Shoe Obsession
Special Exhibitions GalleryFebruary 8, 2013 - April 13, 2013
Shoe Obsession examined our culture's ever-growing fascination with extravagant and fashionable
shoes. Accessories used to be just that—secondary to clothing fashions. Today, however, shoes have become the main fashion
story, replacing the "It" bag as the most desirable accessory. High-heeled shoes—the fashion shoes of the 21st
century—have become so tall that even a 4-inch heel is considered low.
Alexandre Birman, resort 2013. Courtesy of Alexandre Birman.
Manolo Blahnik, 2003. Courtesy of Manolo Blahnik.
Pierre Hardy, fall 2010. Courtesy of Pierre Hardy.
Shoe Obsession featured over 150 examples of the most extraordinary shoe styles of the 21st-century,
highlighting the new concepts, constructions, materials, and types of embellishment
that have positioned shoes at the height of fashion.
The popularity of designer shoes has grown rapidly. The television series Sex and the City, which was broadcast from 1998 to 2004, is often credited with helping to launch the cult for designer shoes. Who can forget Carrie Bradshaw's Manolo Blahnik pumps or her assertion of a woman's right to shoes. Blahnik's popularity paved the way for other high-end shoe designers, a number of whom have become celebrities in their own right. Christian Louboutin's undeniably sexy shoes—with their signature red soles—have established him as one of the best-known footwear designers in the world.
Nicholas Kirkwood x Keith Haring, 2011. Courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood.
Noritaka Tatehana, Lady Pointe shoes (designed for Lady Gaga), 2012, museum purchase, 2012.39.1
Christian Louboutin, Pigalle heels, fall 2012. Courtesy of Christian Louboutin.
Shoe departments everywhere have expanded, as the great designer shoe wars have escalated.
New high-end brands, like Nicholas Kirkwood and Charlotte Olympia, are moving onto
designer shoe floors to share space with perennial bestsellers, such as Blahnik and
Louboutin. Established designer shoes brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo and Roger
Vivier, are also thriving under new creative direction.
In addition to showcasing leading shoe designers, Shoe Obsession featured extraordinary styles from major fashion houses such as Azzedine Alaïa, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Prada. Avant-garde designers such as Kei Kagami and Noritaka Tatehana—who have made some of the most extreme shoes of the 21st century—further underscored the exceptional creativity of contemporary shoe design.
Today the average American woman has about twenty pairs of shoes—nearly double what she owned in the late 1990s. True shoe enthusiasts, however, may possess hundreds of pairs. The exhibition also included highlights from the incredible shoe collections of several stylish women, including jewelry designer Lynn Ban and fashion icon Daphne Guinness.
In addition to showcasing leading shoe designers, Shoe Obsession featured extraordinary styles from major fashion houses such as Azzedine Alaïa, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Prada. Avant-garde designers such as Kei Kagami and Noritaka Tatehana—who have made some of the most extreme shoes of the 21st century—further underscored the exceptional creativity of contemporary shoe design.
Today the average American woman has about twenty pairs of shoes—nearly double what she owned in the late 1990s. True shoe enthusiasts, however, may possess hundreds of pairs. The exhibition also included highlights from the incredible shoe collections of several stylish women, including jewelry designer Lynn Ban and fashion icon Daphne Guinness.
Shoe Obsession was curated by Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator, and Colleen Hill,
associate curator of accessories.
Shoe obsession is not a new phenomenon
Exhibition Publication
A book accompanying the exhibition, by Valerie Steele and Colleen Hill, was published
by Yale University Press.
Order a Copy of Shoe Obsession
