Juicebox Self. Winter 2015 | Page 20

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pleasure and pain

“ Shoes are one of the most telling aspects of dress ,” “ Our choice in shoes can help project an image of who we want to be .” - curator of the exhibition Helen Persson .

Most of us have had the infuriating experience of purchasing a new pair of shoes , only to have found that they are the most uncomfortable , pain aching shoes you have ever worn . However even with experience it seems that we just can ’ t resist spending a fortune on impractical footwear . For those who can sympathise , the upcoming exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum , For Shoes : Pleasure and Pain , will be featuring some of the most wonderfully extreme examples of uncomfortable , but beautiful , footwear . The exhibition will explore the agonising aspect of wearing the shoes , but also the euphoria and obsession people have with them . It will consider the cultural significance , as well as examine the latest developments in the modern world of technology , including footwear created using 3D printing . With over 200 pairs exhibited from around the globe , including both historic and contemporary footwear , there is sure to be a shoe in everyones interest . The exhibits date back to sandals from Ancient Egypt and follow through to a wide range of shoes throughout the years ; from the ballet shoes made for Moira Shearer in 1984 ’ s The Red shoes to the insane blue platforms that saw Naomi Campbell take a tumble on the Vivienne Westwood catwalk in 1993 .
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