The Bata Shoe Museum’s current exhibits include, “The Pleasures and Perils of 19th Century Fashion”, which provides important information on the trading systems and technologies used to create shoes and other fashion items. Insight on the dawn of changes in fashion and its effects on masculinity and femininity can be gleaned from items in the exhibit. This is critical in understanding how people made fashion choices that reflected the culture of various periods in history. Shoes in the exhibit display, specifically the high end ones, were worn by socialites whose approach was to sustain power and subservience. With this in mind, the object chosen from the Museum’s exhibit is the Gilded Age display of the gold bespoke button boots. Based on the information provided at the display, the boots date back to the 1890’s and is from either Swedish or German heritage. From the display of the shoes, it can be construed that they were a visual symbol of individual identity. As well, what one wore gave ideas about social distinctions and inequality, which justified these disparities.
In the article, “‘Grandissima Gratia’: The Power of Italian Renaissance Shoes as Intimate Wear”; the authors, Michelle Laughran’s and Andrea …show more content…
Some other tools that were specific to the shoes were stretching pliers which stretched the leather uppers; marking wheels to mark where the needle should go through the sole and size sticks to measure the foot. As these shoes were made for an individual, the size stick was extremely important to ensure it was made for that customer. One can ascertain that the exquisite level of artistry, the extravagance of the materials used and the eccentricity found in the total design are extraordinary. As aforementioned, the boots themselves are decorative and it seemed to serve an aesthetic function also; to show wealth and
In the article, “‘Grandissima Gratia’: The Power of Italian Renaissance Shoes as Intimate Wear”; the authors, Michelle Laughran’s and Andrea …show more content…
Some other tools that were specific to the shoes were stretching pliers which stretched the leather uppers; marking wheels to mark where the needle should go through the sole and size sticks to measure the foot. As these shoes were made for an individual, the size stick was extremely important to ensure it was made for that customer. One can ascertain that the exquisite level of artistry, the extravagance of the materials used and the eccentricity found in the total design are extraordinary. As aforementioned, the boots themselves are decorative and it seemed to serve an aesthetic function also; to show wealth and