Nicole Rudolph | Real 18th century Shoes? Historical Shoemaker Examines an Antique @NicoleRudolph | Uploaded December 2020 | Updated October 2024, 2 days ago.
18th century shoes fashion has been a major influence on footwear over the decades. Buckles, toe shape, decoration, curved Louis heels, and even construction techniques constantly find their way back into trending styles as early as the 1840s. With such popularity, it's no wonder that some later shoes have managed to pull off a little more than just inspiration- with 19th or even 20th century shoes being listed and sold as 18th century. But there are many distinct elements about the real thing that can clue us in.
While shoe styles change constantly and rapidly throughout the century, there are many elements which can help us narrow in an accurate date. By looking at shape, toe, heels, textiles, decor, and construction we can not only determine if a shoe really is an 18th century original, but narrow in its date of creation.
It takes far more than just a casual observation of appearance to understand historical shoes. I've been shoemaking since 2012, starting with womens 18th century styles and working up through the 19th and 20th centuries (and soon working backwards as well). There's much to be learned about an item by understanding how it was made. The decisions in construction were not trivial and were made with both fashion and use in mind.
Socials
Instagram: instagram.com/silk_and_buckram
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@cloche_call
🖼 1886: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1448
🖼 1910s Black: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2044
🖼 1920s Lame: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1975
🖼 1880s Embroidered: collections.lacma.org/node/229549
🖼 1780s: collections.lacma.org/node/235651
🖼 1790s: collections.lacma.org/node/232686
🖼 1910s Jacquard: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1963
🖼 1870s: collections.lacma.org/node/225214
🖼 1910s Brocade: collections.lacma.org/node/201096
🖼 "Court" shoes: bonhams.com/auctions/19007/lot/303/?page_anchor=r1%3D387%26m1%3D1
🖼 1919 Patent: collections.lacma.org/node/225215
🖼 1910s Gold: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2032
🖼 1780s: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=957
🖼 1900s Buckle: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2207
🖼 1851 Exhibition: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Exhibition
🖼 1850 Boot: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O355650/boot
🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com)
18th century shoes fashion has been a major influence on footwear over the decades. Buckles, toe shape, decoration, curved Louis heels, and even construction techniques constantly find their way back into trending styles as early as the 1840s. With such popularity, it's no wonder that some later shoes have managed to pull off a little more than just inspiration- with 19th or even 20th century shoes being listed and sold as 18th century. But there are many distinct elements about the real thing that can clue us in.
While shoe styles change constantly and rapidly throughout the century, there are many elements which can help us narrow in an accurate date. By looking at shape, toe, heels, textiles, decor, and construction we can not only determine if a shoe really is an 18th century original, but narrow in its date of creation.
It takes far more than just a casual observation of appearance to understand historical shoes. I've been shoemaking since 2012, starting with womens 18th century styles and working up through the 19th and 20th centuries (and soon working backwards as well). There's much to be learned about an item by understanding how it was made. The decisions in construction were not trivial and were made with both fashion and use in mind.
Socials
Instagram: instagram.com/silk_and_buckram
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@cloche_call
🖼 1886: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1448
🖼 1910s Black: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2044
🖼 1920s Lame: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1975
🖼 1880s Embroidered: collections.lacma.org/node/229549
🖼 1780s: collections.lacma.org/node/235651
🖼 1790s: collections.lacma.org/node/232686
🖼 1910s Jacquard: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=1963
🖼 1870s: collections.lacma.org/node/225214
🖼 1910s Brocade: collections.lacma.org/node/201096
🖼 "Court" shoes: bonhams.com/auctions/19007/lot/303/?page_anchor=r1%3D387%26m1%3D1
🖼 1919 Patent: collections.lacma.org/node/225215
🖼 1910s Gold: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2032
🖼 1780s: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=957
🖼 1900s Buckle: eng.shoe-icons.com/collection/object.htm?id=2207
🖼 1851 Exhibition: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Exhibition
🖼 1850 Boot: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O355650/boot
🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com)
