Why Were Uncomfortable Poulaines High Fashion During The Middle Ages?

Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – You have probably seen people wearing shoes with extremely long toes in many Medieval paintings. These pointed shoes, whose tips could extend from just a few inches to well over two feet, were called poulaines. They were high fashion during the Middle Ages and were also referred to by other names such as pigache, pike, or crakow.

Left: Christopher of Bavaria (1416-1448) wearing poulines. Middle: Meyers Konversationslexikon 1888-1889 – Public Domain. Right: Poulaines worn in Burgundy c. 1470. Credit: Guillebert de Lannoy, c. 1468-70. Public Domain

The design of this particular style of shoe can be traced back to the 12th century. However, it did not become widely popular until the 14th-15th centuries. This was largely due to Crusaders who introduced various types of Hittite and Akkadian footwear upon their return to Western Europe from the Orient. These designs were distinguished by their elongated forms that culminated in subtle points. ¹

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