Road Trip!

I was away this weekend (running a half marathon in Orlando, of all things!) and thought: maybe my deputy shoe fairies would like to take a little break themselves!   Orlando’s a bit far, but just up 95 in New York City is a new exhibit on twenty-first century shoes!  A little bit about it:

Shoe Obsession examines 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.”

Shoe Obsession features 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.

In addition to showcasing leading shoe designers, Shoe Obsession features 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 underscore the exceptional creativity of contemporary shoe design.

And starting March 5, get TWO shoe exhibits in the same place at the same time!  

Boots: The Height of Fashion examines how boots emerged as a modern fashion phenomenon during the last century and evolved to become a staple of the fashionable woman’s wardrobe. The exhibition features 20 pairs of women’s boots from the museum's permanent collection, including boots originally worn by fashion icons Jane Holzer and Tina Chow. The exhibition takes the view that boots, as objects, are expressive of power, and it explores this concept via three significant sub-themes: sex, rebellion, and status. 

Check out both exhibits at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology: Shoe Obsession now through April 13, and Boots: The Height of Fashion from March 5-April 6.  They’re open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Admission is free!  Yay free!  That means more money for shoes!