Shoes: The agony and the ecstasy.

[xaphod]

This is from The Independent yesterday.

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The idea of putting 200 examples of footwear on display, from a Roman soldier's hobnail boot to a pair of Manolo Blahniks with killer heels, was the idea of Caroline Whitehead, keeper of historic fashion at Tyne and Wear Museums.

Among the items on display are a pair of elaborate, beaded men's mules from the 1670s that would have been worn in the presence of royalty; 1820s geranium-pink, silk taffeta evening slippers that resemble ballet shoes; white kid-leather baby's ankle boots from 1900; red leather men's winkle-picker shoes circa 1963. There's also a 'rather squashed' single Victorian Ladies' boot. "It was found in the foundations of a building and used as a lucky charm to ward off evil," says Whitehead.

The Obsession section of the exhibition affords members of the public the opportunity to bring to the museum shoes that hold special significance for them, while 'Pain and Pleasure' explores the link between high-heels and sexuality. " We have a pair of 16th century leather-and-wood platform slippers that were worn by Venetian prostitutes," says Whitehead. "While the men's cream-leather fetish boots from the 1930s are very weird, with stacked platforms that are 10.25 inches high. They lace up at front with two buckles. Not your average shoe."

Some footwear has been commissioned for the exhibition, including shoemaker Ellen Sampson's design which imprints a map of the capillaries of the foot on to the leather. For Children's Tales, which examines the role of shoes in fairy stories, Rachael Benton, a student at the London College of Fashion, has developed a huge wedge shoe, representing Rapunzel's tower, with straps made of human hair.

Charlotte Cripps.

www.twmuseums.org.uk/shipley

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..... and people say that guys into fetish heels is something new !

Xa

[flavio]

Nice to know about it Xa, unfortunatelly the link doesn't work. I'm a bit curious to see something...

[xaphod]

Hi, F I made a mistake in the link which I have corrected. Try now. Xa