TORONTO - A Toronto museum says it will host the first North American exhibit dedicated to the work of Roger Vivier, the designer who brought the stiletto heel to the modern style masses.
The Bata Shoe Museum will unveil "Roger Vivier: Process to Perfection" on May 9.
The exhibit will centre around the working process of the famed shoemaker, including never-before-seen drawings.
The Bata Shoe Museum's Vivier holdings will be complemented by loans from institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Deutsch Ledermuseum in Germany as well as the Roger Vivier brand.
The late French designer was known for the bejewelled and elegantly sculptural shoes crafted throughout his career.
Vivier's career first took flight in the 1950s when he became the shoe designer for Christian Dior.
Following Dior's death, he continued to create footwear for the famed French fashion house, but set out on his own in 1964.
Vivier has been credited for the modern-day invention of the ultra-thin stiletto heel, dating back to 1954. He has also been the creative force behind countless other innovative shoe designs such as needle and comma heels.
He is known for the metal-buckled pilgrim shoes popularized by French film legend Catherine Deneuve in "Belle de Jour," the thigh-high boots made famous by former screen siren Brigitte Bardot, and the reintroduction of the platform shoe.
2012年2月28日星期二
Golf gear: Shoes developed for runners, but prove good for golf
New on the market: ECCO's BIOM Hybrid, golf performance shoe.
The scoop: BIOM Hybrid combines ECCO Natural Motion technology with the company's patented, award-winning Golf Street outsole.
The result pairs the human body's evolutionary system for absorbing impact with a non-cleated shoe bottom that provides a high level of durability, comfort, traction and stability on or off the golf course.
Initially developed for the premium running market, ECCO's Natural Motion technology encourages players to land more toward the mid-foot than heel.
An extremely low profile brings a golfer's weight closer to the playing surface for more stability, ground feel, traction and swing power. Advanced outsole technology includes 100 molded, wear-resistant TPU traction bars that create more than 800 traction angles and have been shown to last five times longer than rubber.
A direct injection process unique to ECCO in the golf industry provides superior cushioning, stability and comfort via a one-piece shoe that's built without glue or stitching, Superior weather resistance with ECCO's Hydromax leather treatment keeps a player's feet dry and comfortable in all conditions. They are made of Tibetan Yak leather which is naturally soft, durable, smooth and is three times stronger than ordinary leathers.
The ECCO men's golf collection is worn in competition by several well-known players including former Masters champion Fred Couples and former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
What they cost: The BIOM Hybrid's are available now and carry an MSRP of $235.
The scoop: BIOM Hybrid combines ECCO Natural Motion technology with the company's patented, award-winning Golf Street outsole.
The result pairs the human body's evolutionary system for absorbing impact with a non-cleated shoe bottom that provides a high level of durability, comfort, traction and stability on or off the golf course.
Initially developed for the premium running market, ECCO's Natural Motion technology encourages players to land more toward the mid-foot than heel.
An extremely low profile brings a golfer's weight closer to the playing surface for more stability, ground feel, traction and swing power. Advanced outsole technology includes 100 molded, wear-resistant TPU traction bars that create more than 800 traction angles and have been shown to last five times longer than rubber.
A direct injection process unique to ECCO in the golf industry provides superior cushioning, stability and comfort via a one-piece shoe that's built without glue or stitching, Superior weather resistance with ECCO's Hydromax leather treatment keeps a player's feet dry and comfortable in all conditions. They are made of Tibetan Yak leather which is naturally soft, durable, smooth and is three times stronger than ordinary leathers.
The ECCO men's golf collection is worn in competition by several well-known players including former Masters champion Fred Couples and former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
What they cost: The BIOM Hybrid's are available now and carry an MSRP of $235.
2012年2月27日星期一
Kate Middleton Sets Challenge for Shoe Design
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, may be getting a new, hot look in footwear. As part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Kate is set to choose her favorite from shoe designs submitted by six lucky students from a footwear design program of De Montfort University in Leicester, England. The sketches are already collected and waiting, reports People. March 8 is the appointed day—part of a train tour the duchess is making with her grandparents-in-law.
This could bring about a style change. Kate-watchers know that she is fond of nude and neutral shoes, often sticking to favorites such as her LK Bennett Sledge Courts. In fact, Kate Middleton's "Duchess Effect" has already crashed Bennett websites and sold out stores. The classic high heel is modernized with a platform sole and the nude color is trendy. To a point.
But these custom designs leave "classic" and "neutral" in the design room waste basket. One student went for "cool and sexy". Could be great, but is that Kate Middleton's look? Another has incorporated pink leather and daisies in the sketch. Sounds cute, but doubtful. Another designer used Kate and Prince William's college-inspired tartan, and still another went super-retro, combining a 19th century look with hints of the sapphire engagement ring.
The Palace organized the competition, asking the university program for six designs. Other student fashion spreads will be displayed during the visit, but this shoe challenge features Kate Middleton, the fashion icon's personal choice. Winning could make a career. Will Kate leave classic behind? The students are hoping she will.
This could bring about a style change. Kate-watchers know that she is fond of nude and neutral shoes, often sticking to favorites such as her LK Bennett Sledge Courts. In fact, Kate Middleton's "Duchess Effect" has already crashed Bennett websites and sold out stores. The classic high heel is modernized with a platform sole and the nude color is trendy. To a point.
But these custom designs leave "classic" and "neutral" in the design room waste basket. One student went for "cool and sexy". Could be great, but is that Kate Middleton's look? Another has incorporated pink leather and daisies in the sketch. Sounds cute, but doubtful. Another designer used Kate and Prince William's college-inspired tartan, and still another went super-retro, combining a 19th century look with hints of the sapphire engagement ring.
The Palace organized the competition, asking the university program for six designs. Other student fashion spreads will be displayed during the visit, but this shoe challenge features Kate Middleton, the fashion icon's personal choice. Winning could make a career. Will Kate leave classic behind? The students are hoping she will.
2012年2月23日星期四
Eat, drink and be Mary at Hamburger Mary's in midtown
Hamburger Mary's, which opened last month in midtown, has plenty of conversation starters, should the need arise:
The décor. The interior is reminiscent of the Fox Theatre — but with more pink. Faux-marble columns, velvet curtains, a shiny chandelier and a grand piano accent the main bar and dining area; an upper-level sports bar has a more macho feel, including pool and foosball tables. We sat at a table decoupaged with French posters; other tabletops feature Madonna, comic books and Disney princesses.
The music. An eclectic playlist — Shania Twain, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Eiffel 65 (Google 'em; I'll wait) — prompted memories and fun stories from high school and college.
The menu. Before finally ordering, we spent a considerable amount of time giggling at the menu's double entendres and items named for gay icons.
While the lengthy drink list isn't groundbreaking — it leans heavily toward flavored vodkas — it has some interesting combinations, and our selections were delicious and well made: a Hurricane Mary ($7 for 16 ounces, $9 for 22 ounces; Bacardi O Rum, Meyer's Dark Rum, grenadine, cranberry, pineapple); a Scarlett O'Hara martini ($8; Southern Comfort, triple sec, cranberry, lime); a Karen Walker dirty martini ($8; Skyy vodka, olive juice); and a Sweet Buns martini ($8; Rum Chata, Smirnoff Fluffed Marshmallow). The beer selection is mostly domestic, with a few imports and craft brews.
For dinner, we tried a Barbra-Q Bacon Cheeseburger with fries ($9.75) and a St. Louis Blues Burger ($9.75) with onion rings (add $1) — filling with enough for leftovers.
The entertainment. Nothing was scheduled when we visited, but Hamburger Mary's has a lineup of bingo, karaoke, charity events and dinnertime drag shows. And a daily happy hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
The shoes. When it came time to settle up and depart, our bill arrived inside a glittery, ruby-red stiletto — something to talk about on the ride home.
The décor. The interior is reminiscent of the Fox Theatre — but with more pink. Faux-marble columns, velvet curtains, a shiny chandelier and a grand piano accent the main bar and dining area; an upper-level sports bar has a more macho feel, including pool and foosball tables. We sat at a table decoupaged with French posters; other tabletops feature Madonna, comic books and Disney princesses.
The music. An eclectic playlist — Shania Twain, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Eiffel 65 (Google 'em; I'll wait) — prompted memories and fun stories from high school and college.
The menu. Before finally ordering, we spent a considerable amount of time giggling at the menu's double entendres and items named for gay icons.
While the lengthy drink list isn't groundbreaking — it leans heavily toward flavored vodkas — it has some interesting combinations, and our selections were delicious and well made: a Hurricane Mary ($7 for 16 ounces, $9 for 22 ounces; Bacardi O Rum, Meyer's Dark Rum, grenadine, cranberry, pineapple); a Scarlett O'Hara martini ($8; Southern Comfort, triple sec, cranberry, lime); a Karen Walker dirty martini ($8; Skyy vodka, olive juice); and a Sweet Buns martini ($8; Rum Chata, Smirnoff Fluffed Marshmallow). The beer selection is mostly domestic, with a few imports and craft brews.
For dinner, we tried a Barbra-Q Bacon Cheeseburger with fries ($9.75) and a St. Louis Blues Burger ($9.75) with onion rings (add $1) — filling with enough for leftovers.
The entertainment. Nothing was scheduled when we visited, but Hamburger Mary's has a lineup of bingo, karaoke, charity events and dinnertime drag shows. And a daily happy hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
The shoes. When it came time to settle up and depart, our bill arrived inside a glittery, ruby-red stiletto — something to talk about on the ride home.
2012年2月22日星期三
The New Nike+ Is a Futuristic Sensor That Brings the Power of Nike’s Research Labs to Your Shoes
If you've ever played sports, you've always wanted to find a way to measure your athletic ability. How fast can you run? How high can you jump? Are you any good? The new Nike+ Sports Sensor puts a super smart sensor in your shoe that can measure all that. It's like wearing Nike's research labs on your feet.
Nike showed off the next evolution of Nike+ today and the highlight feature is the Nike+ Sports Sensor which seems a helluva lot like the future. The Sports Sensor is made from four different sensors inside the sole of your shoes and is strategically placed underneath your feet (big toe, heel, etc.) to spit out accurate readings. The sport sensor uses pressure data in combination with an accelerometer to calculate your movement, that way Nike+ Sports Sensor can measure how high your vertical jump is, how fast you're moving and how hard you're working all in real time.
One of the places Nike will insert a Nike+ Sports Sensor is in basketball shoes. Nike+ Basketball will let players pair their shoes with their iPhones (via Bluetooth) to see how their numbers stack up. It's like stats for amateurs, once you jump, your iPhone will show you how many inches you've lifted off the ground via the Nike Sports Sensor. You finally get to see how woeful your ups are!
The New Nike+ Is a Futuristic Sensor That Brings the Power of Nike's Research Labs to Your Shoes Possibly more exciting to the everyman is that the Nike+ Sports Sensor will be implemented in Training. The idea is that since most amateur athletes don't have the luxury of big research labs and/or professional trainers, Nike+ will try to re-create a similar capital T Training experience at home with Nike+ Trainer. Nike+ Trainer uses the sports sensor to collect data of your workouts to give you immediate feedback on what you're doing right and wrong. Like a digital trainer without the intimidating biceps.
It's not just pure reps and measurements though, Nike+ Trainer can actually build a workout schedule for you (via workout packs) and determine how intense your workout was. Also, Nike+ Trainer gives you video instructions on how to perform certain drills and offer workout games for you to compete with friends. If you have a Nike Fuelband, everything ties itself back to that as your workout is measured in Nike Fuel. On top of that, Nike+ Training will use the training routines of Nike's athletes too so you can train just like Manny Pacquiao and LeBron James. Minus their athleticism, of course.
Nike+ Training will be available June 29th in the Nike Hyper Workout for women and Nike TR 1 for men. Nike+ Basketball will be available in the next Nike Hyperdunk.
Nike showed off the next evolution of Nike+ today and the highlight feature is the Nike+ Sports Sensor which seems a helluva lot like the future. The Sports Sensor is made from four different sensors inside the sole of your shoes and is strategically placed underneath your feet (big toe, heel, etc.) to spit out accurate readings. The sport sensor uses pressure data in combination with an accelerometer to calculate your movement, that way Nike+ Sports Sensor can measure how high your vertical jump is, how fast you're moving and how hard you're working all in real time.
One of the places Nike will insert a Nike+ Sports Sensor is in basketball shoes. Nike+ Basketball will let players pair their shoes with their iPhones (via Bluetooth) to see how their numbers stack up. It's like stats for amateurs, once you jump, your iPhone will show you how many inches you've lifted off the ground via the Nike Sports Sensor. You finally get to see how woeful your ups are!
The New Nike+ Is a Futuristic Sensor That Brings the Power of Nike's Research Labs to Your Shoes Possibly more exciting to the everyman is that the Nike+ Sports Sensor will be implemented in Training. The idea is that since most amateur athletes don't have the luxury of big research labs and/or professional trainers, Nike+ will try to re-create a similar capital T Training experience at home with Nike+ Trainer. Nike+ Trainer uses the sports sensor to collect data of your workouts to give you immediate feedback on what you're doing right and wrong. Like a digital trainer without the intimidating biceps.
It's not just pure reps and measurements though, Nike+ Trainer can actually build a workout schedule for you (via workout packs) and determine how intense your workout was. Also, Nike+ Trainer gives you video instructions on how to perform certain drills and offer workout games for you to compete with friends. If you have a Nike Fuelband, everything ties itself back to that as your workout is measured in Nike Fuel. On top of that, Nike+ Training will use the training routines of Nike's athletes too so you can train just like Manny Pacquiao and LeBron James. Minus their athleticism, of course.
Nike+ Training will be available June 29th in the Nike Hyper Workout for women and Nike TR 1 for men. Nike+ Basketball will be available in the next Nike Hyperdunk.
2012年2月21日星期二
Australian women obsessed with shoes? Not so much
MEN, breathe a sigh of relief - your partner isn't spending as much as you think she is on shoes.
It seems not every Aussie woman is an aspiring Carrie Bradshaw, with a study revealing that on average Australian women only buy four pairs of shoes a year.
This is less than UK women who purchase eight pairs a year, but more than New Zealand and US women, who buy 3.8 and three pairs respectively.
While our British counterparts are big on quantity, they only spend $53 on average for a pair of heels. Aussies, it seems, are about the quality, spending an average of $70 per pair.
In Australia and New Zealand, the total amount spent on shoes every year falls with age; 25 to 34-year-olds spend about $333, 35 to 59-year-olds spend $312 annually, while those over 60 spend $205 every year. The research also revealed that 67 per cent of respondents buy shoes on sale, 12 per cent spend an average of more than $200 on a pair of shoes, while 76 per cent spend $100 or less.
Katarina Oliveri, 26, is unquestionably not in the latter category.
The Virgin Airlines ground crew worker from Green Valley in New South Wales has more than 120 pairs of shoes and identifies more with Imelda Marcos than the Sex And The City character. "Carrie was all about the brand, this is about the shoes," she said.
Ms Oliveri's obsession became so acute that she transformed a spare room, complete with a chandelier, into a purpose-built wardrobe to showcase her shoe collection.
Her designer Christian Louboutin heels sit next to $10 vintage bargains and high-street brands such as Aldo.
It seems not every Aussie woman is an aspiring Carrie Bradshaw, with a study revealing that on average Australian women only buy four pairs of shoes a year.
This is less than UK women who purchase eight pairs a year, but more than New Zealand and US women, who buy 3.8 and three pairs respectively.
While our British counterparts are big on quantity, they only spend $53 on average for a pair of heels. Aussies, it seems, are about the quality, spending an average of $70 per pair.
In Australia and New Zealand, the total amount spent on shoes every year falls with age; 25 to 34-year-olds spend about $333, 35 to 59-year-olds spend $312 annually, while those over 60 spend $205 every year. The research also revealed that 67 per cent of respondents buy shoes on sale, 12 per cent spend an average of more than $200 on a pair of shoes, while 76 per cent spend $100 or less.
Katarina Oliveri, 26, is unquestionably not in the latter category.
The Virgin Airlines ground crew worker from Green Valley in New South Wales has more than 120 pairs of shoes and identifies more with Imelda Marcos than the Sex And The City character. "Carrie was all about the brand, this is about the shoes," she said.
Ms Oliveri's obsession became so acute that she transformed a spare room, complete with a chandelier, into a purpose-built wardrobe to showcase her shoe collection.
Her designer Christian Louboutin heels sit next to $10 vintage bargains and high-street brands such as Aldo.
2012年2月20日星期一
Roland Mouret Announces a Shoe Collection!
Shoe fans rejoice – Roland Mouret has announced that he will be launching a footwear line to be available for the next season!
Although not due in stores for a quite a few more months, the six styles he’s created for the line will be worn by the models at his Paris Fashion Week show on March 2nd, which will then grow to a “proper shoe collection” over the next few years.
So what can we expect from the designer of the genius Galaxy dress which sent the fashion world into a frenzy? Court shoes, T-strap shoes, thigh-high boots and ankle boots in a variety of materials including suede, lizard print leather and deerskin. And here’s a nice little detail that might just become as famous as the Louboutin red sole: an R shape will be visible when looking at the shoe on its side – very cool!
“These are shoes that women can wear day-in and day-out… They have a masculine feel, a daytime attitude, and they are not too precious. And, although they have a high heel, they are really comfortable. My challenge was to balance sexiness with comfort,” Roland told WWD.
Great everyday shoes that are just as pretty as they are comfy? We’re sold!
Although not due in stores for a quite a few more months, the six styles he’s created for the line will be worn by the models at his Paris Fashion Week show on March 2nd, which will then grow to a “proper shoe collection” over the next few years.
So what can we expect from the designer of the genius Galaxy dress which sent the fashion world into a frenzy? Court shoes, T-strap shoes, thigh-high boots and ankle boots in a variety of materials including suede, lizard print leather and deerskin. And here’s a nice little detail that might just become as famous as the Louboutin red sole: an R shape will be visible when looking at the shoe on its side – very cool!
“These are shoes that women can wear day-in and day-out… They have a masculine feel, a daytime attitude, and they are not too precious. And, although they have a high heel, they are really comfortable. My challenge was to balance sexiness with comfort,” Roland told WWD.
Great everyday shoes that are just as pretty as they are comfy? We’re sold!
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