Evening boots 1855 - 1865

These evening boots were crafted, in the style of Defossée, from silk and leather, materials speaking to the privileged place of their wearer in society. Consider the social rituals and expectations surrounding evening events in the late 19th century, when these boots were likely made. These events created an enclosed, exclusive world for the elite. The boots are decorated with lace, emphasizing the value placed on ornamentation and visual display within this social sphere. They reflect the self-conscious conservatism of the time, reinforcing existing social hierarchies through fashion and material culture. Historians use fashion plates, personal letters, and social diaries to understand the significance of such objects. The boots reveal how personal adornment was deeply entwined with the social and institutional structures of the time.