Red heels

The Merghelynck Museum's collection includes a series of fashionable garments. Most of them are made of fragile materials and therefore require the utmost care. The collection includes textiles, such as beautiful cloaks, but also accessories such as a walking stick, a clock and jewellery. There is a lot to say about the shoes. They probably date from the 19th century, but are inspired by 18th-century fashion. The red heels in particular capture the imagination. Are they the precursors of the red Louboutin soles?

Painful luxury

The shoes say a lot about the fashion of the time, the status of those who wore them and the spirit of the age. They survived the First World War and are in very good condition. The men's shoes are made of leather and have a buckle and a heel. Lace-up shoes did not yet exist. The buckle served to keep the shoe tight around the foot. Both shoes are identical because there was no such thing as a left and right shoe. Those who could afford it had a servant or maid with approximately the same shoe size break in the new shoes. Although wearing shoes was a luxury, breaking them in was particularly painful.

Like father, like daughter

For men of status, a heel had been common since Louis XIV. He introduced the heeled shoe because, in combination with the close-fitting stockings and short coat, it emphasised the shape of the legs. If the heel was red, it further emphasised the noble status of the wearer. After a while, it became fashionable for women to wear men's clothing. Hats with wide brims, men's coats and, of course, shoes with heels. After the French Revolution, heeled shoes disappeared from men's wardrobes due to their association with the French nobility. The trend continued among women.

Red soles

Today, red soles are the trademark of Louboutin, the famous high-heeled women's pumps. The price tag is hefty, so only the well-heeled can afford a pair. Did Louboutin draw inspiration for these exclusive shoes from the red heels of 18th-century nobles?