Shoes: Pleasure and Pain
The Victoria & Albert museum in London has devoted its summer exhibition to the wonderful world of shoes. On a quick trip to London for a wedding, it was obviously fate that my must visit museum destination was showing a raft of my must own fashion items.
I love shoes. I have always loved shoes. It is no problem for me to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes and see the value in that purchase (hundreds of dollars on a handbag or single RTW item, I need to pause and consider, but not the shoes). It’s not what you would call a rational love, many of the lovelies in my collection are rarely worn and, when it comes to day to day, I usually get around in ballet flats or sandals. But I just love having them.
The V&A’s exhibit digs into the complexity of human relationships with shoes, from the (thankfully) extinct culture of Chinese foot binding, to the fetishisation of stiletto heels and the starring role shoes have played on the big screen.
The curation is clever, in that it groups shoes from different countries and time periods together under a theme - fairytale, seduction, obsession, status, etc.
Unsurprisingly, Alexander McQueen’s iconic ‘Armadillo’ shoes make an appearance, as do the towering blue platforms from Vivienne Westwood most famous for tripping up Naomi Campbell on the catwalk. Louboutins, Manolos, and Jimmy Choos also all make an appearance.
A lot of Chinese bits and pieces are included, mainly itsy bitsy satin slippers worn by women with bound feet, providing some incredulity and horror for onlookers (”These are shoes for a grown women?!”). But also notable is the inclusion work from Shanghai brand, Mary Ching, who are known for bringing a sexy, modern aesthetic with Chinese characteristics.
My favourite part was the stories of collectors. Men and women who bought shoes for their aesthetic value, for their rarity, to wear, or simply admire. Their quotes about their love for shoes really hit home for me.
If you are in London and love shoes, go see it. If you are in London and have any interest in the cultural significance assigned to footwear, go see it. If you are in London on a rainy summers afternoon and have 12 quid to spare, go see it.
The post Shoes: Pleasure and Pain @ the Victoria & Albert Museum in London appeared first on China Fashion Bloggers.