I received my LL Bean Blucher Mocs as a Christmas gift in 2006. They received a lot of wear at first but I always favored my boat shoes in the end. Since leaving my well worn and much loved boat shoes in a rental car on a recent vacation, I’ve rediscovered my Bean Bluchers. Like a good ball cap and so many other classic items, they only get better with age and wear.
The Bean Blucher Moc has been around for a long time and some still think its glory days have passed. The Trad along with many of the members at the AAAC Trad forum think this way. I don’t have the experience to comment on this, so perhaps they are right, but I feel like I enjoy the modern iteration for many of the same reasons the previous generation liked the original shoe. (It should be noted that I have never heard of any official changes to the shoe from LL Bean. This old shoe vs. new shoe debate is based on the memories of individuals and comparisons with vintage shoes from the 1980s).
It is casual and comfortable like the boat shoe and has enough history on its side to be considered a classic. The blucher excels in its versatility. I love the Sperry Authentic Original and could easily wear them everyday of the year (well maybe in Georgia, not Ohio) but despite the all season wear endorsed by the trad and preppy crowd, it is still a single minded piece of footwear. The blucher is best enjoyed without socks, but can be worn with socks and stretched to a business casual look. The boat shoe is sock free only in my mind.
The Bean Blucher Moc remains a classic piece of footwear that deserves more attention that it gets. Yes it has evolved some with the times, but I don’t think this degrades the appeal. I recommend you give it a try, it was even endorsed by GQ back in November of 2007. They can also be found on ACL’s list of recommend fall footwear. Mine will continue to get plenty of wear for the rest of the summer and into the fall.
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