Emma Smith chose….

Shoes, 1920s

I love shoes! Shoes for me are the ultimate accessory. Fashion is my passion. They complete any outfit in many ways, with their styles and colours, you can transform anything you wear with a pair of gorgeous shoes! You can mix and match them with other accessories such as bags and jewellery, to complement your look. I also like boots; they are particularly great for the winter months. But heels for going out in can completely change your whole persona, giving you more confidence out on the dance floor and I find they help me dance with better balance and posture. The shoes I have chosen have fantastic colour plus the strapping provides an attractive feature, which is also good support for the foot.

Emma Smith is a volunteer working with the curators at the Herbert

What the curator says:

Shoes, 1920s

During the 1920s women's fashions changed dramatically and skirts became much shorter, rising from calf length to above the knee. This made shoes more visible and they became the key fashion item of the decade. These coral shoes with embroidery detail are typical of the period.

1920s dances such as the Charleston required shoes to be firmly attached to the dancer's feet. Shoes with a t-bar strap like these ones were therefore popular.