Over the past decade, the collective fascination with fancy footwear has heightened to
never-before-seen altitudes–right along with the heels of stilettos, themselves.

“Shoe Obsession,” on view now at The Museum at FIT, explores “the rise of the shoe” as described by Associate Curator of Accessories Colleen Hill, who worked alongside Valerie Steele, the Museum’s decidedly chic director and chief curator, to create the fantastical exhibition in just 8 months.  It explores the phenomenon by which designer footwear has taken center stage in the female wardrobe, replacing the “it” bag as women’s must-have accessory.

Whether it was Carrie’s Manolo craze in Sex & the City or the artful, avant garde designs of emerging designers like Nicholas Kirkwood and Charlotte Olympia (on display), one thing is for sure: there are many, many reasons to adore shoes.

Footwear fact: the average American woman has nearly double the pairs that she had inside her closet in the late ’90s.

Check out “Shoe Obsession,” here, and you’ll see why.

shoe obsession 1shoe obsession - exhibition
silver leather platform sandal with gun heel
shoes 2
shoes 4
shoes 3
shoe obsession 8
red and black flame sandals
shoe obsession - exhibition 2

“Shoe Obsession” – The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue @ 27th Street, NYC
fitnyc.edu/museum
Now through April 8.

Run, don’t walk!

Image 3:
Chanel, 2009
From the collection of Lynn Ban
Photograph © The Museum at FIT

Image 4:
Tom Ford, Spring 2012
Courtesy of Tom Ford
Photograph © The Museum at FIT

Image 5:
Roger Vivier (Bruno Frisoni)
Eyelash Heel pumps, Fall/Winter 2012-13
Rendez-Vous (Limited Edition Collection)
Courtesy of Roger Vivier/photograph by Stephane Garrigues

Image 6:
Iris van Herpen X United Nude, 2010
The Museum at FIT, PA2012.28.1
Photograph © The Museum at FIT

Image 7:
Nicholas Kirkwood, Fall 2011
Courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood

Image 8:
Prada, Spring 2012
From the collection of Lynn Ban
Photograph © The Museum at FIT

 

 

5 thoughts on “At the Height of Fashion

  • March 12, 2013 at 12:10 PM
    Permalink

    So inspiring! Thank you so much foe the post! It keeps a culture-starved Miami girl like me going!!!
    Brava Rachel!
    xo Lesli
    ps – grateful for the credits too – I guessed wrong on ALL but the pradas! Who knew chanel did pistol pumps!

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:08 PM
      Permalink

      You always have the best eye! :)

      Reply
  • March 12, 2013 at 6:59 PM
    Permalink

    Spectacular beauty in heels. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

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