Red Silk Satin "Hood Seaview" Bathing Boots
Circa 1920

Made of red silk satin, lined and bound with white cotton, front-lacing bathing boots were typically worn in the 1920s. An identical bathing shoe is featured in plate 15 of Nancy Rexford's book, Women's Shoes in America, 1795 - 1930. The soles are of white rubber with the label molded into the bottom, reading Hood Seaview Bathing, Made in U.S.A. There is also a size stamp 4 1/2 just above the molded label. White cotton laces are original.

Bathing shoes are most often found in black and white cottons, rarely in colors and even more rarely in silk, making these a most unusual and desirable find!

The overall condition is very good. Some cracking to the rubber on the tip of the left toe as shown. The satin on the left foot is darker than the right which may have been the result of the use of fabric from different dye lots as these do not appear to have been worn often if at all.