Evening shoes
1885–90
Medium
Silk
Classification
Evening shoes
Culture
French
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Marion B. Grant, 1931
Accession Number
2009.300.4206a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of late 19th-century French fashion with these exquisite *Evening Shoes* crafted by G.L. & Company around 1885–90. Made of luxurious silk, these shoes exemplify the craftsmanship of Parisian ateliers during the Belle Époque's early stirrings, when France reigned supreme in haute couture. Silk, prized for its shimmering sheen and smooth drape, was a hallmark of high-end eveningwear, allowing for delicate construction that flattered the foot while signaling wealth and refinement. In the 1880s, women's evening footwear evolved from sturdy boots to slender, ornate slip...