内容简介

Much more than an item of clothing, a pair of shoes by Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik is a most coveted possession. But how have we arrived at such a plethora of styles and how has footwear evolved? Organized chronologically by style, this ravishing book, uniquely illustrated with photographs of actual shoes, takes us on a remarkable tour of the shoe closets of the world over the last four hundred years, exploring how major historical events, social change and industrialization have influenced styles and production. We have been intrigued by the fashion and function of our footwear for many centuries and Jonathan Walford shows us why numerous forgotten designs of the past will appeal to the most fashionable of footwear aficionados today. Fabulous images of conversation starting shoes fill the pages and revealing commentaries inform the reader. An illustrated section devoted to biographical notes on shoemakers, designers and manufacturers who have shaped footwear history, together with a detailed glossary of all the main terms, completes the book.