Shoes for Women


Every situation that life throws at women has a pair of shoes to match! Shoes may tell you a lot about a lady, including who she is, how she rolls, and what she does with her life. There are numerous situations where a lady actually needs a wide choice of hues and fashions, such as when she works every day and requires a selection of shoes in addition to some comfy ones. There is no denying that women are obsessed with shoes. Many ladies find themselves compelled to purchase a new pair of shoes every time they pass a shoe store. According to the adage, first impressions last a lifetime, so it’s crucial for women to pay attention to the shoes they wear. It is just as significant as any other accessory a woman may wear, unlike men, who typically purchase shoes solely for functional reasons.

Historical Background of Women’s Shoes

It can be described as:

The First Footwear (1550 BC)

The earliest footwear was made of simple wrap-around leather and resembled modern moccasins quite a bit.

Roman women’s Shoes

Roman women typically wore sandals indoors, a type of footwear that is still used in the summer today. Additionally, they wore “Calcei” boots, which had leather straps and protected the toes and ankles. The distinctions in footwear styles between men’s and women’s were minimal. However, as we’ve already mentioned, the Romans used their footwear to signify their power and social standing.

Renaissance Women’s Shoes

During the middle ages (between the 5th and the 15th centuries), shoes were often made of leather and remained more functional than fashionable. Shoes didn’t start to resemble the practical, fashionable pieces we wear now until the Renaissance era. Around the 15th century, rounded toes first appeared, and in the 16th and 17th centuries, high heels (then called “Chopines”) first appeared for what were initially utilitarian reasons. Around this time, women’s casual footwear was often soft slippers made of delicate materials like silk.

18th and 19th centuries

The Napoleonic Wars occurred in the 18th century, which caused a large number of shoes to be produced for military use. However, after the conflicts were over, the 19th century (and the industrial revolution that came with it) started to dawn, bringing with it new manufacturing techniques that let shoemakers produce shoes that were both functional and fashionable. These customs also contributed to the distinction between men’s and women’s footwear, with women favouring more intricate high heels and small, delicate pumps while men preferred more practical leather boots.

Early in the twentieth century

Other shoe designs emerged during the Edwardian era, with fabric pumps, “flats,” and lower “Oxford” heels dominating women’s shoe trends. There were also tall, lace-up, frequently lavishly embroidered women’s boots that are now known as “Edwardian Boots.”

1920-30s

The 1920s and 1930s brought with them a mix of glamour and financial restraint. Women’s shoes changed and became more flamboyant as the world expanded and became a much more liberal place. To make the feet appear smaller, formal shoes started to be worn with “Cuban” heels and rounded toes. The T-strap, which included a strap over the front of the shoe and was frequently adorned with beads and other adornments, was the most well-liked style of the 1920s. The “Oxford” style, with its understated laces or bows and taller “Spanish” heels, gained popularity in the 1930s, and advances in leather tanning made more colour options and two-tone combinations possible.

1940-50s

Shoes were severely restricted during World War II, but after the war, they were much less restricted. Although the designs became more complex, the general styles remained substantially the same as the shoes used in earlier decades. The slingback also made its debut at this time, and because of its exposed heel, it was regarded as a highly “sexy” shoe. But it was infamously unpleasant! In addition to oxfords and slingbacks, slip-on heel pumps were also fashionable since they provided a more laid-back look.

1960s-70s

At least when it came to formal attire, comfort continued to lose ground to glamour in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the 1960s were very much the decade of the adolescent, so in addition to the higher heels that their mothers preferred, young girls were experimenting with utility over fashion. Young women began to favour pumps and sneakers for everyday wear, whereas pointed flat shoes with low heels were preferred for formal occasions. The Mary Jane shoe became popular in the 1960s as well, with its Cuban heel and clean, single-strap design striking the ideal balance between comfort and flair. These shoes were ideal for dancing at the time, which is probably why they were so well-liked.

1980s-90s

Although there were other fashions that added colour to the decades that “taste forgot,” this era was all about the sneakers. Young ladies loved the 1970s-era jelly shoes, which were made of inexpensive PVC plastic. Platform shoes have remained popular in some circles. As power dressing emerged, stilettos made a comeback, but this was the period of the boot above all others. In the 1980s, the genuinely absurd Moon Boots were a surprise hit, and in the 1990s, all “alternative” Generation X kids wore Dr. Martens, which were frequently heavily embellished. Women first realised in the 1990s that being cosy and “on trend” didn’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Modern era

Surprisingly, nothing changed in terms of footwear trends at the start of the new century. However, in general, the “noughties” acted as more of an evolution than a revolution. Ugg-style boots were the big story of the early 2000s, and well-known designer brands gained more prominence. The infamous “Crocs,” in fact, were a development of the jelly shoe!

Conclusion

Today, a woman’s fashion statement is still lacking if she doesn’t have a nice pair of matching shoes. The personality of a person is thought to be represented by their shoes. It’s true that by looking at a woman’s closet’s collection of shoes, the average person can learn quite a bit about her. The woman is an athlete, or perhaps she’s a gardener, based on the pair of dirty sneakers in her collection. The wearer’s love of horseback riding will be indicated by her cowboy boots. She may be interested in country and western dance, though, if the boots are found to be in pristine condition. A woman might be an office worker if she has a large variety of shoes in all sizes, shapes, and colors. In fact, a woman’s shoes play a significant role in enabling a person to get a sense of who she is, what she enjoys, and the type of lifestyle she leads.

Updated on: 07-Dec-2022

150 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements