Killer Heels: Art and Shoes Collide at the Brooklyn Museum

The perfect shoes are a pair of art and today and I got to see Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe at the Brooklyn Museum,

Here is the museum's take on the exhibit:

When you first get into the area of the exhibit, the first thing you notice is a large sign saying Killer Heels. Perhaps it is because the exhibit ends March 1, but I also noticed a large crowd today.

When entering, you are greeted by a short film. Unfortunately, given the large crowd it was hard to watch as the security guard kept telling people not to block the entrance.

The next hallway of the exhibit traces trends and inspiration from the being of heels hundreds of years ago to today. It is amazing how Rococo style and Louis the IV heels have gone in and out of fashion many times.

From there, the exhibit goes into many architectural shoes, which may be hard to walk in, but are gorgeous to view. Some shoes even challenge traditional thinking of what a shoe is.  Here are a few of my favorites:

From afar, these look like classic t-straps, but the front of the t is actually a woman in an evening gown.

Cinderella's Glass Slipper Re-imagined

Prince Charming with Cinderella's glass slipper in Walt Disney World's Main Street Electrical Parade

Next month, Disney's live action Cinderella movie his theaters. As you probably know, I can't think of that story without thinking of the glass slippers.

Now, Disney has asked designers to re-imagine those famous shoes for modern princesses (or adults who still harbor princess dreams). Sketches from the 9 designers have been released and the real shoes will be available in stores in early March. For those of us in the U.S., the shoes will be available from Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Beverly Hills, according to the press release.

First, check out the movie trailer to see how the live action movie presents the glass slippers:

The glass slippers from the movie seem pretty traditional with butterfly decals on the toes. They were produced by crystal company, Swarovski.

However, the 9 designers selected for the re-imagination went much more modern, with booties and cage heels.

And like the sign that decorates my desk says, these shoes could change your life.

Here are the designs:

Alexandre Birman

Charlotte Olympia

What Shoes Should I Wear? A Helpful Info-graphic

You've probably been in a situation before where you've realize you accidentally wore a too short dress or too casual shoes. The shoe info-graphic below aims to help you avoid that. While its a matter of some common sense and your own sense of style, hopefully this helps you make sense of the plethora of shoe styles.

This graphic comes courtesy of Elegant Steps, a UK shoe company.

To use the guide, follow the lines to and from your shoe type or event. Also follow the icons (the legend is at the bottom).

Shoe History: The Birth and History of the Stiletto

Stilettos with the amazing tall and thin heel are synonymous with sexiness and femininity, but when was this famous shoe invented?

Ancient Greeks may have worn sandals according to History of Sandals and in the 16th and 17th centuries chopine, very high and difficult to walk in platforms, were fashionable, according to All About Shoes.

It wasn't until after World War II that the stiletto became all the rage. After the war, women left their jobs and returned to domestic life. As this shift occurred, heels became higher, according to Hilary Greenbaum and Dana Rubinstein of the New York Times.

The exact inventor of the stiletto is unknown. While Ferragamo, Roger Vivier and Perugia have all been credited with invention, the shoe was most likely designed by a mix of Italian shoemakers, potentially with French designers involved.