Cost ::: Featured—Women's Retro Chunky Ankle Boots With Mid Heel

cothurnus• or buskin—a boot with a thick, elevated sole. — MOTIMODEN Womens Ankle Boots Chunky Mid Heel Booties Retro Square Pointed Toe Side Zipper Short Boots Heeled Shoes for Wom — :::
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Consider the dizzying height of the Venetian chopines of the 16th and 17th centuries. These platforms, often constructed from cork and covered in rich fabric, reached heights of twenty, sometimes thirty inches. This was not about ease of movement; it was a literal elevation of status, necessitating two attendants to ensure the wearer did not topple. The goal was to appear physically separate from the street, physically impossible to approach without effort. A peculiar, fragile form of power, inherently unstable. It required relinquishing autonomy simply to exist at that manufactured height.

The absurdity is inherent in the design, in the intentional inconvenience. Look also to the medieval period, specifically the 14th century, where the length of the pointed toe—the poulaine or crackowe—was strictly legislated, a direct measure of social standing. Commoners were confined to short, sensible points, while nobles wore tips so exaggerated they had to be stiffened with whalebone or moss and often curled back and tethered to the knee. How does one sit? Simple tasks rendered impossible by the rigid elongation of the foot's profile. This fixation on the toe's extension is confusing, a prioritization of visual statement over basic human flexibility.

Then there is the psychological function of the garment, transforming the wearer into something more deliberate. In Ancient Greece and Rome, tragic actors donned the *cothurnus* or buskin—a boot with a thick, elevated sole. These boots added stature, pulling the actor physically away from the audience, generating a monumental, slightly stylized presence. They were tools of performance, demanding a slower, more weighted gait that underscored the profound nature of the tragedy being enacted. They elevated the foot to draw attention to the suffering face. Elsewhere, materials themselves become the point of fascination: not sturdy cowhide, but the delicate, intricate stitching of sealskin or the subtle texture of cured salmon leather used by some indigenous groups for boots. Selecting materials based on light reflection or unique texture, rather than mere durability, moves the garment firmly into the realm of unique, personal sculpture.

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Highlights of Deliberate Impracticality in Historical Footwear
• Chopines Served as extreme status symbols in Renaissance Venice, their height (up to 30 inches) rendering them functionally dependent on attendants.
• Poulaines/Crackowes Length of the extended, pointed toe was codified by sumptuary laws, meaning the shoe literally dictated one's permitted place in society.
• Buskins (*Cothurnus*) Worn by Greek tragic actors, these elevated soles forced a stylized, slow movement, emphasizing theatrical distance and drama.
• Non-Conventional Materials Certain northern boots utilized cured fish skin or gut, chosen for unique properties and texture, defying the expectation of typical leather durability.
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Womens Ankle Boots Chunky Mid Heel Booties Retro Square Pointed Toe Side Zipper Short Boots Heeled Shoes for Women Fall Winter Price, $59.99 $ 59 . 99 See options

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