Shoes Over Time

I was walking to my usual study spot at the library, when I saw a book that stood out to me, titled "The Seductive Shoe: Four Centuries of Fashion Footwear" by Jonathan Walford. I picked it up, out of curiosity, but I was soon engrossed in it because of all the fascinating information (and all the great pictures!). In each chapter, Walford discusses which shoe styles dominated that time period, and how and why those shoes were popular. Through this organization, one can really see how the style of shoes around the world have evolved and changed over time. It captures the "zeitgeist" of fashion during those eras very well. They also show what kind of technology and economy the country had at the time.

One can only make shoes out of materials one has. For instance, flat-soled shoes made of leather were one of the only kind of shoes made until the late sixteenth century, when heels were beginning to be added to shoes. This shows that leather was a material that was easy to get a hold of. Later on, when the Italian Renaissance and trade between Europe and East Asia occurred, new materials were introduced, such as silks and other textiles. This allowed shoe makers to explore new depths in shoes and design.

Since then, the shoe industry has come a long way. With more resources and ideas than ever, there have also been more crazy ideas than every, especially concerning the heel-less shoe.

Manolo Blahnik, 2006


Marc Jacobs, 2008

Looking at these shoes from a design aspect, the brown one looks like it is pretty balanced because of the continuity and flow of the straps. However, Marc Jacobs's eye-popping magenta and sea green shoe seems more chaotic, not only because of the colors, but also due to the construction. The upper portion of the shoe has gentle curves, which are emphasized with the round curls on the front. The sudden angles on the bottom of the shoe are out of place and it makes it look unbalanced. Regardless, I found both of these shoes to be very interesting because of their gravity-defying look. They also look super uncomfortable! Would you ever wear a pair?

Photo Credits:
Roxy is Here