Between sips of cocktails and entertainment by jazz legend Liberty Silver, everyone was talking about heels, hemlines and high spirits last night at the
Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. It was the opening night party for
The Roaring Twenties exhibition curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack.
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Beaded 1920s dresses at the Bata Shoe Museum
Photo by Ingrid Mida 2011 |
The 1920s was a period of post-war exuberance and women stepped away from their domestic duties and into the public sphere. These social changes were mirrored by a revolution in fashion. Not only did women forgo their corsets, they cut their hair, raised their hemlines, and began playing sports, driving cars, and kicking up their heels while they danced. In fact, the T-strap shoe was designed to keep women's shoes on their feet while doing the Charleston!
Now on display at the
Bata Shoe Museum are a gorgeous selection of beautiful 1920s women's shoes along with film clips and a selection of dresses and accessories. Seeing these shoes made me want to dance!
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1920s Shoes at the Bata Shoe Museum
Photo by Ingrid Mida 2011 |
Without exception, all the 1920s shoes on display are beautiful and wearable. I had to wonder why I cannot find shoes like this today instead of only ankle-breaker heels or paper thin flats. I'm hoping that a few shoe designers might just make their way into this tightly edited show and give us a pretty shoe that we can actually dance in!
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Boshevik Revolution Inspired 1920s shoes at the Bata Shoe Museum
Photo by Ingrid Mida 2011 |
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Menswear inspired oxford style 1920s shoes at the Bata Shoe Museum
Photo by Ingrid Mida 2011 |
11 comments:
I think these styles would fit right in with today's ecelctic styling. Really do have this stop on my next Toronto trip in May. XO
My Kingdom for those pink shoes.
fabulous post, I never knew that about t-strap shoes, but I love them and wish they would make a few of these gorgeous beauties to wear now!
I agree the heels are so high now a days, that by the time you get home your feet feel like stumps LOL
thanks for sharing
Karey
How gorgeous, oh how would love to visit this exhibition.
Oh wow those shoes are fantastic, I want them all :D
Love the Shoe Museum
Yes, a show worthy of inspiring new styles we could all love and wear.
No wonder they had so much fun back then...these shoes are to die for, you could never stop dancing with these on!
Nathalie
So wonderful that you got to see this Ingrid! Great images!
Sue:)
Read about this a while back and wondered if you would be there :) How I wish I could see this exhibition. It looks beautifully curated. My mother tells me that my great grandmother was a Charleston champion. I really hope shoes like this graced her feet while she danced!
This exhibition is on until 2012 so that gives you a whole year to fit in a visit!
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