A brilliantly illustrated compendium of shoe designers, brands, manufacturers, and retailers since 1950.
“I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes. I had one thousand and sixty.”—Imelda Marcos
In recent years shoes have become objects of fanatical devotion, as covetable designs have gained iconic status and shoe designers have become heroes of popular culture. From Christian Louboutin’s signature red sole and the Manolo Blahnik heels that helped to define Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw to the eco-friendly footwear of the future, shoes are now a fashion statement all their own.
Is there such a thing as a leading shoe fashion anymore? The silhouettes, colors, and details on the feet of models and in the pages of fashion magazines used to be the ultimate in style, but they no longer represent all fashion footwear any more than haute couture represents all fashionable clothing. Renowned fashion specialist Jonathan Walford recounts the fascinating history of more than 350 leading women’s shoe designers and manufacturers who have shaped modern footwear over the last sixty years. A rich array of sketches, photographs, and advertisements highlight superlative craftsmanship and lasting trends.
Featuring designs by Bally, Beverly Feldman, Camper, Charles Jourdan, Chie Mihara, Christian Louboutin, Ferragamo, Herman Delman, Jimmy Choo, Joan & David, Kenneth Cole, Manolo Blahnik, Maud Frizon, Roger Vivier, Rupert Sanderson, and Sergio Rossi. 350 color and 50 black-and-white photographs and illustrations
If you love fashion history this is a must have I received this book as a Christmas gift and it is simply wonderful. As a shoe lover I have been given many ‘shoe books’ over the years–many of which are simply art books showcasing some wacky designs–but this one is different. It offers a thorough history of shoe manufacturers and retailers (many long gone but nonetheless significant) and highlights brands that everyday women wore or still wear. There are some beautiful photos of the shoe styles of our mothers and grandmothers, as well as many current designers of 2010. I was especially intrigued by the vintage shoe ads from newspapers and magazines scattered throughout. This is not a precious art book but rather a wonderfully illustrated encylopedia that offers some delicious eye candy along with a fascinating history of shoe brands.Please note: The cover of this book is different than pictured above; please see Customer Images for a photo of the actual cover.
great new book for shoes – 1950s-today! Hi,We just got a copy of Jonathan Walford’s new book, “Shoes A-Z, Designers, Brands, Manufacturers and Retailers and love it! Anyone who loves shoes will certainly not be disappointed, tons of fascinating info and beautiful photos of hundreds of to-die-for shoes! It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the Chelsea Cobbler purple leathers 60s boots, with sun, moons & stars would have to be it… or maybe the stained glass Peter Kaisers 1970s boots on pg. 183 … or the “faces” multicolored Sergio Rossi’s on pg. 208?… Joe & Sue Langley
An encyclopedic look at the most famous shoe designers and brands starting from the 1950s onwards. The book covers most of the known labels in an alphabetic format.The text is clear and informative to give just the right about of information about each designer and his/her sources of inspiration. The book is also loaded with clear color photos representing the creations of the featured designers along with some interesting advertisements. The book is not a complete history, but kind of an illustrated overview and it succeeds in this respect.A worthy addition for any shoe lover and fashion in general.