-- Ian
McKeever
Going
out this weekend? Dancing? Beware of the lascivious Tango warned the Ladies Home Journal in 1921! Shoes and
boots like these, which usually featured criss-crossed laces, became know as
Tango shoes in the early 20th century when the dance first flourished in
America. The high, shapely heel flattered the ankle and leg as the dancer was
"dipped" by her partner.
 |
| Red silk satin barrette style Tango boots are on view at the Currier Museum of Art "Killer Heels" exhibit through May 2016 @Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada |
These
red, silk satin French-made “barrette/Tango boots” are in the collection of the
Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto (http://www.batashoemuseum.ca)
and date circa 1910s-1920s. Even if you do not fancy dancing, they just beckon
you to have some fun, don’t they? In order to dance the Tango, the shoe needed
to be well-fitted and secure. The lacing, or barrette-style straps, run up the ankle (and often the calf, as
in this example) adding a provocative, sensual twist – appropriate for the
dance itself.
The
designer, Nicholas Greco, is responsible for some lovely footwear in the 1920s
and 1930s. Extant examples may be found in collections including the
Metropolitan Museum and the Shelburne Museum (http://shelburnemuseum.org/visit/),
such as this pair of suede and grosgrain, circa 1930.
The red silk satin barrette style Tango boots are on view at the Currier Museum of Art "Killer Heels-The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe" exhibit through May 2016. Organized by the Brooklyn Museum. @Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada
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