by freelance writer Jane Sandwood

Have you ever wished you could walk in the shoes of the protagonists (main characters) in your favorite Regency romances? To fashionable ladies of the Regency period, shoes were just as important as they are now. Most ladies of the 1800s owned at least three pairs of shoes: everyday shoes, walking boots, and dancing slippers. If you’re planning on putting together a Regency-era ensemble, getting the shoes right is a must.

The Regency Shoe’s Place In History

Shoes in the Regency period were much simpler than their earlier counterparts. This was largely due to their context. As the late 1700s and early 1800s saw multiple revolutions (American, French, and Industrial), footwear experienced a revolution of sorts as well — one that reflected the societal changes of the time. While shoes of the baroque and Rococo periods were characterized by embellished silk and metallic threads, Regency period footwear was often delicate, yet more practical. Styles varied from pointed toes and high heels to more subdued ballet slipper-like shoes — all the better for dancing!

As far as period dressing goes, Regency Era clothes were quite comfortable and modern for their time. While cosmopolitan ladies would wear dainty silk and satin flat slippers for their strolls around the city, women in the country who often traveled by foot needed more substantial shoes. The popularity of leather due to its versatility made sure that leather shoes, particularly ankle boots and half boots, were staple items in the late 18th century.

While Regency Era shoes were far more practical than earlier shoes, they were still quite delicate, like gloves for feet. Unlike modern shoes that are reinforced by stiffening materials and wider soles, Regency shoes were quite thin and prone to scuffing and tearing. Thus, they usually didn’t last for a long time. Thankfully, we can replicate the Regency look today with far sturdier shoes.

How To Wear Regency Style Shoes Today

Leather shoes enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 1800s. They were comfortable, relatively sturdy, and quite stylish as well. Look for lace-up boots in whatever color you wish; though black and brown were common colors, leather boots often came in a variety of colors. To give these walking boots a feminine touch, they were often embellished with a silk rosette at the toe, right where the laces began. Complement these boots with a simple leather pouch and an empire-cut dress and you’ll look like you stepped right out of an Austen novel.

For dressier shoes, look for pastel-colored satin slippers with square or rounded toes. To dress up simpler footwear, you can mimic the ladies of the Regency. Similar to the rosettes typically used on walking shoes, they would tack silk or satin ribbons onto their shoes. You could also give simple slippers a more feminine look by crisscrossing satin ribbons up the leg. Simply cut a long piece of satin ribbon into four pieces, sew them to the inside of both sides of your slippers, then tie them up like a ballerina.

Luckily for fans of the Regency era, finding contemporary shoes that resemble Regency footwear shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge. Until time travel becomes a reality, we’ll simply have to settle for wearing shoes in the same style.