Evening slippers 1885 - 1890

These evocative evening slippers, made by J. Ferry, offer a glimpse into a world of elegance and constraint. Imagine the woman who might have worn these – likely a member of the upper class, for whom appearances were paramount. Shoes like these weren't just a matter of personal taste; they were a signifier of social standing. The rich purple velvet speaks of luxury, of leisure, and of a life far removed from the practicalities of labor. But what did it feel like to wear these slippers? The soft velvet might have been a pleasure against the skin, but the shape of the shoe itself could have been restrictive, a gentle reminder of the limited sphere in which women of that era were expected to move. It's a paradox of comfort and confinement, luxury, and limitation, isn’t it? They remind us of the complex interplay between fashion, identity, and social expectation.