Funny Holidays - International Red Shoe Day

The color red in makeup and clothing is used by women to attract attention to themselves as a sexual object. Scarlet lipstick, nail polish and shoes of the same color look provocative. High heels on red shoes are a challenge, a manifesto of strength, self-confidence and readiness for passionate relationships. July 25th is International Red Shoe Day. During the time of Louis XIV, high-heeled shoes were worn only by members of the upper class. The "Sun King" was distinguished by his eccentricity and great ambitions. He issued a decree according to which shoes with red heels and soles could belong exclusively to courtiers. Shoes became a symbol of noble origin and belonging to a noble family. The king's love for 10-centimeter heels was explained by the fact that they helped him appear taller. Louis XIV borrowed the shoe design from the Persian cavalry uniform. But if while riding a horse the heel helped keep the body balanced in an elevated state, then in life it created a lot of problems for the king’s courtiers. The aristocrats had difficulty walking in high heels along the streets with chipped brick pavements; it was easier to walk on the parquet floors in the palace halls. The fashion for shoes with red soles quickly spread throughout Europe. They were worn by Charles II at his coronation in England in 1661. By the end of the 17th century. fashion has changed. On women's shoes the heel gradually became thinner, and on men's models it disappeared completely. The stronger sex relied on the functionality of the shoes, while the weaker sex relied on the elegance of form and beauty. Napoleon, who led the French Revolution, banned the “Louis heel” and introduced the fashion for sandals. However, women remained faithful to the “recaptured” shoes with red soles. Designer Elsa Schiaparelli used scarlet to create her famous surreal shoe-shaped hat. This model of headdress was part of the autumn-winter collection of 1937-1938. The sketches, invented by Schiaparelli together with Salvador Dali, depict a hat in the form of an inverted shoe with a red sole. Hans Christian Andersen wrote the fairy tale "The Red Shoes" in 1845 about a girl named Karen who loved to dance. But the real popularity of scarlet shoes came from the film adaptation of the story of Dorothy Gale from “The Wizard of Oz,” which was released in 1939. The creators of the film specifically replaced the silver shoes worn by the heroine played by Judy Garland in the book with a brighter color. After the film was released, red shoes became iconic. Valentino Garavani is known to be a big fan of scarlet. He actively used its warm shade when creating clothing models, later named “Valentino red” in honor of the designer. To complement the dresses from the 1969 collection, the maestro came up with tone-on-tone shoes. Much later, in 1992, the famous Louboutin shoes appeared. According to legend, the sole of the first Christian Louboutin model was painted with nail polish. The designer borrowed it from his assistant. Over time, the scarlet sole became the brand's trademark. The color red is the personification of lust, passion and magic. According to fashion designers, scarlet shoes are a bright spot in the gray everyday life, a symbol of protest and provocation. Everyone who agrees with this statement and is ready to focus on shoes in the created image celebrates International Red Shoe Day on July 25th. International Red Shoes Day remembers all those who have died from Lyme disease and other “invisible diseases” such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. It was founded in memory of Theda Myint from Australia, who passed away from Lyme disease on July 25, 2013. As Tede’s friends recall: “Her favorite color was green, unless it was shoes! She loved red shoes." This is how the idea of ​​establishing Red Shoes Day arose. Every year on July 25, Theda and all those who have passed away from Lyme disease or other “invisible diseases” are remembered. In their memory, participants wear red shoes. Diseases are known as "invisible" diseases for several reasons. Firstly, a person with such a disease may not even look sick. On the other hand, research, treatment and care for these diseases are often not as reliable as for other diseases. Third, those who suffer from illnesses may be confined to their beds for long periods of time and cannot be seen anywhere else, appearing almost invisible.