Evening slippers 1845 - 1865

These are a pair of evening slippers in the Empire style, likely made in France by P. Rouillier. These soft, silk slippers evoke a world of domesticity and restricted movement. The delicate slippers speak to the expectations placed on women to embody grace and refinement. Think about what it meant to be a woman in the 19th century. The clothing was often restrictive, the activities limited, and these slippers are an extension of that. Consider the labor involved in creating such delicate objects. The materials would have been sourced from around the globe, and the slippers themselves painstakingly assembled by skilled hands. These slippers are a reminder of the global networks of trade and labor that underpinned the fashion of the time. They also prompt us to reflect on the lives of the women who wore them, their experiences shaped by the constraints and expectations of their era.