What's the etymology of "white shoe," when referring to law firms?
The implication is that the firm serves only the big boys, and I speculate that, therefore, they never get their feet dirty by chasing ambulances or otherwise wallowing in the gutter.
But to me, white shoes connote a sartorial gaffe, suggesting a lack of class. I always picture white shoes with a white belt and a plaid suit.
Any ideas?
8 comments:
Hey, long time no chat ... but white shoes refer to old money Protestants.
Thanks, Clare.
Of course, this prompts the obvious follow-up: why are old money Protestants called "white shoe?"
I'm definitely thinking sartorial, here.
Of course; because any old money Protestant wore white buckskin shoes when he attended Princeton.
Check this out!
p.s. aren't you impressed I can link to an image? Ask any 12-year old I live with, and it's a breeze!
And look, their white shoes match their collars! These were the first Metrosexuals.
lol@joshuae!
Thanks for the follow-up, Clare.
I'm impressesd by your growing command of HTML, not to mention that of your off-spring, but this positive emotion is overwhelmed by my disturbance that you know where to look for old pictures of white shoe people.
Ditto on the LOL, Joshuae!
I must confess, I'm not getting any better on HTML; it's all Miss Helen -- who can type HTML code almost as fast as she wins awards for her horse-themed fiction. ... [insert link to Helen's stories ...]
As to my leading you to old pictures ... well, I never reveal my sources (unless such revelation has been permitted by my sources, and only then when I've languished long enough in prison for my roots to show).
You think that's what eventually caused Judith Miller to crack?
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