Hidden Fashion: The Shoe Special



Hidden under floor-length skirts, ladies' shoes were rarely seen until the 1910s, and it's even harder to get by images of them. They're a vital part of historical costume, though, so I'm collecting every scrap that could tell me what they looked like. And of men's shoes, too.


Clogs, Italian, by van Eyck 1434
Man's, c. 1470
1526, male, painted by Holbein
Rubens' shoe 1609, painted by himself
1625, male nobility, painted by Hals
c. 1630, male, from the V&A
1631, male royalty, painted by Velázquez
Man's "horn" shoe, 16th century

Museum Weißenfels

Man's "bear claw" shoe, mid 16th century

Museum Weißenfels

Venetian chopine, 16th century

Museum Weißenfels

Sketches of 17th century shoes by Adolph von Menzel (probably stock of the Bavarian National Museum)
1660s and 1720s, female, V&A
1650, female commoner, painted by Metsu
1662, female commoner, painted by Netscher
Man's shoe and buckle, c. 1700

Museum Weißenfels

Man's shoe, c. 1700

Museum Weißenfels

Man's buckled shoe, early 18th century

Museum Weißenfels

Child's shoe and women's shoes, all very early 18th century

Museum Weißenfels

1745, female dancer, by Pesne
1748, female, V&A
stockings, 18th century
1750s, male royalty, artist unknown
1750s, male royalty, artist unknown
Lady's shoe of blue silk damask on leather, 2nd half 18th century

Museum Weißenfels

1756, female nobility, by Boucher
Lady's shoe of blue damask, 2nd half 18th century

Museum Weißenfels

1760s, V&A
1760, female shoe, painted by Gainsborough
Man's Shoes and Stockings, late 18th century
1770s, female
1773, female, from some museum
1775, female commoner, by Greuze
1775, milkmaid's shoe, painted by Gainsborough
18th century, female, Bath. Sketch by yours truly.
1796, female, from a shop
Lady's silk shoes, c. 1800 (left) and c. 1810

Museum für hamburgische Geschichte

1824, female, painted by Hess
1874, female, painted by Renoir
1877, painted by Manet
1878, female, painted by Manet
1880, female, painted by Bracquemond
Stocking knitting patterns onna stick, 1880

Museum für hamburgische Geschichte

Stockings, 1880

Museum für hamburgische Geschichte

1884, female, painted by Morisot
1890, female, drawn by Bracquemond
1894, female skating boot
1894, female, painted by Toulouse-Lautrec
Beach Shoe, 1895
Pumps, 1914
Lady's, 1917
Lady's, 1917
 
1928, female
1928, female
1928, female
1928, female

 

 

You can find a wide selection of womens designer shoes and mens boots online.

 

 

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