Red Shoes | yoreshoes

Red

Red shoes have been worn as a symbol of status throughout time. Can you think of any very expensive red soled shoes that are still worn today...?

Red heeled shoes were first worn in France during the reign of King Louis XIV and because the king was quite short he wore high heels and a very tall wig. Red heels then became a sign of nobility. Red was also a very exspensive colour because the dye was rare and so it became known as a colour that only people with status and money could wear. This is why the Pope, cardinals and bishops are often still seen in red today. Next time you look at an old painting, have a look to see what colours they are wearing and the shoe and heel colour...

Red heels for the powerful Only high profile people in society could wear red shoes a long time ago. Red shoes and heels were seen as powerful. These shoes have protectors to keep them clean too. The Shoe Collection, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery	Red Chinese clogs Red is a very lucky colour in Chinese culture. The Shoe Collection, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery	Pope Leo XIII's Shoe This shoe was worn by the Pope from 1878 to 1903. The Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church and lives in Italy in the Vatican. Can you see the Pope's coat of arms? There is a message sewed on the shoe in Latin which translates as "How blessed are the feet of the King of Peace". The Shoe Collection, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery
The Ruby Slippers These shoes would have wowed audiences as their red colour was chosen to make the most of the fact that The Wizard of Oz was one of the first films to be made in colour. It would have been quite an amazing shock even though it is normal for us now.

Red

Red heels for the powerful

Only high profile people in society could wear red shoes a long time ago. Red shoes and heels were seen as powerful. These shoes have protectors to keep them clean too. The Shoe Collection, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery

Red Chinese clogs

Red is a very lucky colour in Chinese culture. The Shoe Collection, Northampton Museums and Art Gallery

Pope Leo XIII's Shoe

The Ruby Slippers

These shoes would have wowed audiences as their red colour was chosen to make the most of the fact that The Wizard of Oz was one of the first films to be made in colour. It would have been quite an amazing shock even though it is normal for us now.