What shoes did I see?

January 22, 2019 8:40 AM

Can you help me figure out what shoes I saw? No photo available, but will do my best to describe. Lace-up terra cotta/light brick colored leather, low hi-top/ankle bootie-ish women's shoe with gum rubber soles.

Small circle embossed on the ankle side with the number 12, and around it some text, part said "since 1880," not sure what the top said. They were lace-up and had a zipper on the inner ankle as well. No other markers or tags on the heel that I could see. Didn't get a look at the bottom for other marks.

posted by stillmoving to Shopping (9 answers total)

Response by poster: I should add that they looked comfortable and practical for walking. The laces appeared to be functional as well, though not sure why there was also an inner ankle zip.
posted by stillmoving at 8:44 AM on January 22, 2019

Found 3 shoe companies founded in 1880 - Goliath, Barker, and Loake. Barker and Loake have women's lines with terra cotta leather boots, but cannot at a glance see any similar to what you describe, will look a bit more. FYI the zip is so you don't have to bother lacing and unlacing every time you put on or take off the boots.
posted by the webmistress at 8:51 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

Sure it wasn't 1981? Could it be Merrell's Sugarbush hiking boots in Beeswax?

Edit: nope, those don't have a zip.
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2019

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions. I don't see them on any of those sites, the webmistress. Also, they weren't at all hiking boots. They looked more like an Ecco-ish style. They were on an older woman (maybe German?) and looked like comfy, functional walking shoes...but not too outdoorsy.

I'm wondering if maybe the "12" in the middle of the circle was an "R" or something else? And maybe I have the "since XXXX" year wrong...
posted by stillmoving at 10:18 AM on January 22, 2019

Best answer: Something by Josef Siebel, maybe? (Established 1886, "the European comfort shoe", often has styles like that)
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:41 AM on January 22, 2019

Part of your description sounds like inkkas.
posted by Sassyfras at 11:36 AM on January 22, 2019

Campers?
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 6:46 PM on January 22, 2019

Possibly Rieker? Established 1874, but they definitely make boots in that style. (They are comfortable and wear well, too -- my daily boots are Riekers -- though not that style -- and I've had them for four years now!)
posted by halation at 8:49 PM on January 22, 2019

Response by poster: cotton dress sock, you've cracked it, thanks so much. I was totally wrong about the number 12--it is a "JS" stamped, and it says 1883.

Thanks for the other suggestions--found some other good shoe options as well!
posted by stillmoving at 3:57 AM on January 23, 2019