I'm doing a small job, (a poster) for a museum which specializes in the Decorative Arts. Anyway, they've sent me a bunch of jpegs of the art work for the poster, and amongst them, was this picture of pink silk shoes from the 1830's. Don't they look just like something you'd find today, in a chic little shop in Chelsea or Soho ? I'll take a pair...
I have just learned that this kind of heel is called a Louis heel, and, the name and style originated in the seventeenth century with King Louis XIV. As he was only five foot three inches tall, he commissioned heels to be made for him to increase his height. Nobody was allowed to have heels higher than his own. He declared that only nobility could wear red shoes and his shoes were often decorated with battle scenes. They eventually became popular with ladies, especially King Louis’ mistress, Madame Pompadour.
In the late 1700’s Napoleon banished high heels in an attempt to show equality. High heels were associated with opulence and wealth, which was to be avoided at the time. Despite the law, Marie Antoinette went to the guillotine defiantly in two inch heels.
Today the “Louis” term refers to heels with a concave curve and outward taper at the bottom or base of the heel. They are also rather ergonomic, as the heel is placed directly under the natural heel of the foot, thus creating balance and even distribution of weight which helps keep the back and legs aligned.
They are, seemingly, quite popular for outdoor wear and weddings in particular, as the heels won’t sink into soft ground as they would with a stiletto heel. Not that I plan to wear that particular heel to any weedings, I mean weddings. Ok maybe ...
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