Featured Shoes

Special Exhibitions GallerySeptember 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

graphic collage of some of the shoes featured in Shoes: Anatomy, Identity, Magic

Dive deeper into our favorite objects from Shoes: Anatomy, Identity, Magic, an exhibition that features more than 300 shoes from the 5,000 pairs of shoes, boots, sandals, and sneakers in the museum's permanent collection, aka "the closet."

“We are inviting visitors to ask themselves, Shoe are you? Hence our three, somewhat mysterious-sounding themes of anatomy, identity, and magic.”

- Valerie Steele, Director of the Museum at FIT and curator of Shoes: Anatomy, Identity, Magic with Colleen Hill

High heel oxfords with classical floral design tooled in gold metallic on black leather, trimmed with blonde and brown mink fur; round toe, high heel covered with brown, black and gold metallic brocaded silk, attached beige grosgrain ribbon ties over tongue

Louis Vuitton, gilt leather and fur pumps, fall 2004, France, gift of Louis Vuitton, 2005.53.1

black and white leather platforms that resemble ice skates

Thom Browne, black and white leather platforms, fall 2017, USA, gift of Thom Browne, 2019.5.2

Christian Louboutin, white sequined boots with “Loubitag” graffiti print, 2018, France, gift of Jean Shafiroff, 2018.38.2

Pair of pink silk satin tambour embroidered ankle strap pumps with Louis heel and pink, white, green and light blue embroidered flower motif at vamp and right and left counter.

Pinet, pink silk satin embroidered evening shoes, circa 1925, France, gift of Frank Smith Collection, 2008.84.2

Nike, red, white, and black leather "Air Jordan" sneakers, 1985, USA, gift of Nike, Inc., 85.196.1

dark red leather high platform sandals with with thirteen leather layer sole divided at arch and red, yellow and pink suede thong strips with buckled ankle straps

Bernard Rudofsky for Dino Busso, maroon stacked leather platforms, circa 1940, Brazil, gift of Mrs. Berta Rudofsky, 92.86.17

Pink extremely high heel-less platform on point ballerina style shoes in leather with beige leather under soles, light pink laces in synthetic satin attached at upper sides with red silk thread, extreme arching shape, fetish, extreme Chopine style shoe on point

Noritaka Tatehana, pink leather platforms, 2012, Japan, museum purchase, 2012.39.1

Barbed wire sandals in silver metallic leather with strands of tied leather cords across clear plastic vamp strap and forming wrap & tie ankle straps; stiletto heel

Todd Oldham, silver leather sandals, spring 1998, USA, gift of Main Line Group, 99.63.1

Noritaka Tatehana, red “Crystal Rose” platforms, 2014, Japan, gift of Noritaka Tatehana, 2014.52.1

high heels in gold with green designs on the side

Perugia, green and metallic gold leather evening shoes, 1930-1932, France, gift of Frank Smith Collection, 2008.84.5

Sling back sandals with applique wave design in black, off white and metallic pink gold leather and suede, golden ribbon wave molded wedge heels, pink gold straps at front, signed by designer at soles

Nicholas Kirkwood, ivory, black, and gold leather wedges, spring 2013, England, gift of Jean Shafiroff, 2018.38.4

Dr. Martens, black leather and rubber boots, 2000, England, gift of The School of Graduate Studies at FIT, 2000.51.1

Fiorucci, gold leather boots, 1973-1974, Italy, gift of Gregory and Barbara Reynolds, 85.47.14

Versace, black silk gladiator boots, 1992, Italy, museum purchase, 2018.73.1

Black leather knee length pirate boots with wide cuff folded halfway down boot and curved plastic faux horn stilhetto heel; detachable black leather hoster style stirrup at ankle with snap closure; narrow squared toe; black leather tie lacing at back beginning from heel; zipper closure at instep.

Alexander McQueen, black leather boots, spring 2003, England, museum purchase, 2008.47.1

Stylized platform gillies in Bruce tartan silk twill with toecap, counter, and heel in black patent leather with pinked edges; platform sole integral with vamp, exaggerated high heel; black cotton shoelace over open throat

Vivienne Westwood, tartan silk platforms, fall 1993, England, gift of Vivienne Westwood, 98.119.1

Black leather d'Orsay ankle strap shoes with squared stiletto heel, two buckled ankle straps supported by extended counter; pointed toe

Manolo Blahnik, black leather pumps, 1998, England, gift of Manolo Blahnik, 98.77.2

metallic pink leather platform high heel ankle strap pumps with spikes, studs and rhinestones

Christian Louboutin, metallic pink leather platforms with metal spikes, fall 2008, France, museum purchase, 2009.5.1

Maison Martin Margiela, white painted canvas boots, spring 1990, France, gift of Richard Martin, 92.182.1

A Bathing Ape, camouflage-printed canvas “Bapesta” sneakers, 2010, Japan, museum purchase, 2010.54.1

Open-toe stiletto pumps in black and white zebra stripe pony skin; squared toe cut and heel tip

Manolo Blahnik, zebra-printed pony hair pumps, 1998, England, gift of Manolo Blahnik, 98.77.1

Balenciaga, multicolor leather “Triple S” sneakers, 2018, France, museum purchase, 2018.48.1

glitter open-toe black high heels with pink and bue butterfly wings

Sophia Webster, black suede sandals with pavé crystals, 2017, England, gift of Sophia Webster, 2017.55.2

Ivory silk taffeta shoes with floral embroidery and large metal buckles with circular designs

Ivory silk brocade shoes, 1775-1780, England, museum purchase, 2007.12.1

Deep red velvet evening sandals with ankle wrap ties and shaped wedge high heels in resin with marbleized look, iridescent metallic leather at sole, heel back and casing tab, gold metal logos

Tom Ford, red velvet and resin wedges, spring 2012, USA, gift of Tom Ford International, 2013.10.1

Tarquinius ankle strap sling back evening shoes in green re-embroidered lace with red satin at ribbon tabs at triple T-straps, ankle strap and elongated hourglass heels; red leather ankle ties

Manolo Blahnik, green lace and red silk pumps, 2017, England, a gift from Manolo Blahnik, 2019.88.1

Black suede pumps with blue covered leather high platform and chunky heel

Céline, black suede and blue leather wedges, fall 2012, France, museum purchase, 2018.41.1

Puma by Fenty, pink polyester and rubber sneakers, spring 2017, Germany, gift of Puma, 2017.29.3

Green linen moire mules; ruffled double bib trim around instep with stitched lettuce edging, closed toe, wood grain kitten heel, size 9

Aurora James for Brother Vellies, green moiré linen mules, spring 2020, USA, gift of Brother Vellies, 2021.11.1

Futuristic go-go boots in off white kid leather, with cut-out slit and self knot at top; flat heel and open toe; CB zipper and velcro closure

André Courrèges, white leather and Velcro® boots, 1964, France, gift of Ruth Sublette, 77.183.2CD

Man's DandyLove black velvet slip on evening shoes, Love appliqued across both shoes in a multicolor mix of metallic and patent leather, grosgrain trim

Christian Louboutin, black velvet man's “Dandy Love” slippers, spring 2019, France, gift of Gordon Kendall, 2019.69.1

Man's brown leather wingtip oxford shoes with rounded point toe, 3 cm heel and broguing with five eyelet laced closure

John Lobb, man's brown leather Oxfords, 1965-1975, England, gift of Margaret Kaplan, 89.17.33

red faux patent leather thigh high boots

Pleaser, red vinyl boots, fall 2016, USA, gift of Hood by Air, 2016.87.1CD

high heels with flower details in pink, green, and blue

Pierre Hardy, multicolor leather sandals, summer 2015, France, gift of Pierre Hardy, 2016.18.1

Flame high heel mules in black and shades of pink patent leather with silver stiletto heels and flame wings at heel back, also known as Hot Rod shoes

Prada, black and red patent leather mules, spring 2012, Italy, museum purchase, 2019.35.1

Rose gold Nova shoe in metallic chromed vinyl and rubber blend with hidden fiberglass structural support

Zaha Hadid for United Nude, rose gold vinyl platforms, 2013, France, museum purchase, 2013.83.1

Taupe lizard pumps with elongated narrow square novelty toe, high stiletto heel, and ogival bar with orange silk grosgrain underlay at throat; custom made

Roger Vivier for Christian Dior, taupe lizard skin pumps, 1955-1959, France, gift of Arthur Schwartz, 79.169.3

Man's leather lace up shoes in brown leather with molded realistic toe front, inspired by Magritte with with stacked heel

Pierre Cardin (made by Carlos Peñafiel), molded brown leather man’s shoes, 1986, France, gift of Richard Martin, 87.16.1

red pumps with jewels assemble in a rectangle at the toe

Roger Vivier, red silk pumps with rhinestone buckles, spring 2016, France, gift of Roger Vivier, 2019.7.6

Red faux alligator patent leather stiletto heel oxfords with insertions of yellow gold leather on the vamp and lacing stay, rounded toe, low cut topline at sides, high conical heel

Bella Freud, red and yellow patent leather Oxfords, 1998, England, gift of Bella Freud, 99.3.1

Red ankle strap platform wedge open toe sandals in synthetic satin with hand painted and carved relief design on polyurethane platform base of palm trees and tropical beach scene in red, yellow, blue, green, orange, brown and white, upper front panel cinched at CF and held in place with self fabric band, green fabric bias binding at finished edges, upper shoe attached to base with tarnished gold metal nail heads and leather trim with fluted copper metal stud at inside strap, copper metal buckle at ankle strap closure

Pelican Footwear, red satin sandals with hand-painted wedges, 1972, USA, gift of Joseph and Carole Bascetta, 2011.20.3

Platform ankle strap shoes in silver leather, with top stitching forming diamond design at vamp, open round toe, high grained wooden platform sole with narrow, sculpted heel

Raphael, silver leather and wood platforms, 1972-1973, USA, gift of Ms. Phyllis Unroch, 94.156.1

High, back laced western style evening boot in black leather with orange lizard inserts, orange leather piping and lacing; scallop cut open counter, sculpted rectangular stiletto heel, rounded point toe; right boot

Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Couture, black and orange leather boot, spring 1998, France, museum purchase, 98.36.1

Fetish platform ankle strap shoe in black patent leather; extra high spike heel, rounded toe; curved top line with two scallop points on outer edge

Black patent leather fetish platforms, circa 1973-1975, Mexico, museum purchase, P91.25.2

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