Shoes (V & a Fashion Accessories S.) [Hardcover]

Lucy Pratt (Author), Linda Woolley (Author)

Book Description

Series: V & a Fashion Accessories S. | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This account traces the history of footwear from the Middle Ages right up to the flamboyant styles of the late 1990s. Specially commissioned photographs highlight the elegance and beauty of embroidered shoes from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the delicate slippers worn by Victorian ladies.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The authors, curators in the Department of Textiles and Dress in London's Victoria & Albert Museum, have compiled a glorious array of color photographs and period illustrations of rare bags and shoes from the museum. An informed and fascinating account of the development of shoes and purses since the Middle Ages results. Bags traces the development of this accessory from 14th-century girdle bags to 20th-century purses exhibiting the creative use of leather or manufactured materials. Shoes track decorative shoes, with varying heel heights, from medieval flats to modern lucite heels. Both books discuss men's and women's accessories but picture more of the latter, since more examples have survived. Using small type fonts to fit a great deal of information into a compact size (8" x 7"), these works are history books, not collectors' guides; there are, for example, no price listings. But savvy collectors will wish to read these authoritative tomes to gain familiarity with characteristic styles. Valuable for costume history students and other interested readers in academic, public, and museum libraries.
-Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'Plots the history and development of footwear from the time of Henry VIII to Vivienne Westwood's infamous twelve-inch platforms that Naomi Campbell fell off' Marie Claire --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum; 1st ed edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851772855
• ISBN-13: 978-1851772858
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Informative, December 20, 2002

By 

Sharon A. Hutchinson ""It is the time you... (Toms River, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shoes (V & a Fashion Accessories S.) (Hardcover)

I have always been interested in costume design and role playing. Footwear is an area that seems to be the most neglected when attempting to re-create a costume from a past era. For those who strive for accuracy in putting together the perfect historical outfit, or even if you just have an interest in shoes in general, this book fits the bill. Wonderful, colorful photos, a highly readable text detailing the history of the crazy world of footwear--the book covers everything involved with shoes and answers most questions the reader may have. From the grotesque to the mundane, we are presented with styles that run the gamut from shoes of leather and iron (ouch!) to platform soles of 12 inches or more. What is surprising is that some styles are still with us today, modernized but still very recognizable. We also learn the painful lengths that people will go for the sake of fashion. Time has changed nothing in this regard, as we still wobble around on stilleto heels and end up with bunions, corns or worse--but we still look marvelous, darling!!! Seriously, if you love to learn about footwear, like to dress in period attire, or are simply a "shoe freak", don't hesitate to buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, a good read., April 16, 2000

By 

Rhonda - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shoes (V & a Fashion Accessories S.) (Hardcover)

An interesting, informative book, full of historic details and colourful pictures. From court shoes of Henry VIII's time to Vivienne Westwood's famous 12-inch platform shoe of the 90s, this book is full of description and history of the item we cannot live without. Features the shoes exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Reading the book is almost as good as going there to see the shoes yourself.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shoes and Society, June 4, 2010

By 

An European in America (Framingham, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Shoes (V & a Fashion Accessories S.) (Hardcover)

This is a great companion book to Jane Ashelford's "The Art of Dress: Clothing and Society 1500-1914". Not to mention the ample and detailed material from the vast V&A collection. Whether you are looking for historical information or fashion inspiration, you wouldn't be disappointed.