Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!

January 24, 2003 9:36 AM

Solemates: The Century in Shoes is the most ridiculously well developed site on shoes I have ever seen. Journey through the decades with advertisements, movie clips, well-researched history, and most importantly -- 360 degree Quicktime views of shoes. How many shoes have you collected over the years? Do you still wear them? Why do women have to buy so many anyway? Are you more concerned with comfort or style now? Of course, I'm still saving up to buy some of those Fish Tank platform shoes from I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.
posted by Stan Chin (12 comments total)

That is a ridiculously well developed site. I kept expecting to see an ad saying this site brought to you by Nike or something like that. I'm so used to seeing strange obsessions done GeoCities style. For a companion piece check out For the Love of Opera Gloves with its dozens of galleries. The person behind the site even has his own blog on opera gloves. Oh, and I've also always wanted some fish tank shoes. Thanks Stan!
posted by snez at 9:56 AM on January 24, 2003

What an amazing site! Great link Stan Chin!
Shoes didn't change all that much from the 1930's to the 1950's. The 1990's shoes are friggin ugly. Is it just me, or did it appear that women had much smaller feet in 1900?
posted by aacheson at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2003

must...resist...urge...to...send...link...to...ex-girlfriend
posted by gravelshoes at 10:34 AM on January 24, 2003

If you're in Toronto, you might want to visit the Bata Shoe Museum. It's a great building, and the website is worth a look, too.
posted by stonerose at 10:34 AM on January 24, 2003

This is heaven. Being well shod is the first step in being well dressed. aacheson - People have gotten taller and fatter on average since 1900 - that may explain it.
posted by rainbaby at 10:40 AM on January 24, 2003

Is it just me, or did it appear that women had much smaller feet in 1900?

From the site:

"Early in the decade, all the fussing with the top portion of the body also caused people to develop a preference for narrow feet, believed to be a sign of breeding and gentility. Both men and women regularly wore shoes that were a full size too small. Some women even opted to have their little toes removed to achieve narrower feet."

As an unapologetic shoe junkie, I must say this is a wonderful site. Great link, Stan!
posted by jennyb at 11:23 AM on January 24, 2003

Calling Lance Arthur.
posted by riffola at 12:02 PM on January 24, 2003

once the 'toes worn through' look gets hot, I'll be lookin at a closet full of gold!
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 12:12 PM on January 24, 2003

as another shoe aholic....I must say that I just love how sexy those shoes from the fifties were...
posted by SweetIceT at 5:25 PM on January 24, 2003

Stan, I love this shoe site - thanks!
I saw a great shoe exhibit at the Musée de la Civilisation in Quebec this summer, and was collecting a few links for a possible post... so let me throw my finds into the mix, too. They aren't as contemporary or as in depth as your post, but still rather fun. This one is a fascinating single page site from the podiatry department at the University of Technology in Perth that shows some medieval shoes, including the origins of platform shoes and high heels. And this illustrated shoe history is really pretty interesting too, with an emphasis on ancient and medieval footwear.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:53 PM on January 24, 2003

Being well shod is the first step in being well dressed.

Which is why I wear only the Canvas Cadillac......and this model is next on my list..
posted by jonmc at 7:50 PM on January 24, 2003

Thank you, Stan Chin, for posting this site. It is a dream as well as an inspiration to me. The '60s yellow shoes are the most wonderful thing produced by American culture in the last century, truly.
posted by TurkishGolds at 9:17 PM on January 24, 2003