Shoes

The study of footwear contributes to our understanding of sociability in the eighteenth century in several respects. Shoes were an important part of the dress ensemble for both men and women, so changing styles can highlight shifts in eighteenth-century fashions. Shoes also affected bodily posture and movement, so related to the activities of elite society. The fashion for high heels gave elite men a commanding posture over their social inferiors, whereas dancing shoes had a supple construction that facilitated the nimble footwork required at balls. Footwear therefore helps us to understand the physical aspect of social interactions.