Red heels & tongues

[Capt. Sterling]

So what do we know about red heels and tongues on shoes during the GAoP? I've heard one had to be introduced at court in order to be allowed such a distinctive touch, but, like I said, "heard". As GOF states on his website, the fad did trickle down to the middling sort later on but what about the time frame 1680-1720s, any specifics?

[Gentleman of Fortune]

I think that it is up to you.... With your kit, I say go for if you feel like it. A lot of fashion plates from pre-1700 are shown with red heels and tongues... And it can't mean that everyone had been to court.

I don't think the lower clases would be that pretentious pre 1700 though, so if your kit is more basic sailor, I don't think you could pull it off well... till maybe post 1715 or so.

But I doubt that common sailors would be that interested in red heels anyway.

Greg

[kass]

Red heels were a sign that you'd been presented in Court. I believe it was a French thing. But those who wanted to affect importance painted their heels red. It was certainly being done in the GAoP. I can think of a portrait of a young nobleman who has red heels painted about 1710.

Here's a link to a picture of a red heel. This is a detail shot from Louis XIV's Coronation portrait circa 1701. I believe Charles II's Coronation portrait (dated 1660) also shows red heels. I can't tell you when red heels when out of fashion though.

I've never heard of tongues being painted red.

[Gentleman of Fortune]

If you check out the famous fashion plates.... I can't remember who did them but they are all 1670s-90s, a lot have red heels and tongues...

About halfway down on my websites' footwear page I have crop the important parts.

http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/footwear.htm

Greg

[JohnnyTarr]

The wealth of knowledge you all have stuns me.

[Capt. Sterling]

The wealth of knowledge you all have stuns me.

Okay Shameless plug here... come to RF2 and you will be able to pick some of these amazing brains!!! (and I don't mean mine, there be nothing amazing here, I just follow instructions well...)

[JohnnyTarr]

As soon as the calander turns I am putting in for vacation for that weekend. I am also going to try and get Port Washington Festival.

[michaelsbagley]

Ya know, I have been looking at the GOF web site with regards to the information on shoes of the GAoP (I'm pretty good at custom footwear)...

And I was wondering about the red heels and tongues on the shoes in that image on the web page...

http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/footwear.htm

Is it possible the shoes may have had some sort of fabric lining? Or was the previous post in this thread, where I saw that someone mentioned that the red colouring on the heels was just red paint the most popular theory for the tongue of the shoes as well?

Just curious...

[Rumba Rue]

I never heard of red tongues either....maybe it's a vampire thing?

[michaelsbagley]

I never heard of red tongues either....maybe it's a vampire thing?

As a semi-retired Goth... I can only say, that I resemble that remark!

Or is it that I resent that remark?

[Bully MacGraw]

I do not know about red tongues but the red heal was a sign that you were presented a court.

I do know that this was done in France Spain and England

In the movie Rob Roy, the fop has red heals.

Cheers

Ed

[Gentleman of Fortune]

Is it possible the shoes may have had some sort of fabric lining?

You said lining... but in the context of the discussion I think you meant to say "covering" as in, "could it be some sort of fabric covering that makes them red?"

Right?

My answer would be that i think that it is some sort of paint on the leather to make them red.

That being said, there are period shoes that are fabric and also shoes that are fabric covered leather.

Here is anohter look at the "painted" heels and tongues.

I cant remember the exact date of this... but if I recall correctly this is one of Louis.

Now here is another shoe of the GAoP (I am pretty sure... you will have to forgive me as I can't find my notes) that has a red heel, but without red tongue

And lastly, here is one of a late 17th century man's shoe covered in velvet.

I would imagine that the fabric covers a multitude of shoemaking construction sins... but all the fabric covered ones that I can think about off hand are pretty elaborately embroidered. Which means you are going to have to have a pretty swanky "rest of the outfit" to pull off the look.

Greg aka GoF

[michaelsbagley]

Thanks GoF...

You answered the questions perfectly...

I did mean fabric lining though... I was wondering if the red tongues were possibly red fabric linings, as the red portions seems to be only on the inside part of the tongue and only shows on the portions where the tongue seems to be rolled out (I hope I'm making sense).

But now seeing those other pictures of shoes that you posted, it looks more like as you said, that the red tongue is just paint and not some sort of lining.

But it is interesting that there are fancy fabric covered shoes (for the wealthy anyways).... I don't think I would ever bother trying to make a fabric covered shoe (it's probably beyond my skill) and it also probably really doesn't suit any kind of pirate or privateer impersonation anyway.

[Red Cat Jenny]

Not to interrupt..but I do so very much like those embroidered shoes

Kudos on all the information here