Waldo or Wally? The Mystery Behind the Stripes Turns 40

Depending on where you grew up, he’s either Waldo or Wally. Funny how a guy who spends his life getting lost managed to acquire so many identities. In 2027, Martin Handford’s famous striped-shirt wanderer turns 40, and we’re still looking for him.

British illustrator Martin Handford introduced Where’s Wally? in 1987, hiding his red-and-white striped traveller, bobble hat and round glasses among hundreds of characters in ridiculously crowded illustrations. When the books crossed the Atlantic, Wally became Waldo. The reason for the change isn’t completely settled. One popular account says an American publishing executive disliked the name Wally because it reminded him of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. British slang offers another possible angle, since wally can mean a foolish person, but there’s no firm evidence that this prompted the switch.

Handford’s illustrations offered more than a search for one wandering character. Hidden among thousands of faces were visual gags and tiny dramas. In one beach scene, a boy drops ice cream on a sunbather’s back, startling her. The original illustration included a brief glimpse of nudity, which was covered up in later editions. Who knew a children’s puzzle book could attract its own share of controversy?

Then there’s Odlaw, Waldo’s yellow-and-black-clad adversary. His name is Waldo spelled backward, and in the animated series, he schemes to steal Waldo’s magical walking stick. Apparently, even hide-and-seek needs a villain.

Here’s where things get interesting. Wally’s famous stripes have a history of their own. The Breton shirt, also known as the marinière, became an official French Navy uniform in 1858. Legend has it that those stripes made sailors easier to spot if they went overboard. Whether that’s the real reason or just a good story, it makes you wonder how a shirt designed for sailors ended up on a guy whose entire career depends on NOT being spotted. Talk about a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen!

With Wally turning 40 in 2027, I have questions. Does he own 40 identical outfits? Where does he shop? And has nobody told him they sell other colours? After four decades in the same stripes, you’d think he’d have a closet full of options. Then again, change the shirt and nobody knows who the heck he is.