Straight Shoes
Ryedale Folk Museum
These decorative shoes show the importance of appearing fashionable when in polite company at a time when women’s feet were preferred to be small and dainty. Each shoe measures just six centimetres across.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the most expensive shoes were made for the individual wearer by a shoemaker, but ‘straights’ were a popular alternative, made without a left or right version.
How old are the shoes?
It’s hard to date footwear precisely, but these leather ‘straights’ were likely made between 1820 and 1850, making them late Georgian or early Victorian.
Towards the end of the Georgian era, around the 1790s, it became fashionable for women to wear flatter ‘pump’ style shoes like these, but generally with pointed toes, in contrast to the higher heels of the early Georgian period. Then, from the 1820s onwards, square fronted shoes were the new fashion. This pair is beautifully decorated with stitching and a satin bow.
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Where were shoes like this worn?
The straight shoes are incredibly soft and delicate, not designed for walking the dirty streets. If ladies wished to venture out, a pair of noisy, wooden pattens (clog-style outer shoes) would be worn as well. The pattens shown here are from Craven Museum and Gallery in Skipton.
Jane Austen commented on the noise made in her novel Persuasion, describing the ‘ceaseless clink of pattens’ in Bath.
Wearing pattens inside showed bad manners, so they were removed along with cloaks upon entering a home. In this way, the delicate straight shoes functioned a little like beautiful, fashionable slippers.
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Video coming soon…
Talking Points
Do you think square or pointed shoes would have been most comfortable?
What do you look for in a pair of shoes? How do you make a decision about what to buy?
Have you ever chosen a pair of shoes that weren’t very practical? What made you choose them?
Do you think it will ever be fashionable to wear shoes decorated with bows again?
Do you like this pair of shoes? Would you consider wearing them?
During Georgian times, both men’s and women’s footwear were highly decorated, and men were as likely as women to wear heels. Does this surprise you?
In the Classroom
Hotseat
Interview a member of the class in role as the wearer of these shoes. Find out if they liked their footwear and how they felt wearing them.
Role play
In pairs, take on the role of a shoe salesperson and a potential customer. How will the salesperson sell these shoes?
Museum Location
