Chopines

The chopine was a tall clog worn in primarily in Venice to elevate the lady above both the dirt and the hoi polloi of the street. While relatively few shoes survive from the period of the 15th to 17th century, chopines are inordinate ly represente d in museum collection s as they were saved most probably due to their outlandish peculiarit y. This exemplar illustrate s all the classical characteri stics of this specialize d form: red or green velvet covering, lobed platform sole trimmed in gold lace with hobnails, gold braid edging, shirred ribbon trim on the vamp, and beard-like tassel below the open toe.

This website is designed to provide insight and hints on recreating and constructing historical raised heels, such as chopines, pantoufles, zoccoli, and the like. I have based my construction techniques on extant examples, written documentation, pictorial evidence, and educated guesses where information is not available.

This website contains information on high platform shoes which were popularly worn in Venice by both courtesans and patrician women from ca. 1400-1700.