Sky-high heels are the official footwear of the recession
Sky-high heels are the official footwear of the recession
Recessions bring many things to the style world: banal Jeanne Beker exposés of high fashion’s cautious ventures into luxury, and such new memes as “recessionista” and “staycation.” But according to the Bata Shoe Museum’s senior curator, Elizabeth Semmelhack, recessions also bring a proliferation of sky-high footwear. A New York Times slide show showcases various gravity-defying soles on display at the Bata Shoe Museum, including Salvatore Ferragamo five-and-three-quarter-inch sandals from 1938 and OPEC crisis–era six-inch Louis Azzaro peep-toe slingbacks. As Semmelhack explains to the Times, “These little trifles can elevate one’s mood.” Perhaps this season’s brogue trend, therefore, is a sign of economic optimism.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/style/sky-high-heels-are-the-official-footwear-of-the-recession/&title=Sky-high heels are the official footwear of the recession&picture=https://cdn.torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Bata-Shoe-MUseum-P03-0040-A.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_32818" align="alignleft" width="311" caption="Pair of women's sling-back sandals with white leather uppers and sequined platforms, mid-1970s, by Casuccio and Scalera for Loris Azzaro (Image: copyright © 2009 Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto)"][/caption]
Recessions bring many things to the style world: banal Jeanne Beker exposés of high fashion's cautious ventures into luxury, and such new memes as "recessionista" and "staycation." But according to the Bata Shoe Museum's senior curator, Elizabeth Semmelhack, recessions also bring a proliferation of sky-high footwear. A New York Times slide show showcases various gravity-defying soles on display at the Bata Shoe Museum, including Salvatore Ferragamo five-and-three-quarter-inch sandals from 1938 and OPEC crisis–era six-inch Louis Azzaro peep-toe slingbacks. As Semmelhack explains to the Times, "These little trifles can elevate one's mood." Perhaps this season's brogue trend, therefore, is a sign of economic optimism.
• On the heels of a recession [New York Times]){kind=link}
I just love these new styles of high heels. They are so different and creative that it is hard not to just love them. I always like exploring different pairs of shoes especially ones that draw attention to myself because lets face it, who doesnt love attention.