Cathy's Art Diary

Magical exhibition at the Wallace Collection showing shoes by Manolo Blahnik among the art works. I have to admit straight away that I am a shoe nut so of course I was going to love this show. Sadly I don’t and can’t wear shows like this anymore but I could easily have them as ornaments! Blahnik has been inspired by the Wallace Collection paintings, furniture and porcelain over the years and the shoes echo the style and detail of the art they are shown with. The shoes were shown in glass domes in themes to match the rooms they are shown in. I loved the “Love and Passion” section shown in the Oval Drawing Room alongside the famous Fragonard of the girl on a swing losing her shoe. I was also charmed by the way shoes were shown alongside snuff boxes and miniatures in the Boudoir Cabinet, shown off like the art objects they are. There were some great examples in the Great Gallery and it was wonderful to see the art through the domes and they had been arranged well to refle...

Small exhibition at the British Museum looking at shoes from the Islamic World examining the idea that shoes reflect identity, profession, status and lifestyle.   There was a useful map showing the extent of the area the shoes came from with pictures of the distinctive styles from each place. I loved a quote from a North African proverb “Luxury begins the day a man starts wearing shoes.” There were some lovely pieces in this exhibition such as a pair of red tapestry boots from Morocco and gold paisley loafers from Pakistan but I didn’t feel any sense of narrative just a collection of interesting pieces. I’d often noticed that shoes from these areas of the world seem to have flattened backs to them and this show pointed out it’s so they can be slipped off easily when entering a home or the mosque. Obvious really when you think about it. I loved the fact there were two pairs of shoes owned and worn by some of the curators, a pair of loafers hand made in Aleppo ...

Wonderful exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at the history of shoes and the place they have in different cultures. OK of course I was going to like this exhibition having a bit of a shoe thing and it didn’t disappoint. My only criticism is that I’d have liked one display with the history of the shoe and the technological developments. The displays were themed and were great but a chronological context to start you off would have been a good added extra. Anyway to wade into the fun stuff! A fascinating display looking at the role of shoes in Fairy Tales including the latest Disney Cinderella shoes, Seven League Boots and even the “urban shoe myth” from “Sex in the City” ie Monolo Blahnik Mary Janes! A display looking at how shoes change how a body moved including 1890’s high heeled button boots and Marilyn Monroe’s Ferrigamo’s. A display on boots including Tom of Finland type boots, winkle pickers, cowboy boots and Musketeer’s boots. Then just random...

Interesting exhibition at the Design Museum looking at the footwear brand Camper and the part that design of every kind has played the history of the company. I must admit at times this show felt like a big advert! Having said that it was fascinating to see all the different components of the shoes and to watch the film of them being put together. It was also interesting to see how the way people walk affects the design of the shoe. There was also a section on branding with shoe boxes and bags and displays on the innovative design of the Camper shops. At the end was an interesting piece on future developments such as a material which moulds to the shape of your foot and seemed to create a slipped like shoe. Also about how cities are devising safe walking areas as we use public transport so much that there is less reason to walk. It’s sort of making walking a destination activity! Shoes seem to be a big exhibition theme at the moment. I’ve already done Rayne and I have...

Lovely exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum of shoes made by the company Rayne. The exhibits were arranged like a magical shoe shop with displays from the different eras of the company and in some cases a style of shoe in different colour ways. My favourites, as ever, were the shoes from the 1920s with elegant cut away heels and with a bar across. All the shoes looked easy to wear with high but well balanced heels. I particularly loved the shoes with Wedgewood china heels! For once I liked the lack of commentary in the cases as it maintained the shop look and there was a good listing you could carry round with you. I was interested to see that although the business left family ownership in 1987 a son of the last family owner   has revived the company.