Starting in September of 2018, IHA is allowing a second shoe option for underclassmen: tan Sperrys. The addition of the new shoe is controversial because although a vast majority of the freshman class are wearing them, only about half of the sophomore and junior class have made the switch. The previous Eastland brown shoes may not be the most attractive option, but needless to say, they are very comfortable. Although, the Sperry’s are more fashionable many people have been complaining that the shoes aggravate their heels because they take a long time to break in.  

Pictured are the Women’s Tan Sahara Sperrys that IHA has newly introduced. Photo courtesy of socialbliss.com.

Personally, I chose to buy a new pair of the old brown dress shoes because comfort is more important to me, especially when I am going to walk up and down multiple flights of stairs to get to my classes. Also, the brown shoes have a larger width so if your shoelaces were to untie you would have less of a chance of tripping over your laces.

Many previous IHA students didn’t know about the new shoe addition, because the change was introduced at freshmen registration day. Sophomore Lauren Ohmacht states, “I chose the brown shoes because I didn’t know about the Sperrys. I figured I might as well keep the brown shoes because in two years I’ll be able to wear shoes of my choice. Maybe if they advertised the Sperry’s, I would have been more prone to buying them.”  

On the flipside of things, some people think the Sperrys look preppier and complement the uniform nicely. Sophomore Hanna Scott says, “I bought the Sperrys because I wanted to change it up, but I still occasionally wear the Eastland brown shoes.”  

It seems that the verdict appears to be split, but both options have pros and cons. One other notable feature is that the Eastland brown dress shoes cost $73 in comparison to the $89.50 Sperrys. If you are looking for a more cost-effective/comfortable option, then the Eastland shoes are the way to go, but if you prefer a more desirable external appearance, then the Sperry’s are your choice. Although both options are quality options, all us underclassmen are counting down the days until we can wear the shoes of our choice.

By: Julia Marotti’21, Local and World News Editor