Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

The pointy shoes are a shibboleth. They identify a group not despite their impracticality but because of it. Another example is the belief in miracles, the more unlikely the better, because it is the absurdity of the belief that distinguishes you from unbelievers.

There are oodles of such shibboleths in modern times, particularly in politics. Just think of any political proposition that is absurd on its face and more absurd on reflection. If it's still widely supported by a particular group that may well be because of its group-identifying absurdity rather than despite it.

But it is often not a scam of any kind, but sincerely accepted by adherents. This kind of cognitive flexibility goes a long way toward explaining modern politics and not so modern religions. I suspect pointy shoes may have been the same, with their wearer's convinced of their inherent value.

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#5

Post by jacobush » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:20 PM UTC

pitzips wrote: post #2

Similarly, the pointy shoes still live on in Mexico and Southern USA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_pointy_boots

I didn't know there was a connection! I wonder if the US highway shields also somehow kept an "older" design language while in Europe things "progressed" more easily to more modernist forms.

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#6

Post by Buetol » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:21 PM UTC

Those shoes were also useful for lifting the ladies long dresses, making them very practical at parties.

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#7

Post by Boulth » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:23 PM UTC

hirundo wrote: post #4

The pointy shoes are a shibboleth. They identify a group not despite their impracticality but because of it. Another example is the belief in miracles, the more unlikely the better, because it is the absurdity of the belief that distinguishes you from unbelievers. There are oodles of such shibboleths in modern times, particularly in politics. Just think of any political proposition that is absurd on its face and more…

Interesting point of view. That'd explain flat earth and other oddities.

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#8

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:26 PM UTC

jacobush wrote: post #5

pitzips wrote: post #2

Similarly, the pointy shoes still live on in Mexico and Southern USA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_pointy_boots

I didn't know there was a connection! I wonder if the US highway shields also somehow kept an "older" design language while in Europe things "progressed" more easily to more modernist forms.

[deleted]

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#9

Post by aresant » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:27 PM UTC

A restored pair that illustrates the appeal -

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/122170

Re: Long, Pointy Shoes in Medieval Fashion

#10

Post by pseudolus » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:27 PM UTC

pitzips wrote: post #2

Similarly, the pointy shoes still live on in Mexico and Southern USA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_pointy_boots

The story mentions modern day successors in the form of winklepickers which were apparently a highlight of 1950's/1960's fashion [0][1]. I'm predicting a resurgence in the early 2020's until the TSA declares them a menace to airport security at which point they fall out of favour again until the early 2050's.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winklepicker

[1] https://gucinari.co.uk/shoes/boots/the-history-of-winklepick...