A while back I took a trip to the V&A's Pleasure and Pain shoe exhibit. Here is my take on this incredible exhibition.....
As a little girl I would lust over sparkly shoes in store
windows and high heels in my mothers closet. Almost every little girl
fanaticizes about wearing a gorgeous stiletto and becoming a princess because
of her favorite fairy tales.
The Pain and Pleasure shoe exhibit at the Victoria Albert
museum takes you back into a world of fantasy and makes you feel like a little
girl staring into a store window. From dazzling heels from this century to
gorgeous glittering shoes from the past this exhibit transports you to a
different world.
Upon entering you are exposed to a large room with long
purple velvet curtains with large windows filled with shoes. The first window
you see when you enter the exhibit was titled transformation. A glass slipper
from the 2015 Cinderella film is the centerpiece for the window. Made of
Swarovski crystals the slipper glimmers and shines in the bright lights of the
display. The shoe brings a nostalgia
touch to the exhibit by giving a flashback to this classic childhood fairy tale
story.
Another standout shoe was a Christian Dior kitten heel from
the 1950’s featured in the status window of the exhibit. The bejeweled evening
shoe had a gold metallic textured treatment accented with colored rhinestones.
This glamorous shoe from the past reminds me of a dress up shoe that a little
girl would play with. The shoe was made of decadent materials like silk satin,
gold braid, sequins, and glass.
Shoes in the exhibit represented a modern day fairy tale as
well. From Kate Middleton’s classic nude pumps to Carrie Bradshaw’s glamorous feather
trimmed Jimmy Choo from Sex and the City. But, I was specifically gravitated
towards the magenta pink Manolo Blahnik heel titled “fairytale shoe maker”. The
shoe was a bright bold shade of pink with a square silver sequin buckle
embellishment. Manolo Blahnik embodies luxury, femininity, and privilege and
this shoe is no exception. Most women can only dream of having such a decadent
and divine shoe in their personal collection.
As you go through the exhibit each window is labeled in a
different category. From transformation, follow me, status, high society, the
way we move, and seduction. Although the windows were labeled, the exhibit had
an odd flow. There was no clear path to go through the exhibit. Also, with
large crowds of people it was difficult to maneuver through the small venue. I
think if the exhibit had been more spread out or in a different area it would
have been easier for attendees to navigate and understand.
The Pain and Pleasure exhibit, as a whole was very
interesting and perfect for any fashionista or shoe lover. In addition to the
selected collection of shoes, attendees can follow the stairs to look at videos
and other artifacts to learn about shoe making. Also, upstairs included personal
collections of everyday people.
But, to me this exhibit represents that nostalgic feeling of
longing for that one pair of shoes that could turn your life into your very own
fairytale. The exhibit transports you to a world of make believe, little girls
and dress up games, and longing for that one special shoe. As Cinderella once
said, “One shoe can change your life.”
Have you been to this exhibition? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
XOXO
XOXO
Miranda
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