crinolinegirl
Alumni
Yesterday we went to Northampton for the day and went to the shoe museum as I hadn't been there in 6 years. They got a lottery grant a couple of years ago and the museum has been completely redone and the displays alot nicer than they were last time.
LOL, I wish I had the power to walk through glass so that I could have grabbed and ran off with the shoes as I wanted them all!!
My favorite pair was Queen Victoria's wedding slippers. It is mind blowing to see such a simple pair of silk flats worn by one of the most important woman in history! You can see the toe scuffs on them that she made, it really brings history alive.
there were loads of 18th century women's shoes, some with their original pattens and also quite a few pairs of 17th century shoes as well.
My other favorite pair was a pair of c. 1910 black leather high lace up ladies boots but these ones aren't your typical high lace up boots!!! These ones went thigh high and and had 4" heels! They have belonged to a VERY risque Edwardian lady!
There was also another pair of Edwardian boots which were calf length like the ones I have on C&C, that belonged to a prostitute too.
There was a pair of c. 1900 men's boots I didn't agree on the dating (they dated them as 1860) but most were accuratly dated.
One display kind of offended me though. They had a lovely pair of early 1960's pink swiss lace stilletos made by Rayne's in the "How big or small are your feet" exhibit. The label said that they were worn by a woman with "very large feet".
Excuse me??? They were only a UK 8 (US 10) which is my size!! Hardly massive or out of the ordinary if you are 5'9". What size do they expect tall women to wear? A size 2??
It's not as if it was a very large size for the era either as I often come across shoes from the 50's and 60's that fit me.
LOL, my feathers were ruffled when I read this so I went and told one of the guides about it. She laughed and said that it probably wasn't the most tactful of shoe descriptions.
The most disturbing thing is that they put them in along with the huge Victorian boots a giantess wore in France during the 1800's. LOL, my feet aren't THAT big
All in all, it was a good day and I recommend the museum to anyone!
Lei
LOL, I wish I had the power to walk through glass so that I could have grabbed and ran off with the shoes as I wanted them all!!
My favorite pair was Queen Victoria's wedding slippers. It is mind blowing to see such a simple pair of silk flats worn by one of the most important woman in history! You can see the toe scuffs on them that she made, it really brings history alive.
there were loads of 18th century women's shoes, some with their original pattens and also quite a few pairs of 17th century shoes as well.
My other favorite pair was a pair of c. 1910 black leather high lace up ladies boots but these ones aren't your typical high lace up boots!!! These ones went thigh high and and had 4" heels! They have belonged to a VERY risque Edwardian lady!
There was also another pair of Edwardian boots which were calf length like the ones I have on C&C, that belonged to a prostitute too.
There was a pair of c. 1900 men's boots I didn't agree on the dating (they dated them as 1860) but most were accuratly dated.
One display kind of offended me though. They had a lovely pair of early 1960's pink swiss lace stilletos made by Rayne's in the "How big or small are your feet" exhibit. The label said that they were worn by a woman with "very large feet".
Excuse me??? They were only a UK 8 (US 10) which is my size!! Hardly massive or out of the ordinary if you are 5'9". What size do they expect tall women to wear? A size 2??
It's not as if it was a very large size for the era either as I often come across shoes from the 50's and 60's that fit me.
LOL, my feathers were ruffled when I read this so I went and told one of the guides about it. She laughed and said that it probably wasn't the most tactful of shoe descriptions.
The most disturbing thing is that they put them in along with the huge Victorian boots a giantess wore in France during the 1800's. LOL, my feet aren't THAT big
All in all, it was a good day and I recommend the museum to anyone!
Lei
