Slippers 1890 - 1894

These striking red leather slippers were made by Rosenbloom's, though we don't know exactly when. The shape and color, though, give us plenty to think about. The pointed toe and the stacked heel suggest a specific kind of wearer, someone of means, someone who might have been concerned with keeping up with fashion trends. Made of supple red leather, they reference status and the performance of femininity. These slippers are not merely functional; they are making a statement. Who was Rosenbloom's? Was it a small workshop catering to an exclusive clientele? Or a larger-scale manufacturer responding to the democratizing trends in fashion? These are the kinds of questions a social historian might ask. By looking at trade directories, advertisements, and other archival sources, we can begin to understand the social conditions that gave rise to these beautiful, and intriguing, slippers.