
Fin de Siecle / Gibson Girl · 1890s · American
Production
handmade
Material
red leather
Culture
American
Influences
Gibson Girl practical fashion · men's oxford shoe styling
A pair of women's oxford shoes in glossy red leather featuring the characteristic lace-up closure with multiple eyelets. The shoes display a pointed toe typical of 1890s footwear, with a moderate curved heel approximately two inches in height. The leather appears to be patent or highly polished, creating a reflective surface. The construction shows clean stitching lines along the sole attachment and upper panels. The lacing system uses what appears to be matching red leather or fabric laces threaded through metal eyelets. The overall silhouette reflects the Gibson Girl era's preference for practical yet refined footwear that could accommodate the active lifestyle promoted for women during this period.
Lineage: “men's oxford shoe styling”
These two oxfords trace the gender migration of a shoe silhouette across a crucial decade. The black and cream spectator with its crisp contrast panels and sturdy lace-up construction represents the masculine sporting shoe that emerged in the 1880s—built for golf courses and tennis courts with that telltale two-tone swagger.
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