Shoes

Shoes or "slippers" of the 1860s were generally what we now call ballet flats. They were low-heeled or had no heel. They were square-toed. Some had ribbon ties on the sides, but many were simply slip-ons. Slippers were made from silk, leather or embroidery.

Some ladies made their own slippers from top to bottom, others made their "uppers" and had a shoemaker sole them. Many bought their shoes ready-made.

Slippers could be solid colors, stripes, or embroidered designs. They were commonly embellished with rosettes or bows that either matched, coordinated or contrasted with the shoe color.

Good reproductions are available from American Duchess...

...and Amazon Drygoods

Modern shoes can work if you find the right style.

Shoe Rosettes are available from Creative Cockades

Make Them
Every Lady Her Own Shoemaker - In 1855 an anonymous Lady published a small book of instructions for making shoes at home - "Every Lady her own Shoemaker or, A Complete Self-Instructor in The Art of Making Gaiters and Shoes". Her patterns are for shoes, for ankle-high gaiters with fabric uppers, leather soles, leather heels and toe-caps, for Congress gaiters with an elastic gore instead of a laced opening, and also for a man's slippers. This facsimile copy includes 6 pull out diagrams.

The Bowes Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

Der Bazaar 1863

La Mode Illustree February 1862

Needlework slippers, one unfinished