The idea of a relaxation shoe to be worn around the house has been around for centuries. The word “slipper,” which was first recorded in the English language in 1478, stems from the verb to slip, as this type of footwear is one that is “slipped” onto the foot. Varying forms of slippers are known to have existed in Asia dating back to the 12th century. Over the years, slippers have morphed into many different styles and forms. If you’ve ever been curious about the historical evolution of slippers or about the varying styles that exist today, then you will definitely want to read this article.
Going back to 1178, in his book “Ling Wai Dai Da,” Officer Zhou Qu Fei from the Southern Song Dynasty in the Guangxi province of China describes two types of slippers that he encountered while visiting what is now Vietnam. Both slipper types had bottoms made from leather, but one had an inch long post in the front of it that people clutched between their toes as they walked, while the other type had a cross-shaped leather covering across the top of it. During the Victorian era, the traditional slipper in Britain was the Albert slipper, named after Prince Albert. Like the 12th century Asian slippers, the Albert slipper had a leather bottom but this slipper was much more comfortable and fashionable than its predecessors in footwear. The outside was made from velvet with a quilted silk lining and was often worn with a black tie.