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The spectator shoe is an iconic style distinguished by its striking juxtaposition of contrasting leather tones. Typically, the toe box, facing, and counter are fashioned in a deeper hue, while the quarters and vamp are rendered in a lighter shade. Although this flamboyant design can be traced back to the 19th century, it attained its zenith of popularity during the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 1930s.
In England during the 1920s and 1930s, the spectator shoe was considered unapologetically garish, its striking design seen as a bold departure from traditional elegance. The shoe became associated with lounge lizards, gangsters, and cads, gaining a reputation as a symbol of scandal and impropriety.
The term "co-respondent shoe" arose as a clever nod to both its striking bi-colour design and the legal term "co-respondent"—the designation for a third party implicated in an adultery case. This playful yet damning nickname captured the shoe’s notorious reputation.
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