A Classic: Sperry Top-Sider

Where form meets function. The Sperry Top-Sider shoe was created in 1935 as a boat shoe by Paul Sperry. Sperry was an avid boater who, like most boaters, risked injury while walking on the slippery deck of his boat. His successful design was inspired by his cocker spaniel, Prince. While watching Prince run across the ice on a winter’s day in Connecticut, he noticed his dog’s amazing ability to maintain traction on the slippery surface. The pattern of grooves or cracks on his dog’s feet gave him the idea for a leather upper-shoe with a herringbone pattern of grooves on the sole. How fitting that these shoes would be what I keep by my bedside for walking Bailey each morning. Easy to slip on and off, plus they are great when we get a bit of our Seattle rain. A preppy go-to, Sperry Top-Sider shoes are truly a classic.