18th Century Mules in Art

Some of you may be wondering how, when, and where to wear the new "Antoinette" 18th century mules, thinking they look oh-so delicate, and not at all practical for anything.  To answer the question, let's take a look at some primary source material - depictions of 18th century women wearing this type of shoe.  When did they wear it, and how?



Wear them in the boudoir...


Francois Boucher, La Toilette, 1742  

Wear them while crying ...



La Mauvaise Nouvelle "bas news," 1740, by Jean-Baptist-Marie Pierre

Wear them in the kitchen...




"Svenska: En piga hoser sappa utur en kiettel - i en skal," 1770s?, by Pehr Hillestrom

Wear them for breakfast...




Leonard Defrance, "The Breakfast"

Wear them to wash other people's clothes...



"La Blanchisseuse," 1761, Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Wear them when you're Madame de Pompadour...




"Portrait en pied de la marquise de Pompadour," 1748-55, Maurice Quentin de La Tour

Wear them for a dangerous liaison...



"The Boudoir," 1730s, Jean Baptiste Joseph Pater

Wear them while swinging in your pastoral garden...



Jean-Honore Fragonard, "Les hasards heureux de l'escarpolette," 1767-68

Wear them while out hunting...




"Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrews," 1748, Thomas Gainsborough

So where to wear your Antoinette mules?

Sport them for indoor events such as tea and dinner parties, or indoor reenactments.  Wear them in states of undress, or with more formal gowns, while relaxing, or while strolling formal gardens.  Wear them as a lady, a well-to-do middle class woman, or even a ladies' maid fortunate to receive her mistress' hand-me-downs.



...but DO wear them. Pre-Orders for Antoinette Mules, in blue or pink,

are open until November 17th!