OK, I have a lot of books about shoes. Why would I need anymore? Well, this one had to join my library for two reasons: the photos are HUGE, and there are so many I have never seen before! Another bonus is that the text is brief; it's not an essay with teensy pics, rather it's a picture book with great captions.Here are some of my faves.
This is my favourite style of embroidery, Florentine flame stitched. Part op-art, part geometry, it plays to my love of symmetry and precision. Made in Britain, circa 1760.
Manchu peoples of China, C19th. Loving that blue velvet, in such good condition for a shoe of this age.
Apparently these are slippers, American, from 1892. Fabulous style and colour, they look so soft.
From 1914, an interpretation of the Turkish slipper. Awesome silhouette, made by Pietro Yantorny, an Italian shoemaker who was 'the most expensive' of his time. He was an amazing craftsman.
Steven Arpad - Bloody Genius. These are prototypes from around 1939. He made footwear for Balenciaga, Delman and Irving Miller. The accompanying sketches are gorgeous.
Arpad again, these are for Delman. Loving the brocade effect on leather.
SIMPLICITY! BLUE LEATHER! SILHOUETTE! Need I say more. Italian, 1950s.
Hello Genie! Gold kid slippers by Pucci, to be worn with free flowing pajamas from his 1964 collection.
These are by Byron Lars, an ankle boot from 1994, inspired by traditional japanese footwear. I am such a fan of tabi socks, I have over 20 pairs and wear them with different thongs/split toed shoes.
Messrs Blahnik and Hirst, 2002. 'Dot' boots.
6 comments:
I did an assignment on fashioning the body many years ago @ uni and I had to borrow a few books out of the library about shoes. I remember being fascinated and looking through so many of those large image (hardly any text) books. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my. Shoe porn! That book looks heavenly, thanks for sharing bits of it. I love the Arpad shoes especially... I've had a play with layers similar to those in the past (and no where near as effectively), but hadn't seen these before. Absolutely stunning! x
So very cool. I can't wait to share this post with my daughter!
I had never heard of Arpad before but I will certainly look out for his work now. Those layers wrapped around the hole in the heel are genius! Thanks Emma for sharing your knowledge and appreciation of these fantastic examples.
So glad you all love these images, and indeed, the book! Now I don't feel so guilty for having so many shoe books, at least I can be a source of info and aesthetic joy!
the Arpad shoes are astonishing ... heart fluttered!
and I am absolutely with you on the embroidery-love
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