Posts by Anna Sutton

In palaces and ballets, on celluloid and runways, red shoes have been turning heads for centuries. Anna Sutton explores their secrets behind their hypnotic allure.

The red shoe: a source of fascination, power and mystery to both its wearer and beholder.

The use of red shoes as a mark of distinction can be seen throughout history across different cultures, but it was particularly pronounced in the French courts. During Louis XIV’s reign, the court was the arbiter of both style and etiquette. Shoes with red ‘Louis-style’ heels were worn by courtiers to distinguish them from other aristocrats. The luxuriously sanguine hue was sourced from the red pigment of the Mexican cochineal beetle. Ironically (and inevitably), aristocrats emulated the look, making it fashionable outside the courts. The style endured until it was scorned by French Revolutionaries in the late 1700s. (more…)

Countless ballerinas have graced the stage with elegant Repetto-shod feet, but the shoe long ago burst the confines of ballet and headed out to the street. Its ubiquitous style has since morphed into every imaginable form, from pony-hair leopard print to crystal-embellished suede.

The legendary label is an enduring tribute to passion and technique. In 1947 Rose Repetto, mother of dancer and choreographer Roland Petit, lovingly created a pair of ballet shoes for him in a humble Parisian atelier. The innovative reverse-stitch technique she used resulted in a flexible, lightweight slipper that became popular amongst dancers, who still flock to Repetto boutiques today. (more…)

Many of today’s trendsetters are artists or pop icons; in 18th-century Paris, it was ballerinas who led the way. Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo was one of the first ballerinas to influence fashion. The Paris Opera soloist performed steps previously reserved for men and shortened her dresses to give herself freedom while jumping. Believing that dance should be expressive and unhindered by cumbersome costumes, she caused a scandal when she discarded her panniers, corset and skirt in exchange for a light muslin dress. Similarly, Marie Taglioni did future ballerinas a huge service by kicking off her heels, replacing them with more flexible ballet slippers. This was a new dawn for ballet, a time when artists began to go beyond the rigid structures of court dancing. (more…)