Pumped: The Art & Craft of Shoemaking at Charlotte, NC's Mint Museum

Back in June I was in Charlotte and was able to see Pumped: The Art & Craft of Shoemaking, an exhibit on the art of shoe making at The Mint Museum.

The exhibit ran from May to August, so unfortunately it is no longer open. Still you can enjoy my pictures and what I learned.

These are silk shoes from the early 1700s. Like other shoes from the time, they were made so that each foot was identical.

These are silk boots from the mid-1800s. They are beautiful, but seem very unpractical, like they would get filth the minute you walked outside.

These are some of the tools used in shoe making. It reminds me of visiting the shoe making shop in Colonial Williamsburg. 

These shoes are from the 1860s and represent a return to embellished shoes. Hooped-skirts were becoming popular and allowed glimpses of the wearer's shoes.

These are slippers from the 1890s but both remind me of more modern styles.

These shoes which include clear plastic are from the 1940-60s but remind me of newer shoes, including Cinderella's glass slipper being re-imagined. 

If you thought heelless shoes were a thing of modern times, these are from 1955-1960.

And one of m favorite displays, the shoe on the left are Yves Saint Laurent haute couture while those on the right are a knock-off. While the look similar, the knock-off is slightly different to avoid copyright infringement. The original is made of leather and the punches are done by hand. The knock off is made of man-made materials and the punching was done by machine.

Happy 2nd Birthday Through the Sole!

Through the Sole was started on February 8, 2010, after its second year, I wanted to look back at the highlights. I have written about a wide array of topic, from the economy to shoes made of cheese.

This year, the number of readers of Through the Sole has greatly increased, spiking during the late April and early May posts about the shoes of the Royal Wedding. Through the Sole was one of the first sites to show pictures of Kate Middleton’s wedding shoes. Seeing my readers’ interest in the Princess of Wales, I continue to produce related content, such as Kate’s other shoe choices, the shoe choices of guests, such as Victoria Beckham, the shoe choices of other royal brides, and even her sister, Pippa’s shoe choices.

The shoes of celebrities have been a big draw to Through the Sole, with Lady Gaga’s shoes also being a popular read.

In the past year, I have expanded my review of shoes, focusing on being budget-friendly while still providing comfort and style. Thus, I have reviewed lines for Target and shoes from Lands End. I have also shared my finds from discounters, like T.J. Maxx and outlet stores.

Can Shoe Color be Trademarked? The Signature Christian Louboutin Red Sole

Christian Louboutin shoes are known around the world for their signature scarlet red soles. They've been seen on celebrities, such as Victoria Beckham at the Royal Wedding, and on popular TV shows, like Sex and the City. However, can one company monopolize this popular color?

I’ve discussed a proposed law to copyright fashion designs, but can color be seen as distinct? 

 Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) have been locked in a legal battle since April 2011 over the use of the color red, specifically on the soles on shoes. Louboutin has been using red soles since 1992 when the designer saw an assistant painting her nails red, according to the Telegraph. In its 2011 resort collection, YSL included four shoes that were completely red, including the sole. However, the exact shade of red is different from that which Louboutin uses, according to the Telegraph. When Louboutin saw the shoes, he sued alleging that the shoes were virtually identical. Louboutin sought an injunction on the sale of the shoes and damages of at least $1 million.