Wedding Slippers, 1870s.
These are a perfect example of an 1870s slipper. They have a slightly squared toe, a delicious little heel, and a large decoration on the vamp. They meet all the hallmarks of formal footwear for 1860-1880, and though they've seen better days, I'm really proud to have this example in my collection, and especially to be able to use these old dames to create the upcoming Civil War/Bustle Era dyeable satin pump, "Tissot," coming out later this year.
Gold Brocade Evening Mary Janes - 1920s
This pair of dance shoes was given to me by Sharon and Bob Collier. They're a gorgeous example of what we might think of as Flapper shoes, but they weren't avante garde or shocking at the time, just really lovely, dressy shoes. They're a far cry from the basic black Mary Janes you find in the stores today, eh?
I love these black suede 1940s Slingbacks because they are so iconic for this decade. These beauties underwent a heel-shortening at some point in their life, and the balance is thrown off, but aside from that, they're a great example of basic 1940s footwear.
This last pair is my absolutely favorite. They gorgeous red leather 1940s peep toes with adorable bows on the vamp. They look like new! If we ever do 1940s reproductions, these are at the top of my list (don't I wish these originals they fit, though!)