Shoes

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

While we currently think of white and pale pastel colors as suitable for babies, in the earlier part of the 19th century, bright colors were not uncommon. The attractive deep pink and brown combination seen in this pair of infant's shoes is documented by many surviving examples. Family history records that these shoes (and a dress also donated to the museum) were worn in a portrait of a female ancestor of the donor. This is an interesting anachronism, because until the 20th century, pink was considered a "strong" color more suitable for baby boys than girls. An additional feature of note on these shoes is the attractive serrated tongue, a detail which is not always seen.

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