History of Shoes

History of Shoes

History of Sho

Vintage shoes appeal to women who want a unique accessory, as well as to collectors searching for display pieces.

History of Shoes

From delicate Edwardian items to 1980s trainers, there’s plenty to choose from.

Shoe styles  have changed frequently since the 1900s, responding to the fashions of the day with startling rapidity.

History of Shoes

Whether for display or to wear, there are plenty available.

History of Shoes

History of Shoes  Fashionable French.

In the early 1900s womens footwear was robust lace up boots were the first choice for everyday wear and had sturdy, waisted Louis heels, a style that originated at Louis xivs  court in 17^th-century France.

History of Shoes

Shoes of the 1900s,  were reserved for formal occasions and evening wear, also inspired by Louis xiv styles and modelled on 17^th century heeled slippers.

They were often made from silk and decorated with embroidery, bows, and elaborate buckles.

They came in pale colours, such as lilac, green, and were worn with  patterned stockings.

History of Shoes

Prices start at around $100 and rarely exceed $300 unless the shoes are exquisitely decorated or made of fine materials, and can be found at auctions, costume dealers, and antique and collectors fairs.

Straps and pumps.

When hemlines rose in the 1920s, strappy shoes became fashionable.

They came in dazzling colours such as Scarlett, Emerald, and gold and are highly collectable.

History of Shoes

Louis heels were still in vogue, and some shoes featured cut away sides or peep toes.

In the 1930s strappy designs were still popular, but streamlined pumps were the dominant style.

Also known as court shoes, pumps were plain slip on shoes with flat or raised heels, based on 18^th century foot mens slippers.

History of Shoes

They had rounded toes with slightly tapered heels and enclosed most of the foot.

History of Shoes Platforms and wages.

Wartime rationing in the 1940s required leather to be reserved for the armed forces.

So designers came up with statuesque platform shoes, made from Cork, wood , fabric covered plastic, felt and straw.

Forces pin ups, such as Betty Grable, made platforms seem glamorous and hugely desirable.

History of Shoes

Examples can often be found in charity shops, car boot sales, and jumble sales for around $50.or less.

 Finer items, or those in better condition can also be found at vintage and second-hand clothes shops and dealers.

History of Shoes

The wedge heel introduced by legendary Italian shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo in 1936, was also popular.

Examples of his innovations can be found generally at vintage clothes dealers for around $50 and rarely exceed $200.

History of Shoes

The 1950s are associated with more cut pumps with pointed toes and dainty stiletto heels.

The heel on some stilettos were so sharp that women were banned from wearing them in certain buildings because of the damage the did to the flooring.

Roger Vivier, a parisian shoemaker, made some of the finest examples.

His gem -encrusted pumps are highly sought after and often exceed $2000 at auction .

You can also find simpler styles from around $30-$50 upwards.

The decade for boots.

The youthful styles of the 1960s were reflected in the Mary Jan look often worn with mini skirts. Pumps with squared toes and heels were also typical of the time.

Boots played a major role in 1960 style from futuristic white plastic go-go boots to new age hippie boots and with the current fashions for retro styling, they can be expensive.

history of   shoes

Boots by popular names such as Biba and Mary Quant may cost you $300 or more, and those by their imitators can cost almost as much, as they capture the sought after look of the decade.

Despite this good examples can be found for around hundred dollars.

Timeless soles.

history of   shoes

By the 1970s fashion had stepped back into platforms and wedge heels, and the new version of these 1940 styles were much more extreme than the originals.

history of   shoes

A pair of Terry De Havilland pale green, pink, purple, orange snake skin effect wedge sandals from the early 1970s may cost around $350 are more.

These and wooden platforms candies shoes are a good investment, as the profile of the 1970s fashions is rising.

history of   shoes

Disco mania swept Europe and the USA in the latter part of the flanking 70s and dressy dance shoes became fashionable once more.

The French designer Maud Frizon was claimed for the striking corn heels and colourful decorative designs of her disco shoes, which can now be found in many second-hand clothes shops for around $80.

history of   shoes

During the 1980s styles such as pump and strappy shoe with towering  or Louis heels were dusted off and given a flashy makeover by Ferragamo and Chanel, all other examples of these can be found at around hundred dollars or less.

history of   shoes

Manolo Blahnik, known for his dainty, open, strappy shoes with high heels, is still prominent and his shoes from the 1980s can fetch up to $200 are more.

history of   shoes

Collectors tips on what to buy.

Trainers are among the most desirable collectables at the moment, and prices are rising rapidly, look for retro trainers like Puma, Clyde, Adidas, superstar, and Nike cortez.

history of   shoes

I hope you have found these pages on the  history of shoes to be both informative and helpful.