It's May! And what I love about this month is the Le French May; a month
of various interesting and exciting events or activities related to
French culture.This year, one of my favourite exhibitions is the 500
years of French passion for shoes; which is currently taking place at
Pacific Place until 24th May.This exhibition showcases the French shoe history 1500 until today.
Section 1:History step by step
woman's shoe in suede leather, laced and embroidered with Louis heel covered in leather, 1675-1700
woman's shoe in suede leather, with heel covered in smooth rust coloured leather with rhinestone buckle, 1675-1700
woman's kidskin shoes, straps with metal pearls with Louis heel, 1860 - Francois Pinet
Section 2: Fashion and Bootmakers
left: woman's poulaine type shoe in velvet, with crystals and pearls and a "guignol" heel (a name invented by Roger Vivier) 1987 - Roger Vivier
right: sonate model, silver metal fishnet and leather pump with comma heel, 1963 - Roger Vivier
left: pigalle - ring strass model, pump inlaid with crystal ring strass, 2012 - Christian Louboutin
right: pigalace model, black pump in satin crepe satin lace, 2014 - Christian Louboutin
left: for Junko Shimada, cork platform shoes covered in braided raffia and coral suede, 2006 - Raymond Massaro
right: veriz model, Charles IX in straw and chocolate coloured lambskin, 2013 - Robert Clergerie
Section 3: Antique sandals
left: red felt cothume with embroidery covered with gold thread, leather sole, reproduction of a Roman emperor cothume made for the theatre, 1800-1825
right: Eriko model, high cut, taupe nubuck zipped sandal, 2015
left: woman's sandal in braided kidskin, 1997 - Stephane Kelian
right:braided raffia sandal with a wooden sole, 1940-1945 - Unic
left: joueuse model, strapped platform vinyl sandal with 14 cm heel, 2014 - Ernest Chausseur
right: steel model, black sandal with feathered strap, 2012 - Parallele
Section 4: Fetish pumps
left: white satin embroidered pump, 1960 - Raymond Massaro by Rebe
right: French black satin pump with metal buckle, circa 1920
left: shoemaker in Cannes, pump in silver transparent horsehair and leather, embroidered with pearls and strass, 1965 - 1970 - Christian Pauvert for Pierre Bertrand
right: black satin pump with strass buckle,, 1969 - Roger Vivier for Christian Dior
left: anna model, pump in red velvet leather with a black toe, 2012 - Eugene Riconneaus
right: women's pump type shoe in red kidskin with stiletto heel covered in black kidskin, 1960 - Ernest
Section 5:Stage or dress ballet pumps
left: brocaded ballet slipper, lined with green satin, 1850
right: ballet slipper in woven straw, lined with satin, 1830 - 1840
left: cendrillon model, red patent leather ballerina, 2012 - Repetto
right: zizi model, oxford white leather sole for men, 2012 - Repetto
left: dente model with bow, black and white Jackson, 2015 - Avril Gau
right: dentel model with bow, black patent lambskin, 2015 - Avril Gau
Section 6: Signature heels
left: pump in black patent leather with red platform and "leg" heel, 1991 - Raymond Massaro for Azzedine Alaia
right: haute-couture, created open gold lame ankle-boot with a hand carved arcyl heel, 1990 - 2000 - Raymond Massaro for Christopher Rouxel
"Piscasso" inspired sandal (1955) in red and beige kidskin and metal, manufactured around 1980 - Andre Perugia
woman's mule in black calfskin with a large curved metal band in the form of a half circle for the heel, 1997 - Robert Clergerie
Section 7: Boots on parade
left: boot with chevron upper, 2014 - Sartore
right: crack model, black and white with red metal piping, 2010
woman's goatskin boot with Louis heel, 1930 - Julienne
ankle boots in black and gold guipure lace on a skin coloured satin background, 2008 - Raymond Massaro
Section 8: Shoes for men
left: reproduction of Pope Pie VI (1717-1799) mule in distressed red goatskin with gold lame ribbon laces and embroidered with gold thread, 1965 - Charles Jourdan
right: new platers model, derby in black patent with ribbon laces, 2013 - Christian Louboutin
left: 180 model, in collaboration with Olympia Le Tan, blue liberty mocassin, 2014 - J.M. Weston
right: country club model, oxford in black patent leather and navy blue velvet, special order 2015 - J.M. Weston
modane model, chukka boot with punched gold calfskin toe, 2012 - Joseph Malinge Createur
Section 9: Industrial manufacturing
from right to left:
wooden men's shoe last in craving process
men's shoe pattern
men's shoe leather outside for Black stitching
men's shoe upper
heel mockup, leather samples and plastic heel samples
from left to right: women's shoe last, women's red innersole
In this section, one can have a better understanding of shoes manufacturing, the processes involved and items used in making shoes.
Indeed, this exhibition is for shoes lovers and fashionistas who want to explore and understand the (brief) history of French shoes.
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend, stay chic!
