Not since last October!?!?!?!?!

Miss Rayne has gone to Instagram.

Emma Hope Houndstooth check wool. 1990 ish.

A Century of Shoes: 1922

H&M Rayne started as theatrical costumiers and moved into fashion footwear as a consequence of the interest in what the leading actresses of the Edwardian era were wearing, on and off stage.
By 1920 they were well established in society too, as this 1922 advert indicates. The wedding was that or Princess Mary, third child of King George V and Queen Mary, who married Viscount Lascelles in February. She didn't wear Raynes but plenty of the guests did.

Red Heels

Red heels on black shoes were by no means new in the late 20s but as this excerpt from Patricia Wentworth's 1928 novel Will O' The Wisp shows they weren't considered RESPECTABLE. Odd, considering the pair in the photo are by Joseph Box.

Joseph Box Black brogued strap shoes with red heels at York Castle Museum

David surveyed her with disapproval. The scarlet hat and suit he had seen before, but the black patent leather shoes with scarlet heels were a new horror.
"My good girl, you can't go up to town in those shoes!"
" I don't think I'm anybody's good girl. Am I?"
She did a dance step to display the shoes, kicked up the little red heels with a flourish and announced they were dinky.
David turned away and picked up the paper. His conviction that Folly wanted slapping passed into a strong desire to administer some of the arrears which he considered were a good deal overdue.
"Of course if you don't mind being followed in the street," he observed coldly. He shook out the paper. "You will be, to a dead cert."
"I get followed anyhow," said Folly in a little whispering voice.
David was not at all surprised to hear it.

Flash a-ah, he'll save everyone of us.

Rayne at the movies

Rayne has made shoes for actresses from the day the company was created as a theatrical costumier in 1889, it was a small step to movies and TV.

From Dangerous Moonlight which famously didn't have a single foot or shoe in it. To 2001: A Space Odyssey which had some of the most exciting costumes in any 20th Century film, Rayne have provided shoes for secretaries, glamour girls, murderesses, housewives and astronauts.

Dale Arden is the archetypal adventurous heroine of comic strips. No wonder Ming the Merciless had plans for her.

For a full account of the 1980s film FLASH GORDONclick here.

Dale in a clinch and red and white spectator shoes.

Dale transformed into slave girl by the addition of thousands of gold bugle beads.

Vivienne Westwood at Castle Museum York

England's most English designer struts her stuff at the Castle Museum in York.
Shown together with historical shoes from the museum's own collection which showcase Westwood's historical influences.

A Personal Collection of Vivienne Westwood Shoes, York Castle Museum, until April 28, 2019.
Open daily: 9.30am-5pm
yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

Shoe Icons: Roger Vivier

There are some designers where it is impossible to chose a single shoe which epitomises his contribution to footwear. Manolo Blahnik is one. Vivier is another.
He has, over the years given us the stiletto, the choc, the virgule heel. Pilgrim pumps, fantastic embroidery and beading, clear plastic slingbacks, thigh length boots and ALLEGEDLY the Queen's coronation shoes.
The legend has grown to vast proportions, justifiably so.

Often it is the simplest styles which are the best. 1957-62

A Century of Shoes: 1921

Advert for the Manfield shop on Regent Street. Shoe shops retained their salon style for most of the interwar period and beyond.
The company, like many, was based in Northampton and had Victorian origins, the brand is still extant.
For an indepth history go here