Hidden under floor-length skirts, ladies' shoes were rarely seen until the 1910s, and it's even harder to get by images of them. They're a vital part of historical costume, though, so I'm collecting every scrap that could tell me what they looked like. And of men's shoes, too.
Clogs, Italian, by van Eyck
1434
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Man's, c. 1470
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1526, male, painted by Holbein
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Rubens' shoe 1609, painted
by himself
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1625, male nobility, painted
by Hals
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c.
1630, male, from the V&A
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1631, male royalty, painted
by Velázquez
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Man's "horn" shoe,
16th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Man's "bear claw" shoe, mid
16th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Venetian chopine, 16th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Sketches of 17th century shoes
by Adolph von Menzel (probably stock of the Bavarian National Museum)
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Red leather shoe with yellow silk
lining, late 17th century, and shoe of two different-coloured layers of
leather, early 17th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Woman's
Mules, 1649
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1660s and 1720s,
female, V&A
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1650, female commoner, painted
by Metsu
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1662,
female commoner, painted by Netscher
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Man's shoe and buckle, c.
1700
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Man's shoe, c. 1700
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Man's shoe and clocked stocking,
c. 1700-1710
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Man's buckled shoe, early
18th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
Child's shoe and women's shoes,
all very early 18th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
1745, female dancer, by Pesne
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1748, female,
V&A
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stockings, 18th century
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1750s, male royalty, artist
unknown
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1750s, male royalty, artist
unknown
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Lady's shoe of blue silk damask
on leather, 2nd half 18th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
1756, female nobility, by
Boucher
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Lady's shoe of blue damask,
2nd half 18th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
1760s, V&A
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1760, female shoe, painted
by Gainsborough
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Man's Shoes and Stockings,
late 18th century
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Lady's leather shoe, late
18th; lady's shoe of embroidered leather trimmed
with silver brocade, early 18th; lady's shoe
of blue damask, late 18th century
Museum Weißenfels | ![]() |
1770s, female
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1773, female, from some museum
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1775, female commoner, by
Greuze
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1775, milkmaid's shoe, painted
by Gainsborough
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18th
century, female, Bath. Sketch by yours truly.
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1796, female, from a shop
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Lady's silk shoes, c. 1800
(left) and c. 1810
Museum für hamburgische Geschichte | ![]() |
1824, female, painted by Hess
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1874, female, painted by Renoir
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1877, painted by Manet
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basll shoes and gloves, 1877
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1878, female, painted by Manet
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1880, female, painted by
Bracquemond
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Stocking knitting patterns
onna stick, 1880
Museum für hamburgische Geschichte | ![]() |
Stockings, 1880
Museum für hamburgische Geschichte | ![]() |
New style shoes, 1883
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1884, female, painted by Morisot
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1890, female, drawn by Bracquemond
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1894, female skating boot
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1894, female, painted by Toulouse-Lautrec
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Buttoned Boot, 1895
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Buttoned Promenade Shoe, 1895
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Beach Shoe, 1895
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Elegant Lady's Shoe, 1895
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Lady's Pull-On Boot, 1895
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various shoes /1, 1902
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various shoes /2, 1902
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Stockings and Shoes, 1913
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Stockings and Shoes, 1913
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Button Dress Boots, 1914
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Velvet 16-button Boot, 1914
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Lady's Kidskin Boot, 1914
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Tango Shoes, 1914
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Short Vamp Laced Oxfords,
1914
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Pumps, 1914
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Comfort Oxford, 1914
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Young Lady's, 1915
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Lady's, 1917
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Lady's, 1917
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Lady's Elegant Shoe, 1920
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1928, female
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1928, female
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1928, female
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1928, female
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You can find a wide selection of womens designer shoes and mens boots online.
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