The Great War changed people’s lives dramatically. Men went off to war and women were left at home to run the factories. People needed practical shoe. Factories began to steadily gain over individual craftsmanship. Factory –made shoes meant lower prices and therefore, affordable.

Heels on men’s shoes remain at the one-inch height and were of stacked construction. This height still remains for mainstream dress wear today. For evening dress, laces have become much more fashionable than buttons, setting today’s standard. These laced shoes, acceptable for day and eveningwear, were usually of the open tab derby or closed oxfordstyle.

Suede became a popular fabric for shoes in 1910. Day shoes were typically boots. Evening shoes were more diverse, but the most popular style, was the COURT SHOE with a small Louis heel for women . These were often embellished with embroidery or metallic thread and glass or jet beading on the toes often, the only part peeking out from a voluminous skirt. Evening boots were often made from soft kid or stain, with rows of beaded straps embellishing the shin