Historical Sew Fortnightly

The HSF ’14: Challenge #7 Tops and toes

I suspect some of you may be planning to go rather all-out with Challenge #6: Fairytale, so Challenge #7 dials it back just a bit.  Challenge #7 (due April 15) is Tops and Toes and focuses on accessories: specifically those that go on top of your head, and on your feet.

So what does that cover?  Hats, hoods, headscarfs, caps, coifs, crowns, tiaras, diadems, earrings, eyeglasses, parasols (they go over your head, so we’ll count them) chopines, shoes, slippers, sandals, stockings, and probably a few more that I’ve forgotten!

Here are a few (well, a lot) of pretties to get you inspired as you plan your

Headdress with leaf-shaped ornaments, 2600—2500 b.c.; Early Dynastic period IIIa; Sumerian style Excavated at “King’s Grave,” Ur, Mesopotamia Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian

Headdress with leaf-shaped ornaments, 2600—2500 b.c.; Early Dynastic period IIIa; Sumerian style Excavated at “King’s Grave,” Ur, Mesopotamia Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian

Iron Age shoes (ca. 400 BC-400 CE) found on body found in European bog

Iron Age shoes (ca. 400 BC-400 CE) found on body found in European bog

Hood from Greenland, 14th century, Danish National Museum, Copenhagen

Hood from Greenland, 14th century, Danish National Museum, Copenhagen

Portrait of Anne d'Alençon, Marquise de Montferrat (1492-1562) daughter of Rene Duc d'Alençon from the House of Valois-Alençon and Marguerite de Vaudemont by Macrino d'Alba .  Sacro Monte di Crea, Monferrato, Italy

Portrait of Anne d’Alençon, Marquise de Montferrat (1492-1562) daughter of Rene Duc d’Alençon from the House of Valois-Alençon and Marguerite de Vaudemont by Macrino d’Alba . Sacro Monte di Crea, Monferrato, Italy

Women's fashions, 1570-75, by Lucas de Heere

Women’s fashions, 1570-75, by Lucas de Heere

Coif and forehead cloth embroidered in colored silks and metal threads, interspersed with spangles. Probably last decade of the 16th century

Coif and forehead cloth embroidered in colored silks and metal threads, interspersed with spangles. Probably last decade of the 16th century

Chopines, 1590-1610, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chopines, 1590-1610, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hood, ca. 1640, British, 1975.203

Hood, ca. 1640, British, Metropolitan Museum of Art 1975.203

Stockings, possibly Spanish,  17th Century, Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, P96.0101

Stockings, possibly Spanish, 17th Century, Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, P96.0101

A pair of women's slippers, 1730-1750,  Museum Weissenfels - Schloss Neu Augustusburg

A pair of women’s slippers, 1730-1750, Museum Weissenfels – Schloss Neu Augustusburg

Pair of Woman’s Shoes, circa 1700-1715, Silver lace, metal sequins, silk satin, leather, LACMA

Pair of Woman’s Shoes, circa 1700-1715, Silver lace, metal sequins, silk satin, leather, LACMA

Men's coral silk stockings, 1725-1750 meg-andrews.com

Men’s coral silk stockings, 1725-1750 meg-andrews.com

Bergere hat, 1760, straw with embroidered decorations,Victoria and Albert Museum

Bergere hat, 1760, straw with embroidered decorations,Victoria and Albert Museum

Bonnet, Evening, ca. 1802, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bonnet, Evening, ca. 1802, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Shoes, 1806-15, E. Pattison (British, 1800—1850), Met Museum, 2001.576ab

Shoes, 1806-15, E. Pattison (British, 1800—1850), Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001.576ab

1815 v13 Ackermann's fashion plate 13 - Walking Dress with bonnet

1815 v13 Ackermann’s fashion plate 13 – Walking Dress with bonnet

Shoes, 1845—60, French (probably), cotton, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Shoes, 1845—60, French (probably), cotton, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wedding bonnet, American, 1860s, silk, MFA Boston, 47.1519

Wedding bonnet, American, 1860s, silk, MFA Boston, 47.1519

Tiara, Phillips Brothers, 1860-70, V&A

Tiara, Phillips Brothers, 1860-70, V&A

Stockings,1875—99, silk and cotton, French,  Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.64.2ab

Stockings,1875—99, silk and cotton, French, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.64.2ab

Slip on court shoes by John Thomas for Henry Marshall, 1883 - 1885, Powerhouse Museum, Australia

Slip on court shoes by John Thomas for Henry Marshall, 1883 – 1885, Powerhouse Museum, Australia

Slip on court shoes by John Thomas for Henry Marshall, 1883 - 1885, Powerhouse Museum, Australia

Slip on court shoes by John Thomas for Henry Marshall, 1883 – 1885, Powerhouse Museum, Australia

Parasol, ca 1896, French, silk and ivory, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983.102a—e

Parasol, ca 1896, French, silk and ivory, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983.102a—e

Folding spectacles of tortoiseshell, probably Chinese, pre 1900

Folding spectacles of tortoiseshell, probably Chinese, pre 1900, trocadero.com

Cloche, Jardine hats, 1917, LACMA

Cloche, Jardine hats, 1917, LACMA

Shoes, Delman, 1937—39, American, leather, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Shoes, Delman, 1937—39, American, leather, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Can’t wait to see what you make!

30 Comments

  1. Jessie says

    pinterest.comhttp://www.pinterest.com/pin/75224256245458767/ The first thing that pops into my head when I think of toe-related accessories are spats, like the ones with this darling cycling suit from 1896-98!

    • metmuseum.orgSpats would indeed count! 🙂

      The ones you posted (here is the proper link: http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/159074?rpp=20&pg=1&pos=1&ft=bicycle+suit&img=1 ) are actually gaiters, because they go further up the leg. They are gorgeous though! Spats are for feet and ankles only, so spats are in, but gaiters are a stretch of the challenge definition!

      Makes me think I should do a terminology post about the difference between the two…

      • Jessie says

        Thank you, silly me haha I remembered what they were called right as I pressed the post button! Talk about a “Doh” moment.

        I do think a post about the difference would be quite lovely. I am surprised to have not come across one in the Steampunk community. They are all about those foot-coverings.

  2. This looks like an incentive to finally finish my bergere hat.
    Or fabric-cover the shoes that look vaguely 40s and that I want to fabric-cover.

      • Maybe I’ll manage both; the shoes are an easier project that I might do instead of a more time consuming challenge that I will inevitably drop from… 😀

  3. I adore those black and white shoes! I imagine them being worn with a sweet little pierrot costume.

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