A history of shoes – timeline
Discover a history of shoe design spanning more than 3,000 years with our interactive timeline
Shoes
We have an unrivalled collection of shoes, with around 2,000 pairs spanning more than 3,000 years of history from different cultures around the globe. From hemp shoes found on the ancient Silk Road from the 1st Century BC to Venetian platform shoes typical of the 16th century, shoe design and construction reveals remarkable inventiveness.
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The breadth of our collection shows the chronological progression of shoe height, heel shape and materials, exposing just how many styles we consider to be modern have been in and out of fashion across the centuries.
Collection highlights
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Pair of shoes, made by Noritaka Tatehana, 2014, Japan -
Fifi, shoes, designed by Christian Louboutin, 2014, Paris, France -
Pair of platform shoes, designed by Vivienne Westwood, 1993, England -
Pair of shoes, unknown, 1730 – 40, Britain -
Nova shoes, designed by Zaha Hadid and United Nude, 2013, UK -
Child's shoe, about 1873, Shache, China -
Pair of boots, designed by Dr Martens/AirWair Ltd, Dr Martens Department Store, 1994, UK -
Pair of ankle boots, designed by Mary Quant, 1967, UK -
Boots, designed by Vivienne Westwood, 1991, UK -
Pair of boots, designed by Dolce & Gabbana, 2000, Italy -
Globoot children's waterproof boots, designed by Globoot Footwear, manufactured by Plastic Coatings Ltd., 20th century -
Pair of shoes, 1550 – 1070 BC, Egypt
Features
The art of shoe making
Discover the fine art of shoe making, from inspiration to design, construction and crafting
Fashion Unpicked: YSL couture evening dress and shoes
Discover a dazzling 1960s evening dress by Yves Saint Laurent and matching shoes by Roger Vivier
Three shoe designs by Alexander McQueen
Discover some of the most iconic designs that McQueen ever created, three shoes from 'Plato's Atlantis'
The secrets of shoe design
Leading shoe designers, Manolo Blahnik, Mark Hare, Caroline Groves, Sandra Choi and Christian Louboutin discuss their creative process
Christian Louboutin, shoe designer
Christian Louboutin sketches another signature red-soled creation while discussing his early inspirations
Cinderella's shoes
Explore the well-loved story of Cinderella as it has been told across the globe for centuries
Shoes formerly worn by Prince
Shoes worn by the best-selling musical artist Prince have been acquired for the V&A's National Collection of Performing Arts
Vivienne Westwood's extreme footwear
Enjoy a selection of Westwood's memorable footwear, from the stilettos of the punk era to the supermodel-toppling platforms of the early '90s
What makes CHANEL so iconic?
Explore the evolution of Gabrielle Chanel's design philosophy through her most enduring and recognisable pieces
Header image: Cunningham White shoes, Mr. Hare Ltd, 2015, designed in England, made in Italy. Museum no. T.19:1&2-2015. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London