« Sumptuary law »

Men’s footwear may take only one shape, and that is shoe-shape. Long and pointy toes may be worn only if you are a 14th-century French courtier or a crazy Mexican, and in either case they must be very long and pointy indeed, in order to demonstrate that you are Very Serious about long and pointy toes and not just an idiot in shiny pants. I can’t think of anyone who is permitted to wear those shoes with the very square toes and the shiny buckles, including Italians. Linesmen? Frankenstein’s monster? (Putting on the Ritz!)