Boudoir slippers, c. 1939

Boudoir slippers
c. 1939
Daniel Green
Gift of Kevin Jones
2008.155.3AB

In the 1937 article, "Mules: The More the Merrier," Vogue claimed that, "all women are slipper collectors."1 Though this is probably an overstatement, the article indicates that in the late 1930s, slippers were much more than soft and comfy shoes for scuffing around the house. Garnet satin mules for intimate evenings at home, flat black satin slides for hostessing, red flannel canvas flats for pairing with casual slacks or shorts, and rustic fur-lined reindeer moccasins are only a sampling of the slipper styles presented in the Vogue article. Slippers were playful, spanning the gap between sensible daytime footwear and refined evening footwear.

Slippers were primarily intended for at-home wear, but depending on style, could sometimes venture outside the house. Slipper manufacturer Daniel Green, maker of the aqua satin boudoir slippers pictured here, was particularly active in promoting slippers that walked the line between private and public situations. In 1937, a Daniel Green advertisement suggested that slippers could be worn "for daytime leisure...and doings after dark."2 Vaguely racy, this advertising copy encourages the daring consumer to incorporate her more elegant slippers into evening ensembles. Given that high-heeled slippers were similar in silhouette to daytime footwear, this was not an unrealistic suggestion.

Though we weren't able to locate an image of this exact style of slipper, we did find similar styles manufactured by Daniel Green. Ruched self-fabric trim, here decorating the vamp and slingback strap, was a feature of late 1930s Daniel Green slippers. The "Frou Frou" was identical the slipper pictured here, lacking only the slingback strap. The "Idler" was a bootie version, with ruching that circled the foot opening, almost covering the ankle. In advertising, both styles were promoted as both comfortable and stylish. Can't wait to discover the name of this slingback style!

2008.155.3AB

1 "Mules: The More the Merrier." Vogue Dec 1, 1939: p. 140.