Fascinating Footwear: Short History of Shoes

Explore the rich and fascinating history of Shoes from the introduction of the humble sandal in ancient times to the ever higher heels and flamboyant styles of the present day. Highpoints include the pointed shoes of the middle ages when the length of the toe was an indication of status, and the emergence of the heel, first for men and then for women in the later Renaissance period.

The dashing Cavalier knee boots of the Restoration were followed by the introduction of increasingly elaborate buckles, and then dainty mules made out of exquisite silks and satins. The 19th & 20th century has seen many changes in both production and design from the button boot to 1920s bar shoes giving way to 1940s utility styles, 1950s stilettoes, 1970s platform soles, and today’s innovative statement shoes. Fiona Campbell, lecturer at the London College of Fashion and designer/maker of shoes, examines the principal styles, techniques and cultural connotations related to the history of shoes.