Detail of beaded silk slippers from the 1880s
In the Victorian period, women didn’t show off their shoes, and they were generally hidden under their long skirts. There were two main types of day-wear shoes worn by women for the appropriate occasion: the boot, and the slipper.
Velvet button boots
Two-toned laced boots circa 1900
Boots were the workhorse of the Victorian-era women’s shoes. The boot could be made from hard leather and was worn by working women (of all classes) during the day, or could be made from more luxurious materials to create a riding boot or festival boot for the aristocrats and middle class women. The boots could be laced or buttoned.
Leather button boots
Canvas button boots
Even my cat Felix has buttons on his boots.
Slippers were for everyday wear indoors – if you were wealthy – or festivals and celebrations, like weddings and balls. They could be made of leather or a range of fabrics. They were often richly ornamented.
A selection of decorated dancing shoes
Cotton and silk shoes circa 1845–60. As you can see, these would be nearly useless if worn outside.
Filed under Bling, Boots, Fashion, History, Steampunk, Steampunk Aesthetic
Tagged as Bling, Boots, Fashion, History, Shoes, Steampunk, Steampunk Aesthetic