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Was in a Museum yesterday observing 19th century Americans

bluemagic

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DocHolliday

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Square-toed shoes have come and gone through history. In the Middle Ages, after the pointed shoe known as the poulaine could grow no longer and no pointier, the fashionable abandoned them in favor of square-toed shoes that quickly grew as caricatured as the style they replaced. By the time of Henry VIII, these "footbags" had become as broad as 6.5 inches.

Poulaine:
Arsen_5104_f14_detail2.jpg


When the poulaine was at its peak, sumptuary laws regulated how long and pointy they could be. If you were nobility, you could have, say, two foot lengths, while the commoners had to make do with pairs somewhat freakishly less pointed.

Here's Henry in his square toes:

Henry-VIII-kingofengland_1491-1547.jpg


Even as recently as the early 20th century, men's shoes came in a huge variety of shapes, many of which look quite feminine today.
 

voxsartoria

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Ancient Egyptians wore mandals.

Country Dutch wore wooden Crocs.

Luftvier wears lederhosen.

DWFIII wears kilts and hand-made Leprechaun shoes.

For the very earliest and most ancient forms of mens clothing and shoes, look in a Reevolving threak.


- B
 

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