RORY: Do you want to wear docks or sneakers?
Dock shoes, also known as boat shoes. These canvas or leather slip-on shoes have rubber soles that can provide grip on a wet deck. They were invented in 1935 by Paul A. Sperry of New Haven, Connecticut, and designed to be used on boats. They became used as casual footwear in the 1970s, and have been fashionable since the 1980s.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 