About Doll Shoes

History

• It is unclear when dolls in general started wearing shoes, but one history, that of the Barbie doll shoe, can be easily traced. Barbie dolls, which feature a dramatically slanted foot, must have shoes specifically designed for their angled feet. When Barbie first hit the scene in 1959, she donned a black and white bathing suit topped off with a pair of black high heels. The heels had little holes in them for attaching to a platform on which she was meant to stand. The platform went by the wayside, but the variety of Barbie shoes exploded. It soon became evident that people were willing to buy shoes specifically designed for this popular doll, and more than 1 billion pairs of Barbie dolls shoes have been created and sold since her debut a half-century ago.

Types

• Doll shoes come in as many types as there are dolls. Some are specifically created to fit a particular brand of doll such as Barbie, Madame Alexander or American Girl. Others are made in standard sizes to fit traditional dolls of different heights. The shoe for a 14-inch doll, for example, will be a tad smaller than shoes for a 20-inch doll but styles and features may be similar. Some companies specialize in a certain brand, size or type of doll while others create doll shoes to fit a wide array doll feet.

Features

• The number of different features on doll shoes may match, or even surpass, those available on human shoes. Doll shoes come with buckles, zippers and snaps, and in lace-up and slip-on varieties. They can be high-heeled sandals, sweet baby-sized Mary Janes or even antique boots. Ballet shoes, saddle shoes, platform sandals and squishy suede boots are other options. Colors and materials vary from black patent leather to hot red vinyl. Sequins, suede, ankle ties and other accessories can be found on the shoes.

Considerations

• Doll shoes don't have to be limited to outfitting dolls. Smaller ones can be used as holiday ornaments or even added to a necklace or used as earrings. Doll shoes also make for cute adornments in kids' rooms, perhaps dangling from a light fixture, glued around window or wall borders or used to accent a small table lamp shade.

  Doll shoes may be the right size to fit on a small child's foot, but they should never be used as shoes for an actual person. They will never support the foot properly or be sturdy enough to hold up under the pitter-patter of little feet.

  Dozens of companies sell doll shoes, either custom-made or in standard types and sizes. More companies offer doll shoe making instruction either through books, CDs or DVDs. See resources below for examples of both.

Warning

• Because doll shoes are so small and often delicate, they pose several hazards. They are prone to get lost, get broken or get clogged in a vacuum cleaner. They are also choking hazards for small children, which are the ones often playing with dolls. Kids who play with dolls that feature small accessories, like the shoes, should be old enough to understand not to put random things in their mouths. Pets, too, can try to eat or swallow doll shoes, so they should monitored if around the small accessories.