Satin-covered shoes have contrasted or harmonized with other elements of women's attire over the last 200 years. In 1951 The Silk Book drew attention to how the quality of silks woven in this particular structure had changed over the previous century: 'Satins have the stiffness and "live" characteristics of yarn-dyed articles. In Victorian days their special virtue was... that they could stand up by themselves but nowadays they are usually given a slightly softer finish. Their very rich appearance makes them a favourite material for wedding gowns; they are also used for evening dresses, cloaks, for linings and in combination with velvets. Mention should also be made of Shoe Satin, used for the uppers of evening shoes.' Such shoe satins were sometimes made of a mix of silk and cotton.