A collection of 14 essays that analyze why our culture has become fascinated with footwear. The essays present insightful arguments that address the cultural significance of shoes through analyzes of art, film, literature, history, folklore, dance, psychology, and cultural studies. Unlike the traditional approach of fashion historians, the contributors to Footnotes: On Shoes uniquely analyze shoes as a foundation for broader explorations of socialissues.
From a London and Paris-based team of sneakerenthusiasts, who are also graphic designers and moving-image makers, comes this stunning tribute to the shoe that has become a global obsesssion. With contributions from celebrity musicians, athletes, teen idols, moguls, sneaker designers and enthusiasts from Kansas to Tokyo, finding issues such as crimin- ality, exploitation and fashion.
The protagonist of this book is Phil Knight, the reclusive billionaire who built Nike from a two-man importing operation into a $4 billion global business. The author follows the company around the world, from Oregon to Korea to the Barcelona Olympics. Along the way, he describes the creation and design of Nike shoes, and discusses the corporate spirit and strategies that have made Nike one of the greatest business success stories of the past two decades. Published 1994 (336 pages)
By Lucy Pratt and Linda Wooley The history of footwear fashion is told using beautiful photographs from London's Vicotria & Albert Museum. Included are a wide variety of shoes and boots, that once belonged to the nobility and to the rising middle classes, anonymous and famous, men and women. From battered old 'chimney shoes' hidden away for good luck to the elegant styles of the eighteenth century; from Elizabethan mules to the first stilletoes in the late 1940s; from the floppy topped swashbuckling boots of the Civil War to chunky 1970 snakeskin platforms; and from 1920s T-bar shoes to 1990s hand-made strappy sandals, this colorful account is a real visual feast.
By Mary Trasko "Extraordinary twentieth century shoes." Some of the most startling and delightful shoes ever created. From the handcrafted wonders Yantourney produced in the 1920s to the supremely comfortable yet elegant platforms from Ferragamo during the '40s and a recent collection by Vivier embroidered with pearls, feathers and crystal beads. (163 photographs, 132 pages
By Valerie Steele This lushly illustrated book is devoted completely to the meaning of modern footwear. It discusses the obsession, the fetish, and the fashion of shoes from the pump to the sneaker, the boot to the stiletto. All the major players are represented here from interviews with Manolo Blahnik, master of the "skyscraper" heel, to witty quips from Tom Ford, the designer who sparked the resurgence of the Gucci loafer. Subjects such as the merits of platforms, or the "Designer Bofs" and "Techno Urban Warriors" of the sneaker buying public are tackled with humor. The book also explores the relationship between shoes and sex, and gender roles. It is fun, thought provoking and full of magnificent photographs.
It's the 150 stunning color photographs that make this book so special. As a follow-up to the Cowboy Boot Book, it celebrates how the art of the boot has risen to mind blowing proportions. The art is what this book is all about: new perfection in hand-carved and painted leather tops, colorful hand-beaded boots, varying styles of machine embroidery, rhinestone-studded boots, long mule ears with silver conchos, ornate stitching and inlays; the ancient hand-stitching art of pitiado has been revived. We are seeing gold, diamonds, silver, prehistoric mammoth tusk, ancient coins, and precious stones set into boot leather to create wearable cowboy-boot jewelry.
By Paula Buratto Caovilla Beautifully illustrated, this very original book traces the history of women's footwear using old master paintings, photographs, ancient shoes and unique exemplars and proto types. Follow the footwear evolution from everyday object to art artifact to the advent of leading stylists from Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, to Ferragamo, Valentino and Dior. It's fun, it's whimsical, it's provocative, it's a stunningly beautiful book.
Thomas G. Plant rose from the ranks of shoe worker to become one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the world. Along the way he developed revolutionary new policies for worker/management relations, launched an anti- trust battle with United Shoe Machine Co. (1910) and built one of New England's grandest estates, the famous "Castle In The Clouds" which towers above New Hampshire's Lake Winnepesaukee. A real-life Horatio Alger story and a fascinating insight into the U.S. shoe industry in its heyday. (276 pages)
by Angela Pattison and Nigel Cawthorne An unusual and absorbing perspective on twentieth- century fashion, as seen through the rise of footwear design, is the focus of this elegantly designed volume. An extraordinary variety of shoe styles, designs and designers are examined in the authoritative text and illustrated in full color. The book's decade-by-decade breakdown sets shoes in the context of fashion as a whole and sheds light on the trends of each particular era. 160 pages.
An entertaining, informative look at a fast moving $11 billion-a-year industry. How (and by whom) are sneakers made? Why is Nike heralded by economists and lampooned by Doonesbury? Jammed full of facts, figures, cartoons and literary excerpts, this book swooshes past the hype, puts the numbers on the table and takes a fresh look at this fascinating footwear category.
Explore women's shoes as a powerful talisman of fashion, culture, and sexual energy. You'll see designer shoes by the likes of Daviv Evins and Palter De Liso, who were influenced by haute couture but marketed to the upper middle-class. You'll find a true cross-section of shoe design. There are coquettish pumps from the French Room mat Chandler's, jeweled platforms by Frank More of San Francisco, and early canvas high- button shoes by Keds. A beautiful chronicle of the shoes that shaped the century. (540 color photos, 224 pages)
This book is both a museum and a fantasy shoe store. Presenting over 100 examples of exotic shoes, sandals, boots and slippers made from such materials as vegetable fibers, cowhide, brocade, satin and wood. This remarkable volume traces the evolution of footwear from a Pharoh's sandal to Pope John II's shoes . Beautiful photographs and detailed captions make this a valuable book for designers, collectors, historians and fashion watchers alike. (138 pages)
Over 300 eye-popping, platform shoe styles, shown in color photographs demonstrate the creative spirit in shoe design. Colorful and provocative, these shoes span the globe and the decades and include snake skin, fur, glitter, colored leather, woven raffia and fabric materials. These fun and daring designs come from every part of the world and include sporty, daytime and evening styles, tie-ups, clogs, boots, slip-ons and many sandals with ankle straps, some practical and others simply outrageous.
An engaging profile of the life and work of one of the hottest designers of the 90s. Based on close collaboration with Patrick Cox, the book is an in depth examination of his working methods and inspiration. Over 150 color photographs illustrates the full range of Cox's collections alongside work for Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Anna Sui and Alastair Blair. This fascinating book is a vivid insight into the ideas of a designer completely in tune with the contemporary.
Written by top fashion writer Colin McDowell, this book charts our unending obsession with the shoe. Illustrated with a galaxy of styles, this is a gold mine for fashion historians, and inspiration for designers and a sparkling distillation of the fashion and fantasy of footwear
By Anto Kerins An in-depth profile of 8 small to medium sized European footwear companies and one industry consulting organization. This book tells the stories of these companies in detail, from their historical development through to their business strategies, from their organizational structures to their work processes. But the analysis doesn't just consider the cold facts and figures. By going deeply into each company, by understanding the issues and concerns of the people who work there, Sole Survivors gets to the very heart of these organizations and what makes them exceptional. (420 pages)
Follow the trail of Justin Industries from a one-man boot shop to a $500 million enterprise. An anecdotal and lively history of a family and a company. Trace Justin--and its boots--through moves from Spanish Fort to Nocona and Ft. Worth; periods of serious financial difficulties; family legal squabbles, and an unfriendly takeover attempt. An interesting read of an industry trend setter. 260p.
Vivier, Blahnik and Westwood. Two-foot-high wooden chopines of the 15th century and their resurgence as the platform shoes of the '60s & '70s. Uppers of tulle, brocade, rhinestone, glass, fish scales and feathers. The Chanel toe, Jackie O's pump, Marilyn's stiletto. SHOES is a visual extravaganza, a celebration of women's with over 1,000 photographs of shoes in glorious color. Includes Footnotes (fascinating facts about shoes),profiles of master shoemakers, and The Shoe That Left an Imprint - remember Courreges' futuristic Go-go boots?
By J.B. Strasser & L. Becklund "The story of Nike and the men who played there." The inside story of Nike, Inc.- the men, their methods and the hell-bent path that led them to become the most successful sports company in history. (682 pages)
The Cowboy Boot Book is a colorful tribute to a truly unique type of footwear. It covers the boot's history, its unique leathers, profiles of leading boot factories and boot makers, and a glossary of terms. Beautifully illustrated with over 200 photographs, mostly in color. More than 300 artistic boot styles.
By William Rossi The author takes us on a walking tour through history, from Chinese footbinding to the outrageous distortions of the foot gladly suffered by women over the centuries in the cause of sexual allure. He gives us an insightful psychosexual guide to ourselves via our footwear. A unique piece of social history; a provocative, often witty and always original, inquiry into human behavior. Revised 1993. (265 pages)
