FROM FOOTBINDING TO HIGH HEEL SHOES: TRANSFORMATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE SHANGHAINESE WOMEN IN THE FIRST HALF OF XX CENTURY

The article considers changes in the appearance of women in Shanghai during 1911-1949 years, closely related to the new social concepts and promotion of urban culture. The study examines the process of rejection from the traditional custom of young girl’s footbinding, started from the late XIX century. The author logically reveals the main stages of transformation of women clothing elements from the miniature embroidered shoes to the first high heel shoes appeared in 1920-s. Together with the consideration of attributes of “new women's” fashion author shows the major social processes that had an impact on urban female style.

Shanghai, Republic of China, bandaging feet, Chinese society, cultural interaction, urban culture, city fashion