Shoes: The Ultimate Accessory

This book opens with a short history of shoes—an introductory essay that traces the development from prehistoric times through to today. This introduction is illustrated using museum shots of historic shoes and will prove a useful prequel to the banquet of footwear that follows.

The bulk of the book looks at the great designers of the post World War II era, concentrating on the big names of today—Charles Jourdan, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Fratelli Rosetti, Sergio Rossi, Walter Steiger, Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli—while at the same time allowing the outrageous and inspirational—Westwood, Galliano, and fashion school students—to show the other; more outrageous end of the market.

If nothing else, this book will allow the reader to learn why fans like Madonna say “Manolo Blahnik’s shoes are as good as sex, but they last longer.”

A critically acclaimed designer, Marloes ten Bhomer produces shoes that are both provocative and otherworldly. Her work fuses artistic and technological experiment in order to discover shoes anew. Ten Bohmer’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally and she gives lectures about her work worldwide. She takes on challenging commissions from galleries and private clients.

Liza Snook runs the Virtual Shoe Museum, an online facility that covers every aspect of shoes from their history, design, and manufacturer to their use in art.