Some facts about shoe history: from ancient roman footwear to present days
Posted on August 31, 2008
Filed Under Uncategorized
Wearing favorite and hated shoes one often thinks when human began to use footwear at first. So, a little excursus to the history.
Antiquity
The ancient Greeks were sure that human perfection can be emphasized by cloths. Their fashion contained light, stole clothes. Their favorite footwear was sandals. It was needed nothing difficult to do them. They cut soles according to feet shapes and fastened straps to them. The straps were made of leather. The hunters and herdsmen wore leather boots with lacing.
Sandals made also the ancient roman footwear fashion. But it their footwear was heavier, more massive with thicker sole and metal decoration such as lion muzzles, wreaths and so on. Ancient roman footwear was the sign of various jobbery and plebeians wore simple sandals.
The footwear of III-VI centuries was characterized by the middle of sandals and shoes. The novelty was metal buckles.
The middle ages
In the middle of the 12th century a new Gothic style appeared. Its native land is France. So, gothic shoe is footwear oblong in shape that hides the foot length by two times. Such shoes were made from leather. Gothic style footwear was patina which was dressed in filthy weather.
Baroque
Speaking about footgear history it’s can’t but be mentioned baroque footwear style. Its representatives are boots made of leather, ribbons and even laces. They were rectangular with blunt toes.
18th century
18th century is famous for rococo style that appeared in France. Rococo footwear was made of colorful leather or glittering atlas. Shoe shape is narrow, with sharp toe and high heel.
19th century
This century didn’t create its own style of fashion but developed the old ones. Jackboots disappeared in 1830s. But hussar boots with 2 sutures along the top and boots with lacing appeared. 19th century is also a primogenitor of shoes with turning up toes.
20th century
World War I consequences caused Great Depression in Europe. That’s why the most popular color was black and brown, that were considered to be sport before. But gradually the colors began to lighten. Blue and beige footwear became popular. As far as shoe materials are concerned the most widespread were leathers made from reptiles, especially snakes and lizards. Shoe producers began to use zippers. A real novelty was narrow laces. With the “Beatles” appearing fashion houses began to create men high heeled shoes. A real thing of interest was expensive footgear material: ostrich, crocodile, python and fish scales.
21st century
Modern footwear tendency is to make as narrow and exquisite shoes as they can be. The most important is finishing quality. Shoes are becoming more laconic, natural and noble. Moccasins is considered to live for ever regardless of fashion.
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