Evening slippers

L. Perchellet

1890–99 · silk · Costume Institute

While Paris was the undisputed capital of fashion in the 19th century, regional and national variations have always been an important aspect of western fashion history. This pair of classic evening pumps illustrates the French taste in the 1890s for a very short and tight vamp and high toe spring (up curve of the sole). American shoes of this period exhibit a much longer, shallow pointed toe with less spring. The superior quality of this pair by the noted Paris maker L. Perchellet is demonstrated by the refined S-curve of the sole and heel breast and the unusually fine silver-set rhinestone ornament.

Artist

L. Perchellet

Date

1890–99

Medium

silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Rodman A. Heeren, 1959