I attended the opening reception for Shoes: Pleasure and Pain at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. And as a bonafide shoe lover, it was quite a treat. Shoes: Pleasure and Pain is an exhibition that was curated by Victoria and Albert Museum, London and features fabulous footwear (over 200 pairs!) from a wide variety of time periods.
There are also several pairs of shoes that were worn by some of the biggest cultural icons like Princess Diana, Elton John, and the #MCM of many people–David Beckham. And, of course, there were contributions from some of the most notable shoe designers ever–Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Gucci to name a few. With names like these, I felt as though I’d stepped foot into Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. Confession: The first time I’d heard of many of these designers was while binge-watching Sex and the City.
But the exhibition didn’t just feature fancy footgear. There were also references to the history of footwear, from ancient Egyptian slippers to the “Lotus” shoes that Chinese women wore to bind their feet (shown in the above image). The “Lotus” shoes were actually a part of the exhibition called Touching the Sole, where sighted patrons are given the option to wear blindfolds and explore the shoes by touch only. Having the opportunity to engage several senses definitely heightened the learning experience–not only while exploring the various shoes on display, but by gaining a better understanding of what it’s like to navigate through the world as a visually impaired person.
The other sections include Transformation, Status, Seduction, Creation, and Obsession. And each section is as captivating as it sounds. Thanks to the sultry red light in the Seduction section, I may or may not have been humming 6 Inch by Beyoncé while I looked at the shoes on display #dontjudgeme
People from all walks of life will be able to appreciate the beauty and significance of Shoes: Pleasure and Pain. To size things up and see if the exhibit is a good fit for you, click here. More information and the link to purchase tickets can be found there. The exhibition is available at SCAD FASH until August 13th, 2017. Be sure to check it out!
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
1600 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Invitation to Shoes: Pleasure and Pain courtesy of Fitz and Co. Opinions and words courtesy of yours truly.
