subject: Shoes: History In Every Step [print this page] Just as far back as forever, shoes have served an important symbol of class and wealth in society. In the days of ancient Egypt, the elite classes wore heeled shoes to show their status. The Venetians wore high platform shoes called chopines to show off their wealth and power and in 18th century France, heels symbolised the aristocracy.
Little has changed in modern fashion. Brands like Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Louboutin, and Lotus Shoes have helped to maintain the female obsession with shoes and, particularly, heels. In fact, theres even been royal crossover: Diana, Princess of Wales, became an ardent patron of Choo, who benefited greatly from her support. Designers like Choo gained additional fame for creating high-end, designer footwear by hand. Choo did so well for himself in the shoe industry that in 2002 he was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his successful contributions to the fashion industry.
Gucci, known for its leather, has gained prominence in the female market, but was originally a wide-range maker of leather goods. To this day, loafers made by Gucci are the only shoes to grace the Museum of Modern Arts collection in New York City.
It was perhaps French shoe designer Christian Louboutin who helped bring the heel back in the early 2000s with his famous, shiny, red shoes. Louboutin has gained fame for using patent leather, bows, jewelled straps, even feathers and other imaginative accessories. He has many celebrity clients, but often refuses to give shoes away because he thinks giving away the fruits of his labor is unimaginative. Nevertheless, it is rumoured that famed American romantic novelist Danielle Steel owns in excess of 6,000 pairs of his shoes.
Lotus Shoes, established in England in 1759, have gained prominence for establishing a unique range of heels, classics, and casuals for the modern fashionista with comfortable heights and widths and high-fashion designs and materials. The brand has developed a 250-year-old reputation for timeless, classic designs that do not go out of style. Like Louboutin, Lotus Shoes incorporates creative design elements into their work. Bows, studs, splashes of modern colour and even stylish buckles grace the brands timeless footwear.
It seems, then, that the heel and the shoe more generally serving as a status symbol may never fade away. Thankfully, however, several modern designers have taken it upon themselves to mix not only class, but style and affordability with fancy footwear.
