Although the average American woman owns about 20 pairs of shoes, the collections of true shoe fanatics are vast. As a woman who owns more than 80 pairs of shoes and more than 20 pairs of boots, you may say I have a fetish for shoes.
When we moved to California from New Jersey, the packers observed my lavish shoe display and mentioned to my husband: “Your wife must have a weakness for shoes ...” Yes, indeed.
Did our shoe obsession start with Cinderella? Or was it the insane addiction of Carrie Bradshaw, the lead character of the HBO series “Sex and the City,” that ignited our current passion for Manolo Blahniks?
Catch ‘The Shoe’ Before It Runs Off
The Shoe Obsession exhibition at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) museum is on view through April 13. It examines our culture’s fascination and infatuation with the extravagant creations we call shoes.
The exhibition features approximately 150 displays of contemporary footwear, highlighting the extreme, lavish, and imaginative styles that have made shoes central to fashion.
Viewers can quench their obsession with styles from the avant-garde to the classical designers of the 21st century.
Designers on view include Bruno Frisoni, Pierre Hardy, Nicholas Kirkwood, Noritaka Tatehana, Alessandra Lanvin, Andreia Chaves, Azzedine Alaia, Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Hermès, Gucci, Paco Rabanne, Rodarte, and Givenchy, among others.
Three pairs of Prada’s Spring 2012 “flame” shoes make an appearance too.
You will also find creations by Alexandre Birman, the young Brazilian designer known for his expert use of exotic skins, many of which are vibrantly hand-painted.
Why Women Love Shoes
According to an article by Associated Press writer Leanne Italie, Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine, said in a New York Fashion Week interview: “Everyone likes buying shoes. You don’t have to take your clothes off or be a model size to wear them.”
According to the AP article, the flagship Macy’s store in Manhattan expanded its floor space for shoes by 10 percent, boasting 250,000 pairs. And Saks Fifth Avenue Manhattan’s store enlarged its shoe department by 40 percent, spanning the entire eighth floor.
Shoes by established designers such as Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin continue to be bestsellers. And the number of rising stars within the footwear industry is multiplying.
The Museum at FIT
High-tech design is now an integral part of the construction of high-heel shoes. So it seems perfectly fitting for them to be exhibited at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
In my communication with the museum’s representative, I learned that the Shoe Obsession exhibition will not travel to other destinations. Any shoes not owned by or given to the museum will be returned.
There was not an official fashion show for this collection, but the exhibition attracted many students who study fashion.
According to the press release, the Museum at FIT, which is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion.
Best known for its innovative and award-winning exhibitions, which The New York Times has described as “ravishing,” the museum has a collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.
Though the cost of the shoes is prohibitive, admission to the museum is free and open to the public. Visit the website (www.fitnyc.edu) for more details.
When Nancy Sinatra sang “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” she definitely had me in mind. Well, it’s shoe business after all.
Lina Broydo writes about the arts, style, and travel. She currently lives in Los Altos Hills, Calif., and can be reached at: [email protected].
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