Are there any of you scholars out there, that specialize in studies of Europe during the Middle Ages?

Actually, one popular fashion during the middle ages was wearing a tunic so short you actually could see the goods. (A few pages of Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc Du Berry will show this) Pants were actually just legs that were tied about the waist, with a flap or pocket over the genitals.

As far as the crakowe (so named because they likely originated in the Polish district) goes, it was likely just a way for the upper classes to one-up each other, and it got SO out of hand that the Pope tried to squash the fashion, and some cities legislated maximum shoe-lengths for various classes. The ones in that picture are nothing. Some needed whale bones for support. Others were so long they had to be tied by a string to the wearer’s thigh, in order to keep the man from tripping himself.

Eventually, people either got sick of the 30 shekel fine or of stumbling over their ridiculous shoes, and squared-toes became popular.

Fun fact – the French at the Battle of Nicopolis had to cut the tips off their shoes so they could run away.

In Ivanhoe one of the high-ranking ecclesiastics is described as wearing pointed shoes so long that they have to be suspended from the wearer’s waist. He has to ride on horseback without using stirrups because his footwear won’t fit into them.

Believe it or not, it’s still a fashion in parts of Mexico.

Wow, those are impressive!

@thorninmud Those are crazy, not to mention ugly. Why do you suppose they like to wear them?

I will say that I do like Beatle Boots

@Kardamom You know, I think it comes down to just plain attracting attention. People do crazy things for attention.

@thorninmud But never on Fluther, hee hee.