Shoes - Pleasure and Pain Exhibition at the V&A

This exhibit is being held at the Fashion Rotonda at the V&A which is strengthening its role in fashion exhibitions to rival the MET.
Even though it is aimed at the fashion crowd I think it would also be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history and sociology.


There are very few items that apply to both men and women and has expressed so much about one's status or desired place in society as the seemingly simple shoe.

I was invited to the preview and nearly didn't go because 
I have so many errands to do before I go away 
but thought I would just drop in a few minutes and 
ended up staying 40 minutes making me late the rest of the day...

As this is a quick last minute edited post for your viewing
 please excuse the cursory pictures taken on my iphone but just wanted to share the pictures for those who may not be able to attend the exhibit held from June 13 until January 31, 2016.
 Please click here for better photos and more insight.

The most famous fable with a shoe as the a character almost its own was Cinderella.

It turns out that the most commonly known version of a lost shoe fitting its rightful owner dates back to 1st century Egypt.

This shoe is one of the oldest shoes molded in the modern known style and dates back to the Egyptian glory days.


They also had the famous glass slipper that was used in the most recent Cinderella movie, the original black Manolos that Carrie Bradshaw wore in Sex and the City, and the very same red ballerina shoes that were in the 1948 film "The Red Shoes".




Sex and the City was the definitive show that justified the average woman spending an exorbitant sum of her money on shoes. Before Carrie, only the "well heeled" ( pun intended) would spend that sort of money on shoes but it is now the norm.

Personally I have resented Carrie for enabling so many women who can't afford designer goods to purchase them. The most tragic episode of Sex and the City was when Carrie wants to buy an apartment but realizes most of her wealth was in her "shoe portfolio"!
Alas that is another post...

I show a regular sized shoe next to the Chinese silk slipper to demonstrate how painful the ancient practice of foot binding must have been. 
And I complain after a few hours in two inch heels!





The main thing I noticed is how shoes can depict a certain era and yet even shoes from the Napoleonic era seemed to be easily marketed this day.
Although I would not wear these ribboned fur trimmed boots, 
we all know there is a market for them out there somewhere.

Espadrilles are a summer staple and yet like most "chic" things originated from the peasant world...
They were what Catalonian peasants wore.

There were some shoes of historical significance.
These mules were worn by Queen Henrietta Maria, the mother of my favorite king - Charles 2nd.

They also had a pair of shoes from one of my least favorite monarchs.

These shoes might not be good for the arches but pushes the design of the shoe.

Christian Louboutin did not invent the red heel / sole.

French arisotos did that several hundred years ago.
Plus ca change...

I thought these were ornamental brushes until I read the caption and they were silver shoes for Indian brides.  
Not meant for your modern day commute.

The book below were engravings for designs to be sewn on mules.

This was a Manolo shoe deconstructed.

There was another section that showed more about the construction of shoes and these three yellow shoes demonstrated the slight variation needed in the arch and heel ratio.

There were examples of modern designs trying to develop the shoe into different models.

I quite like all these heels.
It made me want a basic mold where I could interchange just the heel bit.

This is how socialites packed their shoes a hundred years ago.
Before Easyjet darlings.

There was a very mediocre shoe from Imelda's notorious collection.
But apparently she only had 1060 shoes thank you very much!

Why do we like heels?

Apparently, it's always been about status.

Guess who else was there?
Suzy Menkes - I have been reading her in the Herald Tribune since I was in primary school and made my day by smiling at me.

I would wear this shoe on my neck or wrist as it is encrusted with diamonds and other precious jewels.  
Not made for the streets of London.

But I also found beauty in these moccassins with a simple focal point.

But I must end this post with the shoes of someone who I have read about and was intrigued about back from the days when I used to be a Francophile.
These are the Pompadour mules.
I just felt this design was thought through and everything was done to ensure a women's seductive powers!

Take care!
PS There are some pictures on this article for those who are interested.