This slide presentation outlines a psycho-sexual perspective of shoes. Shoes are intrinsically human and a source of eternal fascination to those who take an interest. The purpose of the presentation is to inform and entertain.

1. Cameron Kippen
the_footman@yahoo.com.au

2. Shoe (Anglo Saxon ‘scoe’)
meaning to cover furtively .
• To decorate
•To cover modesty
•To protect

3. Human feet do exhibit unique
features
• Weight bearing heelWeight bearing heel
• Inside arch, andInside arch, and
• Big toeBig toe
Bipedalism allows humans to be the only species on the
planet who can copulate standing vertical and facing
each other.

4. It’s all to do with the nervesIt’s all to do with the nerves
The pedal extremities are wellThe pedal extremities are well
supplied by nerve pathways whichsupplied by nerve pathways which
transmit messages to multiple andtransmit messages to multiple and
diverse areas of the brain.diverse areas of the brain.
The sensory centre for feet liesThe sensory centre for feet lies
adjacent to sensory nerves of theadjacent to sensory nerves of the
genitaliagenitalia.
Neural print-through may account
why some people experience
sexually expressive feet.

5. First ImpressionsFirst Impressions
Clothing has importantClothing has important
social significance whichsocial significance which
tells much about ourtells much about our
personality.personality.
Humans see and react to theHumans see and react to the
visual signals emitted byvisual signals emitted by
clothing.clothing.

6. Why do we wear clothes?Why do we wear clothes?
The essential purposes of
decoration were to beautify bodily
appearance, attract admiring
glances
and fortify self-esteem.
Protection came later and relied
on the application of new
technologies to problem solve.
Modesty was m111ost probably the
last function of clothing and
was accentuated by Christian fig leaf
mentality of the 2nd
century AD.

7. Fig Leaf MentalityFig Leaf Mentality
• Human decoration celebratesHuman decoration celebrates
appropriationappropriation
• Displacement of EffectDisplacement of Effect
supports feet and accessoriessupports feet and accessories
became gender symbolsbecame gender symbols
• The degree of harmony or
compromise between
decoration and modesty
may be seen clearly in shoes

8. Hidden SymbolsHidden Symbols
TasselsTassels
Brogues patternsBrogues patterns

9. Importance of shoes
Unshod feet in Roman times was
the mark of a slave or woman.
In antquity only male citizens had
the right to wear sandals.
Military rank was demonstrated
by the height of boots worn by
the soldier.
Elevated sandals were worn by
sex workers.

10. The Well Heeled
Sumptuous clothing and
fashionable footwear was
always the prerogative of the
ruling classes and originally
the preserve of men.

11. Beginning of female fashion
Crusaders introduced chivalry
and the concept of ideal beauty
to European Courts.
In the Middle Ages international
trade grew enriching the
bourgeoisie.
16th
century women’s costume
became sumptuous fashion.
Catherine di Medici (1519 – 1589)

12. Women’s ShoesWomen’s Shoes
• Revealing ShoesRevealing Shoes
Bare allBare all
• Concealing ShoesConcealing Shoes
Transmit a suggestive eroticTransmit a suggestive erotic
messagesmessages
• Masking.Masking.
Devoid of ornamentation,Devoid of ornamentation,
dowdy and utilitarian withdowdy and utilitarian with
no real personality.no real personality.
The illusion of sexy shoes areThe illusion of sexy shoes are
in their erotic communicationin their erotic communication
and snugnessand snugness.
Sexless Shoes (aka sensibleSexless Shoes (aka sensible
shoes or comfort shoes) areshoes or comfort shoes) are
stripped of illusion and sexualstripped of illusion and sexual
promise.promise.

13. Men’s ShoesMen’s Shoes
• Dominant ShoesDominant Shoes
• robust, wide, thick soled androbust, wide, thick soled and
heavyheavy
• Submissive ShoesSubmissive Shoes
• narrow , light weight thinnarrow , light weight thin
soles with tapering toessoles with tapering toes
• Neutral ShoesNeutral Shoes
• fashionably bland andfashionably bland and
introvertedintroverted.

14. Gender EquityGender Equity
Males wear shoes as part of a uniformMales wear shoes as part of a uniform
to mark membership in a group.to mark membership in a group.
Females choose their footwear toFemales choose their footwear to
outwardly express their personalityoutwardly express their personality
and uniquenessand uniqueness

15. Pumps (Court Shoes)Pumps (Court Shoes)

16. HeelsHeels
Increase height and make theIncrease height and make the
frame more curvaceous withframe more curvaceous with
less accentuation on theless accentuation on the
waist.waist.
"Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the
world" - Marilyn Monroe

17. Design LinesDesign Lines
• ClassicClassic
– sleek shoes with circular orsleek shoes with circular or
geometric shapes e.g.geometric shapes e.g.
crescents, ovals, and circlescrescents, ovals, and circles
• DramaticDramatic
– slim elegant with angularslim elegant with angular
shapes e.g. round andshapes e.g. round and
square.square.
• RomanticRomantic
– soft and flowing lines tosoft and flowing lines to
showcase foot contoursshowcase foot contours..

18. Toe ShapeToe Shape
• Natural LookNatural Look
– chunky or funky lineschunky or funky lines
with square toes and awith square toes and a
toe bump.toe bump.
• Gamin fashionGamin fashion
– crisp, sharp line withcrisp, sharp line with
straight geometric andstraight geometric and
asymmetrical toes.asymmetrical toes.

19. SandalsSandals
• Sexy SandalsSexy Sandals
• Thongs (flip flops)Thongs (flip flops)
• Sport SandalsSport Sandals
• New AgeNew Age

20. BootsBoots
• Cowboy BootsCowboy Boots
• Congress BootsCongress Boots
• 4 Wheels Drive4 Wheels Drive
BootsBoots
• Ugg BootsUgg Boots

21. People who continue to walk
the line in bare feet have made
a life style choice which amy
often alienates them from
society. However most appear
in perfect peace with
themselves, refreshingly
relaxed and content with the
simple pleasures of life.

22. Sexual preoccupation with feetSexual preoccupation with feet
or shoesor shoes
Fetish derives from the Portuguese ‘feitico’,
and Latin ‘factitius’ (facere, to do or to
make). Originally it was magical charm or
artefact worshipped by susperstitious people.
In the nineteenth century the term became
intertwined within the jargon of psychology
and described irrational sexual worship
of certain portions of the female body, or
specific articles of female attire.
Feet and shoe fetish are the most commonly cited.
Foot and shoe fetish is a peno-centric
concept based on Freud’s Castration
Theory.

23. AcknowledgmentAcknowledgment
To all sources who made thisTo all sources who made this
presentation not onlypresentation not only
possible but morepossible but more
importantly, plausible.importantly, plausible.
Sincere thanks.Sincere thanks.

24. Commonwealth of Australia
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