shoe history lesson #1: the earliest platforms?

in the oil painting below (called "The Arnolfini Portrait") by 15th century Flemish painter Jan van Eyck, you can see a pair of odd-looking "shoes" lying on the far left floor, in the foreground. to me, they look like an uncomfortable combination of flip-flops and platforms! (see detail shot above.)


after doing some research, I learned they're called pattens, or overshoes. both men and women in the Middle Ages until the early 20th century wore them outdoors or in public places over a normal shoe. leather or cloth bands held the pattens together, reinforced by wood or wood and metal soles. the words "clogges" and "galoches" were also used to refer to pattens. (clogs and galoshes, anyone?)

because normal shoes in the 15th century were so thin-soled, people wore pattens to protect their feet from the mud and dirt that covered most roads. (this was long before pavement!) even so, pattens were considered fashionable and they appear in several paintings from that time period, such as this pastel painting by Jean-Étienne Liotard:


one place that frowned upon wearing pattens? church, because pattens made considerable noise (a clinking sound). wearing them inside houses was also considered rude, as the act was seen as bringing dirt inside.

though I'll take my comfy platforms any day, I have to admit that I kind of wish mine clinked!

thanks to wikipedia for the information and art.