Name Those Shoes! (please vote!)

From the Bata Shoe Museum

It’s time to play… Name Those Shoes!  With the new 18th century shoe prototype expected by the end of January, we need to find a proper, pretty name for them – can’t keep calling them “those 18th century shoes!”

I’m looking for something that evokes history and culture related to the upper echelons of society in the 18th century.  The shoes, after all, are for you ladies of the gentry and aristocracy, and so the name must reflect this.

Please have a vote on what I’ve come up with, or enter your own name.  The “winning” name will be announced with the shoes in early February.  Thank you!




23 Comments

  • Sandra Brake

    January 13, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    I think since you have been the genesis of this wonderful idea, they should be called "The Duchess". Or more familiarly, "where are my duchesses?".

    Reply
  • Sandra Brake

    January 13, 2011 at 1:58 AM

    Does you know if you can Scotchguard silk?
    I will definitely need a pair I can wear outdoors as well and since it's been raining here since October and we are now in flood with another three months of rain predicted then maybe I should be looking at Chopines!

    Reply
  • Lauren Stowell

    January 13, 2011 at 2:11 AM

    Initially – we all will refer to them as whatever the name turns out to be, so "the georgiana shoes," or "the versailles shoes," but on the website, for banners and ad purposes, it will always have "American Duchess" in front of it, so everyone knows who makes them and where to get them.

    Silk – when you have them dyed, they will be sprayed with a sealer. This doesn't waterproof them, and that's always the problem with fabric shoes, in wet conditions. You'll want to save them for less-dirty, less-wet occasions, and wear the American Duchess's future leather shoes in the mud and wet!

    Reply
  • Sandra Brake

    January 13, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    Mmm yes, I hadn't thought that far. Of course they would have to be like that on the web and for marketing and even meta-data.
    And I don't know why I'd be asking anyone where I'd put them since I will obviously sleep with them.
    In light of these considerations I will go and vote for Versailles.

    Reply
  • Margravine Louisa

    January 13, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    Should be named after a dance:
    Gigue, Bouree, Gavotte, Minuet, Waltz, Marche, Arabesque,Danse(all with the proper accents of course)

    Reply
  • Lauren Stowell

    January 13, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Margravine, I do like the idea of them named after a dance – I love the word Arabesque, although a more exotic shoe for the future, perhaps?

    Fiorina – Petit Trianon, I love it. Just all these name suggestions along are conjuring images of beautiful shoes!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    January 13, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    Ooh, too many ideas – how about Fragonards?

    Also, it might be fun to name all the shoes after famous ladies of fashion (or gentlemen, for men's shoes) or painters of the particular period the shoes are designed for. Fragonard would work well for these (The Swing is from the 1760s, I think), while Watteau would work for earlier styles. Similarly, Pompadour could work for earlier shoes, while Antoinette would work for these, era-wise… Just an idea. What can I say, I like themes?!

    Reply
  • Lauren Stowell

    January 13, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    I love the idea of naming them after dances, fashionable historical ladies (such as Georgiana, Antoinette, Polignac, etc.), or places (like Devonshire, Paris, Versailles). It's so hard to choose now! You're all giving such great suggestions! "The Pompadours" has been suggested a couple times, too, and I'm starting to fall in love with it!

    Reply
  • MrsC (Maryanne)

    January 13, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    I love Pompadours as much as Minuets. I think it's important to choose names SO synonymous with the era that even the most newbie of costume wearer can work out when they are from. Surely everyone knows who La Pompadour was, or at least associate the name with powdered wigs and panniers ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  • Unknown

    January 14, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    As I've read through the comments, I must say, I like the idea of giving them the name "the duchess"
    I mean, this will be the first shoes you made of this line, after all, right?
    Although I like the name "Pompadours" as well, I wouldn't refer to one particular person, if I would not have taken his/her shoes or style as a reference.

    Greets from vienna!

    Reply
  • Anne Elizabeth

    January 14, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    I am really liking the idea of "Pompadours". Many people call that a Louis XV heel, I think, but he didn't wear them, after all. ๐Ÿ˜‰ (At least I think men's heels were less common and less curvy.)

    Reply
  • Lauren Stowell

    January 14, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    Now this is hard to choose! So far (sneak peek) "The Georgianas" is in the lead, but many people have suggested wonderful names, to include "The Pompadours" and "The Minuets," both I like muchly.

    I will write a proper bit about this, but the reason I don't think we should call them "The Duchesses" is because it will be redundant when everything is put together – "American Duchess Duchess Shoes." The whole line has "Duchess" attached to it (when there is indeed a line of more than one style), so wouldn't it be fun to tag these specific shoes with their own name? I don't want to confuse anyone in the future.

    Reply
  • Emma

    January 14, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    When everything is put together I really like the way "American Duchess Devonshire shoes" sounds, especially with the slight alliteration.

    Reply

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