History’s Most Fascinating Footwear

Published September 8, 2012
Updated January 11, 2018

History’s Most Fascinating Footwear: The Chopine

What an odd and cumbersome way to avoid dirt! Present throughout the 15th throughout 17th centuries, women would don the platform footwear in order to ensure that the hems of their dresses would not become riddled with mud and dirt while walking. The sky-high shoes were popular throughout Venice, and many speculate that there was a positive correlation between heel height and social status.

The Chopine Shoe

Source: Blogspot

Fascinating Footwear

Source: Blogspot

Chopine

Source: Newsok

The Qabaqib

Qabaqib Shoe

Source: Newsok

Prominent during the Ottoman empire, the qabaqib shoes were worn by women in Turkish bathhouses so as not to damage their feet on the heated floors.

Qabaqib Footwear

Source: Flickr

All That's Interesting
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.