Fashion Through the Century

Although the human foot has remained unchanged for thousands of years, what people have worn on their feet shows incredible diversity. It is in this diversity that some of the most interesting aspects of culture are revealed. It's amazing how shoes, an item such purpose, have come to reflect the changing passions, perspectives, and ideals of our culture. We can either hide them or flaunt them, but they will always say something about who we are, what we do, where we've been, and where we're going.

The 20^th Century showed that each decade had its share of drastic changes in fashion, the earlier decades' changes being a little more extreme than the latter ones. The items of wear which have undergone changes and additions in some decades, but at the end of the century managed to have lines still quite similar in style to those pictured at the start of the century, are shoes, the main one being the patent leather court shoe with the Louis XV heel. Click on the corresponding decades and see for yourself how extreme or subtle these changes were…

The History of Shoes: Superstition
Shoes - good luck

A common superstition concerning cuckoos is whatever the person is doing when they hear the first cuckoo will remain unchanged for the following year. Some people start running when they hear the cuckoo, reasoning they will be busy all year round. Another superstition on hearing the cuckoo is to remove the left shoe and there you will find a hair the colour of the person you are bound to marry.