Description:
Pair of women's shoes made from pale blue silk damask lined in linen, with fabric-covered "Louis heels" and leather soles. Shoes were an excellent way to reuse expensive dress fabrics after alterations. While this pair could have been made to match a new dress, they were likely created from the remaining material of an earlier dress whose remodeling resulted in extra fabric. The Louis or French heel found on most women’s shoes at this time is a type of construction whereby the leather sole extends down the front of the heel. Most 18th-century shoes were secured to the feet by means of a buckle that connected a pair of latchets across the instep, as seen on this example.

Label Text:
Exhibited in "Rococo:Celebrating 18th-Century Design and Decoration" (2018-2019): High heeled shoes became fashionable for both sexes in the 17th century, but were largely worn by women during the 18th century. Their adoption required more careful control on the part of the wearer, who needed to take smaller steps for a graceful carriage. High heels changed the very silhouette of their wearer, raising the center of gravity up and forward, while at the same time projecting the buttocks back. The glint of reflective damask-weave silk on this example, visible just below the wearer's hemline, would have added additional interest (and expense) to her appearance.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2007.29

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