the outside to the heel. They often had a one-piece tongue, but it could also be sewn on or absent altogether. It is believed that under the influence European shoes it was moccasins with a side seam that became the model for moccasins with a hard sole (mainly on the plains). Soft moccasins of the old type with a side seam have not disappeared from use. So among the Blackfoot they got the name "real moccasins." This cut was also preserved for winter moccasins made with fur inside.

Apparently, patching worn moccasins with soft soles was not common, but some Indians (for example, modocs), after the moccasins were worn, sewed on a hard sole. And since the soles of both types wore out quickly, when going on a campaign, the warrior had more than one pair of spare moccasins. If the sole of an embroidered moccasin with a hard sole was rubbed, then it was thrown away, and the decorated top was used again.

In moccasins with a median cut at the instep, into which the lower wedge-shaped part of the tongue is sewn, not only soft, but also hard soles were used. Moccasins with hard soles of Mescalero Apaches have a long and narrow insert, in utes it is shorter, and in Osage the cut is left open, without a tongue, but there are holes for a lace in its lower part.

Apache boots painted with paint

Pants with Athabaskan moccasins

High moccasins

Often moccasins do not have decorative, but such ankle flaps or cuffs of different heights, which, if they are not embroidered, can be raised or wrapped down. Decorated cuffs, rather, were always turned up. Covering the bottom of the leggings, they save from the cold and snow. Sometimes there are cuffs and decorative lapels. Sometimes solid cuffs are sewn to the neck without a cut in front and they are half bent outwards. Vertical seam style moccasins ( puckered-center-seam-style) are cut in one piece with cuffs. High cuffs can sometimes have extensions at the front to help wrap them tighter. Raised cuffs are tied with long laces ( ankle band).

Since the end of the 19th century, there have been specimens fastened on the side or front with copper or any other buttons. A rare variant is the clasp on a pair of Cheyenne moccasins. They have a beaded strap sewn to the raised rounded fabric cuff only in the area of ​​the heel seam. The front strap fastens with a button. With ordinary narrow cuffs, one button and a loop are located at their upper corners. At higher cuffs, the buttons are located on their extensions. There are already two to five of them. On one pair of non-Persian high loafers, they even form a tight row of 11 pieces. This is already a transitional option for the next type of moccasins. A button closure can sometimes be used in conjunction with lacing.

In the tribes of the southern Great Plains (Kiowa, Comanches, Southern Cheyenne), partly of the Southwest (Apache), for unmarried women, moccasins (both with soft and hard soles) can be sewn with leggings that are held by garters under the knees. Leggings often have a slit at the side or near the front that is closed with buttons (sometimes forming a tight row), tied with leather ties, or simply wrapped and wrapped with laces. When using ties, a pair of rows of brass buttons can be sewn onto the valve only for beauty. The top of the bootlegs is often wrapped down and decorated with fringes. Some leggings without a cut have a full leg length, which is confirmed by their continuous ornamentation. For others, the length is much reduced, as it is designed to wrap the bootleg out and down. Wrapping can be multi-layered (down-up or down-up-down-up). At the same time, ornamented and empty surfaces are distributed in such a way that it is the ornamented ones that are on the outside. In other tribes, leggings and moccasins were not sewn together (some tribes of the Plains, Plateau and Great Basin). The Arapaho and the Blackfoot used both options. Sew-on leggings were sometimes cloth.

Moccasins of the Southwest (Pueblo, Navajo, Apache, Paiute, Walapai, Yuma) have high cuffs that are tied or fastened on the side with buttons, for example, from German silver(nickel silver) or Navajo silver work. Although at the beginning of the 20th century there were Apache moccasins with a front closure (complemented with a lace encircling the moccasins at the level of the fold of the foot). (Rarely, at the beginning of the 20th century, and among more northern Indians, low tops without lapels could also be fastened with buttons on the side.) women's moccasins similar cut have one very long cuff made of thick leather white color, which is wrapped several times around the leg and tied with a strap below and above the knee. But there is also an option when the windings in the form of narrower stripes or bandages of the same skin are not connected to the cuffs of high moccasins. Often, both men's and women's moccasins of the Southwest are knee-high boots with one-piece shafts or similarly fastened at the side. In the Navajo and Pueblo they are sometimes only mid-calf high. If such boots made of soft leather do not have ties on top, then their tops fall down like an accordion. The tops are either sewn separately to the boots, or cut with them as one piece. In the latter version, sewing goes directly to the sole.

Also in the forest regions (Atabaskans and Mikmaks), in addition to ordinary moccasins with soft soles, knee-length boots were also known, and the Athabaskans also had shoes that were one with the pants. That is, moccasins were sewn to the trousers. Winter option usually sewn from skins with fur inside. The furs of various animals were used. Moccasins could also be made of fish skin. The soles of the stockings were sewn separately, from the same " rovduga" or from the skin of a bear and a beluga whale (coastal athabaskans). In different Athabascan tribes, such trousers were worn either only by women in winter in a dwelling, or by men and women at different times of the year. In wet weather, over ordinary shoes, they also put on "... upper torbasas made of fish skins."

In the later period, Canadian white hunters and Indians (Cree) began to use high moccasin boots (English moccasin boots, plainsman style) with a tightening lacing of the European type in front, along the entire shaft.

Lacing

Moccasin with lace-up cuff Thomas Bateman

A feature of moccasins is that they usually do not have cross-lacing through parallel rows of holes. In plain types, laces (leather straps) are passed through two or four (occasionally more) paired supporting holes (cuts) located around the neck in the middle of the height of the moccasin. The laces tie in the crook of the foot or rise a little higher to the corners of the slit through a pair of double eyelets. Less often, the entire lace passes under the very neck of the moccasin. Sometimes the laces are also passed through a pair of holes on the tongue or passed through single holes on opposite upper corners of the cut. It happens that they do not cover the back of the moccasins, but are fixed in the holes on the sides with the help of knots. If there are only two holes at the corners of the front cut, then short ties are passed through them and tied. Or the ties are double and held in the holes with knots. Although there is an option when two ties are used: a long one - from the bottom through the supporting holes and a short one - through the upper corner holes. The laces are tied in front with a bow (with two laces - two bows).

Often a cloth tape, narrow or wide, is used for the sling. It can also pass under the lowered lapel. A fabric ribbon is also sewn along the edge of the entire neck like a fringe, and its free ends form ties. But in the same place, the lapel can form a drawstring stitched with threads, through which a leather lace is passed. More rarely, short ribbon ties are simply sewn to the front corners of the neckline.

Moccasins with high cuffs have a much longer drawstring so that they can be wrapped around the calf to hold the cuffs up. They are also passed through paired or single holes, which are in their usual place or higher, at the bottom of the cuffs. Similar moccasins montagnier and naskapi may have leather loops instead of holes, which contributes to tightness. Cuffs with front lugs may have lugs at the ends that aid in tying. In moccasins of the forest tribes, a long leather lace can simply (without supporting holes) wrap the neck a couple of times at the junction with the cuff raised up. The laces can be skipped not only from back to front, but also from front to back. According to the second option, the laces are passed through only two front holes, cross and go back. They cover the cuffs twice without the use of additional holes and are tied in front. Another option is when the lace goes as usual from back to front, makes a turn and ties at the back.

Moccasins-boots are also tied at the junction of the foot and lower leg. They just do not require such long laces. In the Southwest, moccasin-boot laces can be passed not just through holes, but through loops formed by strips of leather or drawstrings from rows of four strands of beads. If the tops are made of sufficiently soft leather, then they also have holding ties along the top of the tops. If the upper part has a lapel, then the lace is hidden under it. To support it, there is sometimes a pair of double holes near the lapel cut.

The oldest known moccasins also have bandages through the sole and instep, which was not practiced later. There are examples of imitation of the European way of lacing through holes (Hurons) and through three pairs of brass rings sewn on the central section (Iroquois). European style lacing stand out late style high moccasin boots plainsman. They do not have a cut in front along the entire bootleg, but two folds or sewn strips of leather with holes along the edges, through which cross-lacing is made.

Decoration

Hopi dance men's moccasins. End of the 19th century

Comanche Dusters, 1880-1890

The design of the moccasin followed the prevailing tribal style and used the symbols of this tribe. At the same time, the specifically embedded meaning of the pattern was often clear only to the owner himself. Moccasins are often embroidered with beads, dyed porcupine quills and elk hair, among other materials, and patterned with paint. The latter was typical, for example, for the tribes of the northeastern coast of the United States and Canada in the 17th century. The design has a certain symbolic meaning. Also, moccasins are dyed in whole or in part. Smoking also adds color, although from time to time there was a fashion - including during the reservation period - for the use of white leather. Lapels of moccasins are also sometimes embroidered, for example, with porcupine quills. Sometimes lapels are made of fabric or sheathed with fabric appliqué. But high folding cuffs, with rare exceptions, do not decorate. The long tongue of the moccasin is often embroidered with beads. A stripe of lazy stitch beadwork can cover the lace that runs around the neck, forming a kind of drawstring, solid or from separate fragments. The laces themselves can also be decorated. The back part, which is not tied, is occasionally wrapped with colored porcupine quills, and the laces of modern Athabascan moccasins are decorated at the ends with tassels of colored woolen threads. In the steppe tribes, since 1880 (on reservations), even the soles of moccasins were embroidered with beads (rarely with porcupine quills). It is believed that they were intended for funeral, wedding and other ceremonies, although it is known that they were walked. An exceptionally rare adornment is the perforation of the top of a moccasin (the Blackfoot Bears military society).

The tribes of the southern plains (Comanche, Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Wichita, Tonkawa, less Apache) are characterized by the so-called "dusters" (English dusters, literally - dusters) - moccasins with a long fringe on the instep and a vertical heel seam . The fringe on the heel seam may not be cut completely, but in such a way that a wide whole flap remains on top. The fringe on the rise can be replaced by a row of hanging tin cones. Some soft partridge-style Ojibwe moccasins have a not very long fringe along the center seam.

Occasionally, flat moccasins with a hard sole are decorated with a short fringe around the entire sole, which is cut from a protruding welt strip. But for moccasins with a hard sole, as well as for soft ones with an outer side seam, this fringe can be quite long. At the same time, it is complicated by the transverse connection of all the fringes with a cord and winding each at the base with porcupine quills. Such a fringe does not capture the inside of the moccasin, but it can be complemented by an incredibly long fringe on the vertical heel seam. Moccasins with soft soles were decorated with a short fringe along the circular side seam of Plateau (British Columbia) nlaka-pamuki. It was either applied over the seam, or also sewn in as a welt. The fringe was made circular, limited to the outer side, or occupied only part of the outer side seam.

Moccasins of the steppe tribes sometimes have on the heel, in the center of the sole seam, a fringe of just one or two or three short or long stripes. In the Blackfoot, the heel fringe is partially wrapped with porcupine quills or beads, and is cross-connected with large beads. Or beads are strung on fringes. For moccasins with soft soles, such a pattern element as a heel tongue may not be sewn on, but left free ( trailer), in the form of a simple square of skin or cut into cloves or fringes. Also left hanging on the heel are not completely removed moon-shaped cutouts, which are obtained with a T-shaped seam. Very rarely, the neck of a moccasin is cut into a fringe.

The Cheyenne had decoration for the best men's moccasins in the form of buffalo tails sewn to the heels or strips from the beard of a bison, which dragged along the ground. A similar design of moccasins could refer to the system of gradation of feats. So, the tails of a coyote, skunk or fox were sewn to the moccasins, denoting the killed enemies (for the Crow, each of them meant one feat). Bodmer's paintings show how they were attached to the back of the heels or to the neck, or to the side - to the outer corner of the lapel. Other decorations of mandan and hidatsa moccasins are also captured there: wide false fur lapels (which can be either with short hair or very long) and very long outer ends of such lapels dragging a ribbon along the ground. The latter are also fur, but on the other hand they are painted red and decorated with embroidery along the edge. Such lapels may not be connected to moccasins, but fastened over them with their own strings. They were made with fur outward or inward. Such decorations made of bear fur, along with claws, were used, for example, by Sioux shamans. The mandans also have an even more bulky decoration. A tail is attached to the heels, which has a red color, elongated with an ornament with four hair strands at the end, which are decorated with their usual winding and beads.

On the southern plains, the flaps of the leggings of high women's moccasins were often decorated with 1-3 rows of metal plaques made of cupronickel, copper, brass or silver, smooth or ornamented. Loops for fastening were soldered on their reverse side. Navajo craftsmen made plaques from silver ingots, while the rest used converted ones from coins. From cheaper metals, the Indians stamped and turned plaques themselves, until they switched to more beautiful purchased ones.

Moccasins of the southwestern cut often do not decorate at all. The only decoration can be round plaques made of silver or cupronickel, which serve as clasps. But for the Southwest, the use of color is especially characteristic. For example, among the Pueblo women's moccasins have a sole painted black paint or red ocher, while the top and leggings are naturally white. (The toe of a moccasin can be colored.) Men's moccasins (for Pueblo Zuni, Akoma, Hopi and Navajo), on the contrary, have a light sole, and the top of the toe and sometimes the top are brown, red, blue, less often black. But the embellishments of men's Hopi and Zuni dance moccasins can be more elaborate. This also applies to the use of beads, and coloring (in squares or in the form of patterns), and other elements, for example, lapels on the tops, fringes. They have a decorative leather tongue in the middle of the instep, usually multi-layered, and their back part is covered with a kind of decoration in the form of a loosely fastened leather strip embroidered with colored threads using the macrame technique, beads or porcupine quills. Men's dance moccasins could be painted completely white on top, except for the cuffs of the tops, which were red with yellow edging and a multi-colored tongue. Ornamental non-functional tongues were also featured on high yak moccasins. The kicker was also occasionally decorated. On its front surface, in-depth patterns (Apache) were cut out and covered with paint.

Nowadays, high windings of women's pueblo moccasins are decorated with beads, which was not done before. Athapascan boots are richly decorated with embroidery and furs. There are examples when modern Indians embroider with beads and other shoes, usually sneakers, which gives them the appearance of moccasins. And Seton-Thompson advised children playing Indians to paint shoes under moccasins.

The oldest finds

Currently, the oldest known moccasins are found in a cave Hogap, Utah, moccasins dating back to 420 AD.

In the early 1930s in a cave on Cape Promontory An 800-year-old hoard of 250 moccasins has been discovered in the Great Salt Lake. They belong to the same-named culture promontory, chronologically located between the prehistoric Fremont culture and the historical Shoshone. Shoes are made in the style of "wrinkled toe", later characteristic of the tribes of the northwest coast (Tlingit, Tsimshians). There are children's and adult sizes. The material was the skin of a bison, as well as a deer, elk, pronghorn and bear. Sewn with veins and plant fibers. There are traces of repair. Many moccasins have insoles made from ground juniper bark. Some are fringed and have remnants of porcupine quill embroidery.

Fremont style moccasin from Hogap Cave, Utah, 420.



Moccasin style " hockey» from Hogap Cave, Utah, 420 Buffalo skin, grass stuffing



Moccasins from Promontory Cave I, Utah, 1225-1275.



Moccasin from Promontory Cave I, Utah, 1225-1275. Buffalo skin with wool inside and wool stuffing

Fancy moccasins

The Iroquois, in addition to ordinary moccasins, also had a peculiar old look. For him, they used a part of a whole skin from the lower leg of the hind leg of an elk, which has a suitable shape for this. Sometimes moccasins were made from the hind legs of a bear, and along with the claws. The clawed feet of large turtles were used in a similar way.

Moccasins with a hard sole could have a canvas top instead of leather - a variant of summer or poor shoes.

When repairing moccasins, the Indians could hem parts from old European boots to them (namely, the upper half with holes for lacing).

Woven moccasins

Among the Iroquois and other eastern tribes, woven moccasins made from corn leaves and wood fibers are known. It is believed that similar shoes were also used to protect leather moccasins.

Woven moccasins as a type of winter footwear or footwear for crossing rough terrain or through crusted snow were known in California, the Great Basin and the Plateau among the Modocs, Nlaka Pamuk, Shoshone, Klamath, Paiute. For difficult transitions, they could have a couple or two more in reserve. They were woven from the bark of some species of wormwood (for example, lat. Artemisia tridentata); from different types of marsh plants: a local species of sedge - body(lat. Schoenoplectus acutus), rush; in the south of the region (southern Paiutes) - from yucca; as well as other herbs. Unlike simple sandals, they were made with closed insteps or in the form of slippers and differed in several ways of weaving. Their early examples have been preserved from the Paleo-Indians, and the later ones were already influenced by Euro-American shoes.

Moccasins woven from sedge could be worn continuously for 10-20 days, and from wormwood - a little longer, but they were more laborious to manufacture. They were insulated with bark, fur or dry grass. It is believed that moccasins made of wormwood keep warm better, even after getting wet. The Nlaka Pamuk made not only low shoes from sagebrush, but also taller boots and even boots. Sometimes they were decorated with small feathers. The boots were supplemented with leather details: on the toe and bordered with a cut at the instep, which made it possible to make the usual lacing.

Use of moccasins

Many moccasins have a very long rise and a correspondingly small neck. To put on such a moccasin, you need to bend the back part inward and insert your foot like a slipper, and then pull the heel.

Thin raw material of moccasins easily gets wet, but they are also easy to dry. Usually they are hung over the hearth, where they are further treated with smoke.

In the northern regions, in winter, they wear moccasins made of skin with wool - fur inside, which is also observed on the oldest surviving samples made from bison skin. Less often they sewed with fur outside - to protect against water. Moreover, fur moccasins were preferred by women. It depends on the region, but still the additional insulation of leather moccasins was uncharacteristic. This was done with woven shoes. In winter, wool, dry marsh grass, wormwood fibers were stuffed into such moccasins, fur insoles were inserted. In mild weather, they managed only with stuffing under the foot, and in cold weather they also insulated the upper part, for example, with wormwood fibers. In colder areas and in leather moccasins, socks made of thin leather, groundhog or rabbit fur were worn and are now worn. They do without socks, but at the same time moccasins are made of double-thickness leather. Currently, in the northern Canadian forests, several thin felt inlays are used in the winter, which have the same cut as the moccasins themselves.

The northeastern forest tribes (Ojibwe and others) sometimes tied strips of fur to the soles of their moccasins to keep them from slipping on the ice.

Since moccasins usually have gaps between the tongue and sidewalls where debris and snow can get in, some white users sewed leather triangles into these places.

In order for new moccasins to take the form of a foot more quickly, they sometimes begin to wear a new pair with soles that have not yet dried out (Sioux, Crow). Also, moccasins can be worn in the process of wearing. And, for example, Crow women, who preferred tight moccasins, recut them for themselves several times.

Distribution of shoes in North America

Moccasins or loafers. Today I would like to make a short excursion into moccasins.

First, we will discuss the rich history of this type of footwear.

Secondly, consider how to choose, wear and buy men's moccasins.

What are moccasins?

Moccasins have a long history. But first, let's figure out what this term actually means. Encyclopedia Britannica describes moccasins as “heelless shoes made of soft leather, the sole of which can be hard or soft and flexible. The upper part of moccasins is often decorated with embroidery, beads or other ornaments.

Note that some people claim that authentic moccasins do not have a separate sole. And, in part, this is true. Moccasins of many Indian tribes did not have hard soles. Because of their soft leather instead, they were ideal for woodlands and hunting. Often a separate sole made of bison skin was attached to them. Thus, moccasins were ideal footwear for hunters and warriors, allowing them to stealthily and silently approach their prey.

Heeled boots, such as loafers, which are often advertised as moccasins, are not technically considered to be. Loafers came from Norway, where they were considered shoes for the house One American family, having seen a postcard with Norwegians in loafers, quickly mastered these shoes in production. Due to their convenience and informality, loafers quickly became popular in the west. As you can see, the roots and stories are different, so loafers should by no means be considered moccasins.

History of moccasins

While it can be argued that loafers are the quintessential North American footwear, it is likely that they arrived in the US about 30,000 years ago via the Bering Sea from Asia. Subsequently, they were adapted by Indian tribes and were slightly modified due to different climates and habitats throughout North America.

Etymologically, the word moccasin comes from the Algonquian language Powhatan where makasin means shoes. In fact, most Native American Indian tribes in North America have similar words for shoes. The Algonquians were the first people encountered by Europeans in 1615 in North America.

moccasin styles

Although there are different styles of moccasins that have evolved due to different habitats and climates, they can be divided into two types: moccasins with tough and soft sole.

Rigid moccasins are generally associated with the western and steppe regions of North America. The sole was often made of tough bison leather and was designed to protect the wearer's foot from the harsh cacti and prairie grass that is typical of the area. In addition, they also provided protection against sharp stones. Rigid moccasins, as a rule, were made from several layers of leather.

Soft-soled moccasins come from the eastern forest regions of North America, dominated by light forests with deciduous and coniferous trees, the leaves of which make the ground soft and safe for the foot. Soft-soled moccasins were often made from just one piece of leather. The basis of these moccasins was a simple seam running down the center.

These two main types of moccasins gave rise to a huge variety of styles worn by Indian tribes. These styles were so varied and distinctive that moccasins could be used to identify the tribe to which their wearer belonged.

Leather moccasins

Moccasins were made from soft dressed deer or bison skins. The buckskin moccasins were gathered inside out so the stitching was hidden. Tendons and tendons were used instead of harnesses and laces. Moccasins were fairly common among Native American tribes, however, each tribe had distinctive decorating techniques. Women of some tribes often attached long tops to their moccasins, giving them appearance boot.

Moccasins were created for comfort and practical wear. Since they were created for specific habitats and areas, it is not surprising that very soon they became the main footwear for many European settlers. Among European settlers, they were in demand among hunters and traders who had to travel long distances on foot.

Moccasins remained a popular choice among European settlers due to their practicality, but as the country became more resilient and industrialized, they slowly but surely began to lose popularity. After the end of World War II, a new generation took to the roads to explore the natural beauty of their country. And then people again remembered moccasins. By this time, advances in manufacturing allowed them to be made in a variety of leather types and colors, which undoubtedly added to their popularity. They quickly gained great popularity, as evidenced by the fact that one of the largest companies producing moccasins, Minnetonka, was founded in 1946, just after the end of World War II.

Today, most moccasins have a hard rubber sole. Original moccasins are rarely worn outdoors because pavement and concrete wear them out quickly. But some use them as indoor shoes.

Moccasins Driving Moc

The most popular moccasin style today is the Driving Moc. Technically, these are not really real moccasins, but the brainchild of Diego Della Vale from Toda, Italy. His father owned a shoe company that partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus for 16 years. Somehow he came across an interesting pair of "moccasins" that were made in Portugal. Although they were badly and sloppily sewn, he found them interesting and brought a pair to his home. Today they are the core of their brand.

Moccasins Drivin Moc have a very interesting structure. Insoles with small treads that protrude through holes in the sole. As a rule, they are informal summer shoes, because otherwise your feet will get wet quickly. To make them more durable, some manufacturers have started adding large rubber pieces to the outsole. Today, the question “how to choose moccasins” is particularly acute, and it is very easy to get lost among brands and manufacturers.

moccasin color

Personally, I prefer unusual shoe colors, such as: royal blue, green, yellow, blue. When choosing colored moccasins, be careful not to fall under the stereotypes that have developed about some of them, for example, red loafers. As a rule, moccasins are worn without socks. This is not very good, because socks are an intermediary between the shoe and the foot. This intermediary absorbs all sweat and odor. If you wear moccasins without socks, all the sweat and smell will eat into the shoes, which, when removed, can cause not only disgust, but also tearing in others. Although lately people have come up with all sorts of sweat-wicking liners, the problem is that they make shoes smaller and shoes become less comfortable to wear.