Weejuns – The Original Penny Loafer
April 12, 2014 § 17 Comments
When I think of my favorite shoes growing up 3 come to mind. My huaraches from Mexico. My dad taught us to stand in the bathtub with them on and then wear until dry so they could conform to your feet. My moccasins that were sent to us every year — I always thought from a friend of my dad’s at Minnetonka. I only just recently learned that my Dad had worked as a designer and stylist for Minnehaha (a contemporary or Minnetonka) in the 1950’s — one of the advantages of having a dad in the shoe business who was well liked was the shoes that came with that. Read more about my dad who would wake us up singing “there’s no business like shoe business ” — Ode To An Older Parent And Tribute To The Veteran In My Life by award winning Television writer sister Liz Benjamin. It pretty much says it all.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
…and my 3rd favorite were my Penny Loafers. Going to school in Florida I wore them without socks and always with 2 new Pennies.
Courtesy Library of Congress, Reproduction Number: LC-USW3-039059-E (b&w film nitrate neg.) LC-DIG-fsa-8d33850 (digital file from original neg.)
Loafing Around | A Brief History of Fashion’s Favorite Flat
In 1936 George Henry Bass created the first Penny Loafer based on a Norwegian farm shoe and called them Weejuns.
Audrey Hepburn
College Days. My mother is the first woman bottom left.
Women's Footwear in America 
I still have my penny loafers. The bottoms have been repaired / replaced several times. It is very hard to find shoes made to last these days.
LikeLike
Agree! I still remember the leather soles. 🙂
LikeLike
I love them too!
LikeLike
A few years back feeling nostalgic for my Minnetonka’s I bought a pair. That fall they turned out to be the shoe everyone was wearing. Maybe Loafers will have a comeback too.
LikeLike
I love loafers… In fact I still wear them every now and then. I’ve noticed that they are not made as well as they were when I was younger, but sometimes you just need a great loafer to complete you look. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Julia, may I ask you what that means, you always wore them with two new Pennies?
LikeLike
Penny Loafers have a little slot on the front of the shoe to put a penny in. I discovered 2 cents is what a phone call cost in the 1930’s.
LikeLike
Thank you, I never heard of that. In Germany we call them Slippers, but I think, they have never been so popular here as over the Ocean.
LikeLike
Interesting.
LikeLike
Loved loafers. Hated laces.
LikeLike
Now kids can choose velcro!
LikeLike
I love penny loafers! I love the colorful ones.
LikeLike
Thanks Traci for your comment! 🙂
LikeLike
Before I scrolled down, penny loafers was the only shoe that came to mind. When I saw it in writing I was like Yes! They don’t make them how they used to. I’m on the hint for a vintage pair circa 40-70’s
LikeLike
I agree Lana. If you want a well made comfortable shoe with good leather you have to pay now.
LikeLike
When I was thirteen, I desperately wanted a pair of Weejuns, but my Mom refused to spend $13 for a pair of shoes for me. I had to buy them myself out of my babysitting money. I loved those shoes – they were worth every penny I paid for them!
LikeLike
What a great story. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLike