What is the origin of Penny Loafers? And what possessed girls to stick coins in their shoes?

Answer 1

"Bass introduced the first penny loafer in 1936, naming it the “Weejun” after its Norwegian origin. The style quickly became an American classic. Penny loafers evolved into a symbol of “cool” in the 1950’s and 60’s, and celebrities like James Dean were spotted wearing them. They were again elevated to a must-have in the 1980s, worn with white socks, during a resurgence of the preppy trend."

"The mouth opening soon was used to hold an ornamentation (e.g. a penny), and thus penny loafers became a style. Penny loafers often held a dime instead of a penny. If a girl's date got out of line she could call home on a pay phone--which accepted dimes during most of the fifties and sixties."

Answer 2

History Of Penny Loafers

Answer 3

Girls Penny Loafers

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the origin of Penny Loafers? And what possessed girls to stick coins in their shoes?

Answer 5

Here is my only memory of penny loafers: I had some when I started kindergarten and they had bright shiny pennies in them. I had to walk to school, just a few blocks, and there was a gas station on the corner with a vending machine that took pennies. I used one of those pennies on the way to school and the other on the way home to buy - do you remember? - those little itty bitty candy bars. They were maybe an inch square, that's how tiny they were. I got in trouble when I got home and my pennies were gone. One of my few memories of kindergarten, except for nap time on the little rug.

Answer 6

This sort of pertains to the last question. When we wore penny loafers, my mom gave us a dime to put in the little slot so that we could make a phone call if we needed to. Yes, it was a long time ago, and I am old.

Well, not THAT old. I mean, not ANCIENT. Oh well...