HomeLifestyleFashion & BeautySpotlight on Stilettos Exploring the Sculptural, Architectural, and Artistic Dynamics of Heels Throughout History It is an Iconic object of desire, something that dwells in fashion’s memory, growing always higher and higher as the decades ticked by, until the all-pervading moniker ‘killer heels’ was invented- shoes with heels so long and dangerous, that they could kill either physically, or emotionally through with their outrageous sexiness. Winde Rienstra. “Bamboo Heel,” 2012 Winde Rienstra. “Bamboo Heel,” 2012. Bamboo, glue, plastic cable ties. Courtesy of Winde Rienstra. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Victor (American). Platform Sandal, circa 1940 Victor (American). Platform Sandal, circa 1940. Leather. Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Vivian Mook Baer in memory of Sylvia Terner Mook, 1983. 2009.300.1614a, b. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Mellon Costume Documentation Project, Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon, photographers Roger Vivier. “Virgule Houndstooth,” Fall 2014 Roger Vivier. “Virgule Houndstooth,” Fall 2014. Calf hair. Courtesy of Roger Vivier, Paris. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Rem D. Koolhaas. “Eamz,” 2004 Rem D. Koolhaas. “Eamz,” 2004. Courtesy of United Nude. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Prada. Wedge Sandal Prada. Wedge Sandal in Rosso, Bianco, and Nero Leather, Spring/Summer 2012. Courtesy of Prada USA Corp. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Noritaka Tatehana. “Atom,” 2012–13 Noritaka Tatehana. “Atom,” 2012–13. Faux leather. Courtesy of Noritaka Tatehana. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Nicholas Kirkwood. Pumps, Spring-Summer 2013 Nicholas Kirkwood. Pumps, Spring/Summer 2013. Suede with gold and clear Swarovski crystals. Courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Miu Miu. "Cammeo Baroque" Leather Wedge, Fall-Winter 2006 Miu Miu. "Cammeo Baroque" Leather Wedge, Fall/Winter 2006. Courtesy of Prada USA Corp. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn JANTAMINIAU. “L’Image Tranquille,” 2013 JANTAMINIAU. “L’Image Tranquille,” 2013. (Handcrafted by René van den Bezrg.) Courtesy of JANTAMINIAU. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Italian. Chopine, 1550–1650 Italian. Chopine, 1550–1650. Silk, metal. Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Herman Delman, 1955. 2009.300.1494a, b. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Mellon Costume Documentation Project, Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon, photographers Iris van Herpen X United Nude. “Beyond Wilderness,” 2013 Iris van Herpen X United Nude. “Beyond Wilderness,” 2013. Courtesy of United Nude. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn French. Shoes, 1690–1700 French. Shoes, 1690ñ1700. Silk, leather. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1906 (06.1344a, b). Image copyright © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image source: Art Resource, NY Chinese. Manchu Woman's Shoe, 19th century Chinese. Manchu Woman's Shoe, 19th century. Cotton, embroidered satin-weave silk. Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 34.1060a, b. Brooklyn Museum photograph Chau Har Lee. “Blade Heel,” 2010 Chau Har Lee. “Blade Heel,” 2010. Perspex, stainless steel, leather. Courtesy of Chau Har Lee. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn Casuccio e Scalera per Loris Azzaro (Italian) Casuccio e Scalera per Loris Azzaro (Italian). Sandal, 1974–79. Leather, synthetic material, cotton. The Bata Shoe Museum, P03.0040.AB. © 2014 Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada Beth Levine (American,1914–2006 ), Herbert Levine Inc. (American). “Kabuki” Evening Shoe, circa 1965 Beth Levine (American,1914–2006 ), Herbert Levine Inc. (American). “Kabuki” Evening Shoe, circa 1965. Silk, metal, wood. Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Beth Levine in memory of her husband, Herbert, 1994. 2009.300.1636. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Mellon Costume Documentation Project, Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon, photographers Balenciaga. Block Heel, Spring 2013 Balenciaga. Block Heel, Spring 2013. Courtesy of Marie-Amélie Sauvé. Brooklyn Museum photograph Aperlaï. “Geisha Lines,” Fall 2013 AperlaÔ. ìGeisha Lines,î Fall 2013. Leather. Courtesy of AperlaÔ. Photo: Jay Zukerkorn André Perugia (French, 1893–1977). Evening Sandals, 1928–29. André Perugia (French, 1893–1977). Evening Sandals, 1928–29. Leather, metal. Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Carleton Putnam, 1981. 2009.300.1612a, b. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Mellon Costume Documentation Project, Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon, photographers Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe, is the exhibition on view at the Brooklyn Museum from September 10, 2014, through to February 15, 2015, which celebrates more than 160 artfully-crafted historical and contemporary high heels from the seventeenth century through to the present. It will be organized in six thematic sections—Revival and Reinterpretation, Rising in the East, Glamour and Fetish, Architecture, Metamorphosis, and Space Walk, examining the mystique and transformative power of the elevated shoe. The exhibition also features six short films inspired by high heels that were specifically commissioned for this exhibition from artists Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh, Zach Gold, Steven Klein, Nick Knight, Marilyn Minter, and Rashaad Newsome. Other highlights of Killer Heels are Marilyn Monroe’s Ferragamo stilettos (1959); stiletto mules of silk, metal, and glass by Roger Vivier for House of Dior (1960); and a wool “heel hat” made by Elsa Schiaparelli in collaboration with Salvador Dalí (1937–38).
