Slippers

Julien Mayer

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Despite their rather grand appearance, this pair of fancy shoes would have been suitable for daytime wear around the house and when receiving intimate friends. When a lady ventured out of the house, boots were worn, and in the evening or when receiving guests more formally, heeled shoes were the norm. The enormous bow covering the instep was fashionable in the late 1860s and early 1870s. This example stands out for its high quality, attractive choice of contrasting materials, and good state of preservation.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art