While I was in New York over the holidays, Deputy
Shoe Fairy Sue and I went to the Brooklyn Museum to check out
their exhibit Killer Heels. From the high platform chopines of
sixteenth-century Italy to the glamorous stilettos on today’s runways and red
carpets, the exhibition looks at the high-heeled shoe’s rich and varied history
and its enduring place in our popular imagination. The exhibit features more than 160 historical
and contemporary heels on loan from designers, from the Brooklyn Museum’s own
renowned costume collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and from
the Bata Shoe Museum.
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| The Shoe Fairy visits the Brooklyn Museum! |
I liked that the curator Lisa Small chose not to
organize the shoes chronologically, but rather thematically. Over here we have sexy-slash-fetish shoes,
everything from Marilyn Monroe’s pumps to those crazy
ballerina Louboutins to platform shoes worn by oiran (high class Japanese prostitutes
from before the eighteenth century) that requires a servant’s assistance to help
them walk. (One of the videos shown in
the exhibition is a very helpful one showing the annual oiran parade, with three
women decked out like oiran demonstrating their distinctive walk. It’s fascinating. There are more videos in that section, including
one that’s essentially a crush film using a toy car instead of an animal and one
of a woman in sky high heels walking on a blindfolded man’s naked torso. It was amusing to hear a mother visiting the
exhibit try to explain these to her small children. Kudos to her.)
My favorite section may have been the one on shoes
and science. It looked at not only how advances
in science affected design trends (space everything! nuclear everything!), but
how advances in materials did as well.
(Check out the video clip from 1939 discussing fashion in 2000 if you
want a chuckle.)
The shape of this 2008 Light Bulb Heel by Chanel on display in the science section mimics
the 1935 Russell Wright lantern so well, don’t you think?
Another great section examined the shoe as a metamorphosis,
including a pair of black boots with enormous black wings, a pair of boots
crafted to look like horse hooves (quite convincing!), and this pair:
See the itty bitty black things in the big circle
on the heel? Those are seeds! Artist/designer Sputniko! worked with shoe
designer Masaya Kushino to create this, called Healing Fukoshima (Nanohana Heels).
With every step, a mechanism in the heel plants flower seeds known to
absorb nuclear radiation. Isn’t it
wonderful? A thing of beauty, planting
things of beauty, to make our damaged world a more beautiful place. (Sure it’s impractical since it takes you a
long time to carefully make every step and they are seriously like seven inches
tall, but don’t rain on my parade here.)
Killer Heels shows
through February 15, so you still have like five and a half weeks to see it. It’s worth the trip! Thanks, Brooklyn Museum, for giving the high
heel the exhibit it so richly deserves.
Perfect! The Bellahh by Steve Madden have man-made uppers and insoles, and ankle strap with shiny buckle, and a 5.5-inch heel and a 1.5-inch contrasting color platform. Find them at 
The Hugo XIII by Sole Boutique has a white faux leather upper and some serious timber—a 1.75 in platform to help you walk on the six-inch heel. (Six inches puts you up in Washington’s six-foot-three territory!) Find them on 
The A Girl’s Dream by Poetic License have a burgundy leather upper with fabric at the heel, a rhinestone feature at the peep toe, and a 3.25-inch stacked heel. Yours for just under $110 from 
Okay, so Dolley wouldn’t have worn these, but they’re pretty evocative, aren’t they? The Glitter Flames Platform Pumps are gold glitter emblazoned with red rhinestones, with a 5.75 inch heel and a 1.75 inch hidden platform. You can find this hot little number at 
The Sunstone Mary Jane Pumps by Xhilaration are gray patent leather with little cutouts around the toe and a 2.75-inch stacked heel—adorable. Find them at your local 
Classic pink for our funny lady! The Rosette Pump by Audrey Brooke has a satin upper with rosette on the outside heel, a 4.5-inch heel with a half-inch hidden platform, and a padded insole. Also available in black, silver, or taupe from 
The Mamie by Seychelles is the pinnacle of upper-class elegance. The upper is intricately punched gray leather, and it features a round toe and a 1.75-inch heel. Only sizes 7 and 8.5 left, you lucky gals—$70 from 
The Bouquet Clog by Zigi Soho has a 4.5-inch wooden heel on a 1.5-inch platform, and a synthetic upper with a trio of flowers. Storming the Bastille never looked so good! Available in cognac (shown) or pink, and you can find them at 
The Toile Landscape Wedge by Anthropologie is so lovely—a white and orange toile, tan leather trimming, laces and slingbacks, all on a 3.75-inch cork wedge with a one-inch platform. Yours for 
The Black Fleur de Lis Rainboots are rubber with a padded insole, about a foot high, and fit calves up to 14.5 inches in circumference. Order down half a size—they run big! Pick up a pair at 
Oh, je t’aime!! (Yes, yes, the Bastille was stormed in 1789 and the Eiffel Tower went up a hundred years later. Don’t care.) The Tour Eiffel by Giuseppe Zanotti has the bleu, blanc, et rouge of the French flag, a stunning silver stiletto, and a rhinestone-encrusted Eiffel Tower up the front of the foot. They seem to be out of stock just about everywhere, but if they ever come back they’re about 
Perfect for a summer evening! The Norrell by Nine West have a five-inch heel with a one-inch platform, a cute little bow at the toe, and they’re made of turquoise leather! If those last two words aren’t magic, I don’t know what are. They come in eight other versions if you don’t think solid blue is for you, and you can pick up a pair at 
The Leopard Rose Blossom Peep Toe Pumps by Alano have a leopard print upper, black patent leather heel (five inches) and platform (about an inch), and the flower feature on the toe, making you the naughtiest girl in the Colonial. Get yours from 
What a pretty shade of purple! The Jeanette by Me Too has a satin upper (in six colors), leather sole, 3.75-inch heel, and a big sculpted bow. And they’re on sale for just under $62! Find them on 
How lovely are these? For the classy dame in you, here’s the Valinda by Audrey Brooke—a satin upper with gathering and rhinestone details at the toe, leather sole, 3.75-inch heel, and it comes in five other colors in case red’s not your thing. Find them at your nearest 
I love these! Bright pink, polka dots, a big bow... the Fuchsia Polka Dot Bow Peep Toe Platform Sandals by Sindy have it all, plus a nice solid heel for running down Bridge Street. A five-inch heel, 100% leather, the perfect shade of pink... yours for $160 from 
On one of the hat contest judges. Red satin, tan leather, silver studs, a solid base—and we all just loved her gold toenails!
On another of the judges. I just adore these—look at the elaborate cut-outs and the statement bows!
These were Rosie’s favorites: clear Lucite wedge, delicate silver straps, just enough sparkle. Very appropriate for a hot day!
Black and white was a huge theme at the Horse Show on Ladies Day—these shoes just exemplified that idea, with their sharp contrast stitching and flowers across the toe.
The trademark red sole of Christian Louboutin. It is the Main Line, after all!
And, finally, Horse Show perennial Carson Kressley (formerly of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). Got to love the white pants as well! Like Carson could be anything but fabulous.
I’d love to see this paired with booties—maybe these:
The Yalina Evening Booties by Nina have a four-inch wedge heel, peep toe, and an upper made of fine black lace. They give enough subtle visual interest to anchor the dress, and red and black never go out of style. They can be yours for $109, and you can find them at 
The Jeryn sandal has a synthetic leather upper embellished with rhinestones and beads, and a zipper up the back to help get them on. They come in silver, snowy, and black in addition to the cognac shown here, and you can find them at 
I went expensive because I love this dress, and I figured if you’re going to go to prison for stealing it out of the museum you might as well go in style. The Wavy Strap Sandal by Jimmy Choo features a 4.5” heel, mirrored gold leather, and two buckled ankle straps. It runs small, so get it half a size up if you can spare the $695. Available at 
