Schuhe: Eine Hommage an Sandalen, Slipper, Stöckelschuhe

by Linda O'Keeffe, Andreas Bleckmann (Photographer), Manfred Allié (Translator)

Besessen - Vivier, Blahnik und Westwood. Einen halben Meter hohe hölzerne Chopinen aus dem fünfzehnten Jahrhundert und ihre Wiedergeburt als Plateausohlen der Sechziger und Siebziger. Die Paradoxie der hohen Absätze. Obermaterialien und Verzierungen aus Tüll, Brokat, Pailletten, Glas, Fischhaut, Vogelfedern. Die unverwechselbaren Modelle von Chanel, Jackie Onassis' Pumps, Marilyn Monroes Stöckelschuhe: Dieses Buch ist ein wahrer Augenschmaus, eine Hommage an den Frauenschuh mit über 1000 prächtigen Farbabbildungen. Außerdem nicht nur interessante Fakten rund um den Schuh, sondern auch Porträts bedeutender Schuhdesigner sowie eine einzigartige Galerie von "Schuhen, die man nicht vergißt" - wie die "unsichtbare" Sandalette und die futuristischen Go-Go-Stiefel von Courrèges.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art, History, Reference, Design, Coffee Table Books

510 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 1996

Reviews

[Thy Anonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for shoe designers/makers. It explores a whole range of footwear and gives a nice context on the history and fame of particular styles.

I would’ve appreciated, in addition to the shoes exhibited, shoe pictures that corresponded to the text. But considering the size and rights issues I understand why the author decided not to implement them.

[Aurélien Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's a pocket book celebrating shoes. It's not bad. It's just more of a 'visual extravaganza' than an informative take on the subject.

From everyday wears to the dancefloors, the bedroom, and, even, as pieces of artwork, practical or frivol, stylish, luscious, sexy, sophisticated, glamorous, daring, simple, romantic and more, 'Shoes' is packed with hundreds of pictures of footwears dating back from the Antiquity to modern days; all very simply displayed in their skillful craftsmanship, glories, and creative designs. Flicking through it all is dazzling and titillating at the same time (well, from a man's perspective...!). Thing is, that's pretty much it.

Yes, there are snippets on influential designers (Ferragamo, Vivier, Blahnik, Westwood, Cox...) and, yes, there also are snippets on some iconic shoes (stiletto, marabou mule, Mary Jane...). Here and there are also some footnotes containing fun facts about shoes. But the informations given are very light! If you are after an informative book on the topic, I am sure there are other alternatives out there (High Heel Heaven: The glamour and seduction of fabulous shoes brilliantly does that for heels...).

A feast for the eyes for sure, but that could have been more instructive.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect picture book for leafing through if you want to combine drooling over gorgeous shoes with gaping at bizaare (and beautifully illustrated) historical tidbits (like the 16th-century Venetian "chopines", with platforms up to 30 inches high, which required a servant on each side to steady their wearer)!

[Marloes Baren · Rating 2 out of 5]

When you're a shoe lover and would like something light with lots of pictures to browse through, the concept of this fun, colourful little book is perfect.
But even though it contains quite a bit of information on some of the most influential designers and historical background to designs, it may feel like it's lacking a bit in that regard. That said, providing a detailed historical overview is not the goal of this book.

As often with fashion-related subjects, some of the descriptions seem a bit 'empty'. The foundation for quite a few of the statements is rather shaky. But reading a non-scholarly book on shoes, that is what you expect and it isn't much of an issue.

What bothers me more is that there are some factual mistakes in the text. As I've read the Dutch translation I can't be sure if that is the result of a bad translating job or that it is characteristic of the original text. But it is the main objection I have and the reason for me not to rate it higher than two stars.

In addition, in some places the descriptions and the images do not really match. You will read something about specific shoes in detail in a way which carries the promise of being able to view an image of these shoes, yet that promise is not always kept.

But all together it is still a really fun book which mostly delivers what you expect of it. I would definitely recommend it to my friends. If you're really interested in the subject you may want to keep an iPad or your phone at hand just to do some fact-checking and get some extra information while browsing through the pages. And after reading, you definitely are going to need your wallet.

Now excuse me, I will be spending the rest of the afternoon trying to find the perfect fin-de-siècle opera boot inspired design in my size.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really into shoes. If they are presentable and sensible then they are fine by me. But coming across this fascinating encyclopedia of shoes while browsing at a library, I realized, once again, how the small things we take for granted can collectively say a lot about us as a species. This book gives a bird's eye view of how shoes have been quiet keepers of our history. It is one long parade of wonderful photos of shoes from different eras: from Persia to Egypt, Renaissance to 18th century China, and modern to futuristic. Looking at them, I was fascinated by how some designs recur over time regardless of culture and time. There are the elevated shoes from the Ottoman empire and the 20th century, clogs from Europe to east Asia, pumps from the harems of the desert and modern-day America. This book is not only a fashion documentary but a kind of history book as well. It proves that shoes, without doubt, show not only our vanity and need, if not greed, for things beautiful and pleasing, but also that shoes have been mankind's constant companions through historic journeys.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tiniest, most intriguing coffee table book for fashionistas!
If you have any interest whatsoever in style through the years, beautiful and/or interesting girl-y shoes, or even "what the heck?" fashion, this will be a fun book for you. I'm going to keep it in my purse for the next few weeks to show my pals or unsuspecting bystanders in the grocery line.

[Svalbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo libretto compatto e tascabile, di cui posseggo anche l'edizione tedesca, è un esauriente trattato sulla moda e la storia delle calzature, soprattutto femminili, ricco di foto e di tributi ai più grandi stilisti. Due riserve. La prima, fu pubblicato nel 1999 e poi non più aggiornato; pertanto manca tutta la stagione successiva di storia della calzatura femminile, l'importante fase dei sabots in tutte le loro varianti, nonché dei sandali minimali a tacco alto privi di contrafforti. La seconda: le scarpe femminili raffigurate "disabitate", ovvero prive del contenuto di un piede che dia loro senso e bellezza, come sono la quasi totalità di quelle qui raffigurate, suscitano tristezza e ineluttabile senso di incompletezza.

[Rene Ijzermans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een rijk gevarieerd beeldboek in enveloppeformaat over alle soortig schoeisel. Leuk voor de liefhebber, om af en toe te glimlachen, je te verbazen of van genieten. Ik heb me er prima mee vermaakt, ook vanwege de kleine stukjes geschiedenis en citaten van sommige auteurs over net die ene schoen of de hak.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book (my version looks a bit different, stocking-stuffer (lol) sized) is just the most delicious eye (and foot!) candy. From the days before crocs n' Fluevogs, definitely time for a new edition!!!

[Lorene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating history of shoes. I highly recommend it.

[Deborah Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my childhood hyper fixation books. I rediscovered it at a half price books a while ago and I think I literally jumped for joy. Please read if you like fashion nostalgia and joy.

[jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This tiny encyclopaedia of 507 pages stays true to its title, and reads indeed very much like a celebration of shoes. It contains tons of different types of shoes, all beautifully photographed, and also includes some background on each shoe, including its designer and time period. Though very complete in this, the book does seem to focus most on high-heeled shoes, which somewhat narrows its scope.

Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More contains nine chapters, all focusing in different types of footwear: (1) sandals, (2) heels, (3) slippers, (4) pumps, (5) trainers and other comfortable shoes, (6) boots, (7) platform shoes, (8) fetish shoes, and (9) unique shoes. Next to that, there’s also a short introduction and some information on how a high-heeled shoe is usually made.

Easy to leaf through yet also with enough information to remain interesting, this little book is perfect for anyone who likes shoes. The author has also included footwear from many different periods of time and many different countries, so the material is definitely varied and diverse, and provides a good sense of the history of shoes. The only downside is, as I said, the fact that it seems to focus most on high-heeled and feminine shoes, but I suppose flat/comfortable/masculine shoes aren’t as interesting as heels.

I would most certainly recommend this for every shoe aficionado, and anyone interested in the history of shoes. It’s a wonderful little book, with lovely images and solid texts.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun and interesting book for shoe lovers! People tend to give me a funny look at first when I mention how fascinated I am with the history of shoes. But I tell you, they are secretly interested too! I find myself sharing some of these little tidbits about shoes during everyday conversations =)

[Jaye Latts · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can any sane woman not love "Shoes"? It's brimming with beautiful photographs of exquisite (and exquisitely torturous) shoes, lovely historical facts, and SHOES!!! Read it once, to look at the shoes. Read it twice to learn the history of shoes/shoe-making. Read it a third time and pretend it's a catalogue and choose the shoes you would love to own and wear! Sigh... shoes.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tämä oli mielenkiintoinen katseluteos sellaisellekin ihmiselle, joka ei julistaudu erityiseksi kenkäfriikiksi. Kuvien ohella toki paljon tietoutta kenkien historiasta ja kenkäsuunnittelijoista. Opinpa tästä senkin, että tällä hetkellä muodissa olevat Converset on alun perin suunniteltu jo vuonna 1919.

[Bj Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

not an extreme amount of reading but I loved this book because it was a real lesson in the history of shoes. I was amazed by how much the styling comes back arou d in later generations with just a little variance. It hit nicely on the designers too.

I love shoes a LOT and liked this book a LOT too!

[Libbi Toscano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for a shoe fanatic ... and I am one. It proves that shoes have been an addiction throughout the ages and I've nothing to be ashamed of. A true art form celebrated by this collectable book. I also own it in French.

[Cortney Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over the weekend and if your a shoe lover like me this is a cute book with fun facts and history about shoes. I also liked how it covered biographies on some of the famous designers!! Interesting book and fun to look at pictures!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little stocking-stuffer book I got last Christmas. It truly is a fascinating look at the history of shoes. The pictures alone are worth getting this book. I'm no fashionista and I know I can't wear most of the featured footwear, but it was still an enjoyable read.

[Elle Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading is a strong word. Instant, bitesize if calorie-free, comfort snacking.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly what a fabulous little book.. jam packed with amazing photos. Excellent reference as well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book! It's a quick read, but it's packed full of information about shoes that even I found interesting - and I'm not really into shoes, :-).

[Corvinus Maximilus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, beautiful pictures of shoes all through the ages. Interesting facts about shoe makers, shoe history. One stop shop on all interesting and beautiful things we love about shoes.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures of shoes were exquisite. It was fascinating to see how similar shoes are today to shoes from a hundred years ago or more. Many of the older shoes pictured are ones I would wear.

[Claudette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book to see how shoes have changed throughout the ages.

[Hilde Helseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A Book with footwear in the Tittle'

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiny book that packs a punch. Wonderful photography and neat snippets on the history of shoes.