Queen Victoria's shoes on display
Shoes which once belonged to 20th century UK monarch, Queen Victoria and Alexandra Princess of Wales have gone on display in Wirral, England.
The corded shoes and embroidered slippers feature in ‘The Finishing Touch’ exhibition at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight. The display tells the story of the changing role of women in English society between 1830 and 1940 and how this was reflected in ladies’ fashion.
Exhibition curator Alyson Pollard said: “Queen Victoria did a lot of walking on her Balmoral estate and popularised walking for women as a past time. The shoes in the exhibition are black corded shoes with little bows on the front and patent leather tips to the toes. They would have been for everyday wear, probably inside the house and to go outside only in good weather.”
The straight soled shoes date from between 1840 and 1850 when shoes were made the same shape for both the left and right foot.
“On one side of one of Queen Victoria’s shoes there is a patent leather patch,” said Ms Pollard. “Whoever made them for her has reinforced them to fit her foot. They aren’t well worn so we know it’s not a mend.”
The exhibition also features a pair of slippers owned by Alexandra Princess of Wales. “They are beautiful green, embroidered with flowers and leaves on the front,” said Ms Pollard.
“They are they are like a mule so they’ve got a low heel and a big fur trim. They were embroidered by Princess Alexander’s dresser who had them made into slippers to give as a gift to the Princess.”
