The American designer Paul Flato enjoyed his greatest success during the 1930s and 40s, when his innovative and often whimsical jewellery was worn by both society ladies and Hollywood stars alike. Many actresses wore his jewels on-screen, including Merle Oberon in That Uncertain Feeling, Greta Garbo in Two-Faced Woman and Rita Hayworth in Blood and Sand. His business ran into trouble in 1943 and he was convicted of fraudulently pawning jewels belonging to his colleagues and clients. After 16 months in Sing Sing Penitentiary, he moved to Mexico City where he lived until 1953. He returned to Mexico in 1970 and spent a further two decades running a jewellery shop in Mexico City.

Flato made a number of jewels based on shoes and feet, including jewelled pom pom sandals, slippers and cowboy boots. According to his obituary in the New York Times, the pair of little gold feet with ruby toenails were originally made for the dancer Irene Castle as a nod to her career and a play on her maiden name of Foote.