New Year's Eve is almost here and some of us may be looking for accessories to wear at a party or a special event. On the Internet you will find many inspirations and ideas, but the best advice may come (as it often does...) from the past.
During the Great Depression women were encouraged to buy gold or silver leather shoes. Now, you may think this sounds rather extravagant, especially considering that such shades expressed status, style and power throughout history (check out ancient Egyptian golden funerary sandals or 16th century Italian chopines in gold leather).
Yet metallics were considered as neutral shades, ideal to match with all sorts of clothes (in yesterday's post we looked at Gena Rowlands as Gloria in the eponymous film by John Cassavetes changing her outfits as the story progressed but wearing just one pair of nude sandals throughout the film, so get inspired by her as well...). Therefore, while not everybody could afford metallic shoes, they represented an investment as such shoes could constantly update an outfit.
The best evening shoes incorporated shell-like motifs, Art Deco-inspired elements, cutouts, zig zags, or swirls, but - you're warned - you may not be able to find that easily original '30s golden shoes in good conditions as their owners put them to good use. That said, every now and then you can still spot them in museums.
The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada, has got some examples such as American and French gold and silver shoes from the '30s by I.Miller and Clouet Frères, that are currently included in the exhibitions "Want: Desire, Design and Depression Era" (until 30th March 2020) and "The Gold Standard: Glittering Footwear from Around the Globe" (running through 2019).
You may not be able to buy them, but, well, they can still provide some wonderful inspirations and some ideas for a last-minute shopping spree. Unsure about which shade of gold or silver you should go for? Check out the Pantone offer and you will definitely find the best gold or silver hue for you.
Comments