SERENDIPITY | POLKA-DOTS DESIGN | Palter-DeLiso V/S DAMIEN HIRST, MANOLO BLAHNIK & LOUBOUTIN

1949 | Palter-DeLiso Debs
Carnival Colors
Source: Couture Allure

2002 | Damien Hirst & Manolo Blahnik
Polka-Dots Pattern
Source: MET Museum

2013 | Louboutin | S/S 2014

Snakilta

Vincent DeLiso

1897-1971 | IN MEMORIAM

Palter-De Liso V/S Gucci

1969 | MAMAR | NAPLES

1969 | MAMAR di Domenico Maraolo | 
Shoe design by Mario Maraolo
Miano (Naples)

Mamar era l'azienda fondata da Domenico Maraolo presso la quale iniziò la carriera suo figlio Mario. Classe 1938, designer, Mario Maraolo raggiunse il massimo della sua notorietà negli anni '80 e '90, quando arrivò ad avere decine di punti vendita sparsi per il mondo, di cui una buona parte negli Stati Uniti, dov'era anche distribuito da Sack's Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. In particolare, con la sua successiva società, la GAP Spa diventò disegnatore e produttore di modelli per importanti marchi, fra i quali Donna Karan, Giorgio Armani, Joan and David.

Mamar was the company founded by Domenico Maraolo, Mario Maraolo's father. Born in 1938, shoes designer, Mario Maraolo was very famous in the 80s and 90s, when he had dozens of stores around the world, the majority of them in the United States, where he was also distributed by Sack's Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. He later started the company GAP Spa, and became footwear designer and producer for several major brands, including Joan and David, Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani.

1969 | MAMAR di Domenico Maraolo | 
Shoe design by Mario Maraolo
Miano (Naples)

1969 | BOLOGNA & FIGLI | RICCIONE

Bologna & Figli

Riccione

1969 | Bologna & Figli

Riccione

80'S | PINO BOLOGNA & FIGLI

FOR RAYNE (U.K.)

1969 | Bologna & Figli

Riccione

RAIN BOOTS - SEA BOOTS - WATER BOOTS - RUBBER BOOTS | TBAMFW # 16

Face it: you need guts to put sea boots on the cover of your record.

The Pork Dukes - S/T (A.K.A. Pink Pork)

(Wood Records, 1978)

And even some more if a pig is wearing them. 

The Pork Dukes were a first wave (mystery) punk band from London. They stand out primarily for the off-color humor and profanity but their Buzzcocks-via-R&R sound was not bad either. To round things up, the sticker on the cover reads:

"WARNING. This slice contains raw material not suitable for consumption by children (or anyone not into Wellington Boots)!"

Maria Goretti Quartet - S/T 

(Tandori-Rockerill Records, 2010)

First and foremost: the Franco-Belgian Maria Goretti Quartet is a trio, so you know from the start things are going to be unhinged. They named themselves after the patron saints of rape victims and play a dynamic combination of jazz-punk and post punk, think Victim's Family meets The Ex. Brilliant. Cover painting by Jérémie Tomczak.

Itchy Feet - Cliff Young Shuffle 7"

(Kugel Records, 1986)

Source: 45cat

Australian ska band led by singer Tim Freedman later of The Whitlams. Itchy Feet is also the title of the 1981 album by The Blues Band.

The Amazing Dancing Band - These Boots Are Made For Dancin'

(Verve, 1968)

Johnson Mkhalal - Sunshine Boots

(Gallo, 1985)

Source: Discogs

The Amazing Dancing Band was a group of musicians closing the bridge between jazz and easy listening, while we can't elaborate about Johnson Mkhala (South Africa? Accordion player?).

The Nu-Beams - Men Like Pie/Boots 7"

(Suburban Concerns, 1979)

Art-punk/new wave Fullerton's The Nu-Beams released only two singles in the time frame 1979 - 1980 and disbanded. "Men Like Pie" is the debut with a cover of Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" on the flip side.

Gastr Del Sol - Upgrade And Afterlife 2XLP/CD

(Drag City, 1996)

All the details h_e_r_e

WATER BOOTS AS ART:

1971 - 1973 | ELEANOR ANTIN

1976 | ANDREW NEWELL WYETH

1986 | ROMAN SIEGLER


SHOES & MUSIC:

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

Cute innit?
1978 | Pink Pork LP inside cover
Source: Discogs

1971 - 1973 | ELEANOR ANTIN | 100 BOOTS|

100 BOOTS

The initiative begs the questions: what makes a work of art, and more specifically for 100 BOOTS, which layer of production is the artwork? Is it the performance? The photographic images? The boots themselves? The culmination of all three in the form of a postcard?

SOURCE: 100 BOOTS: a continuing narrative

1971 - 1973 | 100 Boots by Eleanor Antin
Photographed by Philip Steinmetz
Source: Getty Center

1971 - 1973 | 100 Boots by Eleanor Antin
Photographed by Philip Steinmetz
Source: Getty Center

1971 - 1973 | 100 Boots by Eleanor Antin
Photographed by Philip Steinmetz
Source: Getty Center

WATER BOOTS AS ART:

2009 | MAURIZIO CATTELAN

1976 | ANDREW NEWELL WYETH

1986 | ROMAN SIEGLER

SHOES &
ART

1969 | FERRAGAMO | FLORENCE

1969 | Ferragamo

W/ A.B.I.P. Leather (Brescia)

1969 | Ferragamo

W/ A.B.I.P. Leather (Brescia)

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
FLORENCE
I N D E X

1969 | Ferragamo

W/ A.B.I.P. Leather (Brescia)

SOLE MAN | THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF STEVE PYKE |

STEVE PYKE | Shoes

Source: Steve Pyke

STEVE PYKE | Shoes

Source: Steve Pyke

The extraordinary ordinariness of things | Guardian U.K.

27 October 2007

Source: Steve Pyke

"Soles" I began in 1984. I realised the act of walking had become a meditative process for me - a time to think without being disturbed. I began to look at the soles of my shoes and examine how, over the years, I had worn them out. Isolating the soles on a white background, the large-format negative captures all the detail and textures. The patina created by my walking on those soles seems to me to reflect the change over years that time and living have on the lines of my face. They have become self-portraits. There are now over 75 in this collection and I intend to show these as an installation called 25 Years of Walking. 

STEVE PYKE

Guardian, 27 October 2007

25 Years Of Walking has been announced quite a few times but it never happened. Come on Steve!

1965 | A. TESTONI | BOLOGNA

1965 | A. Testoni
Bologna
Source: Calzature Italiane di Lusso magazine

1965 | A. Testoni
Bologna
Source: Calzature Italiane di Lusso magazine

A. Testoni
Bologna
I N D E X

1965 | A. Testoni
Bologna
Source: Calzature Italiane di Lusso magazine

1965 | FRATELLI FABBRI | BOLOGNA

1965 | F.lli Fabbri
Bologna (Now based in Tredozio, Forlì Cesena)
Source: Calzature Italiane di Lusso magazine

FRATELLI FABBRI | BOLOGNA
Currently in Tredozio, Forlì Cesena
I N D E X


ITALIAN FOOTWEAR OSCAR
T h e H i s t o r y

1965 | F.lli Fabbri
Bologna (Now based in Tredozio, Forlì Cesena)
Source: Calzature Italiane di Lusso magazine

 

1970 | LUINI CALZATURE | MILAN |

1970 | Luini Calzature | Milan | 
Graphic design by Silvio Coppola (1920-1985)
Source: AIAP

1955 | AT THE MOVIES | NANA BY CHRISTIAN-JACQUE | FEATURING CAPOBIANCO

1955 | Martine Carol in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier | Boots by Capobianco

Dal romanzo di Emile Zola, il film Nana diretto da Christian-Jacque è la storia della vedette del Théâtre de Variétés, impersonata da Martine Carol, spudorata, capricciosa e di gran successo, nonostante un talento pressoché inesistente. 

Mantenuta da diversi amanti, tutti quanti mandati in rovina, Nana nel film, a differenza del romanzo, finisce ammazzata da uno di loro, il conte Muffat (Charles Boyer), che prima di incontrarla e cadere vittima delle sue grazie era stato il più intransigente dei moralisti.

From the novel by Emile Zola, Nana the film by Christian-Jacque is the story of a vedette of the Théâtre de Variétés, played by Martine Carol, shameless, whimsical and successful, despite an almost non-existent talent. 

Maintained by different lovers, all of them left heartbroken and penniless, Nana, unlike the novel, ends up killed by one of them, the Count Muffat (Charles Boyer), once the most intransigent of moralists, before meeting her.

1955 | Martine Carol and Charles Boyer in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier | Boots by Capobianco

1955 | Martine Carol in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier | Boots by Capobianco

Il film uscì nelle sale nell’agosto 1955, solo pochi mesi prima di Lola Montès di Max Ophüls. Stessa protagonista, Martine Carol, stesso costumista, Marcel Escoffier e soprattutto stesso stile di stivali, grazie alla presenza, anche in questo caso, di Capobianco (stavolta citato nei titoli di testa come Capo Bianco).
La vitalità e la sfrontatezza di Nana sono enfatizzate in ogni modo dalle scollature esagerate e dall’oro o dal cromatismo acceso dei costumi e dai dettagli, in contrasto col grigiore degli altri personaggi.

The film was released in August 1955, just few months before Lola Montès by Max Ophüls. Same actress, Martine Carol, same costume designer, Marcel Escoffier and above all, same boots style, thanks to the presence, even in this case, of Capobianco (this time mentioned in the credits as Capo Bianco). 

The energy and impudence of Nana are emphasized during the film by exaggerated necklines, overabundance of golden jewels and the bright colors of the costumes; a stark contrast to the drabness of the other characters.

1955 | Martine Carol  in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier | Boots by Capobianco

1955 | Capobianco boot | Detail

1955 | Martine Carol and Jacques Castelot in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier | Boots by Capobianco

1955 | Martine Carol and  Noël Roquevert  in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier

CAPOBIANCO
BOTTIER CREATEUR, PARIS
PART 1 | PART 2

1955 | Martine Carol in Nana by Christian-Jacque

Costume by Marcel Escoffier

1973 | M.B.M. | ANCONA |

1973 | M.B.M. |
Designed by Armando Pollini
Serrà de Conti, Ancona

1973 | M.B.M. |
Designed by Armando Pollini
Serrà de Conti, Ancona

MORE ARMANDO POLLINI

Introducing ARMANDO POLLINI

ARMANDO POLLINI AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, NY

ARMANDO POLLINI V/S FIORUCCI

THE HISTORY OF THE STILETTO HEEL by ARMANDO POLLINI

1973 | SANDY | S. ELPIDIO A MARE |

1973 | SANDY | By F.lli Mattiozzi
S. Elpidio a Mare (Ascoli Piceno)

1973 | SANDY | By F.lli Mattiozzi
S. Elpidio a Mare (Ascoli Piceno)
Source: Ars Sutoria # 102

SANDY
1977 | From The Vault

1976/1999 | SHOES | YAYOI KUSAMA |

1985 | Yayoi Kusama
SHOES | Screenprint
Source: Wikipaintings

1999 | Yayoi Kusama
Shoes (Screenprint in colors with glitter on wove paper)
Source: Phillips

1999 | Yayoi Kusama
Food Shoes
Source: Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

1976-1977 | Yayoi Kusama
Silver Shoes (23 Objects)
Source: Detroit Institute Of Arts

1999 - Yayoi Kusama
Untitled (Mixed media)
Source: Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

Shoes & Art

1876 - 2009

1985 - 1986 | BLACK & WHITE WARHOL | WORK BOOTS |

1985 - 1986 | Andy Warhol | WORK BOOTS [negative] 
183.8 by 203.2 cm (72 by 80 in) | Synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas | 
Source: Sotheby's

Sold in March, 2011 | Sotheby's auction | $ 758,500

1985 | Andy Warhol | WORK BOOTS [positive] 
40.6 by 50.8 cm (16 by 20 in) | Synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas | 
Source: Christie's

Sold in May, 2009 | Christie's auction | $ 50,000


ANDY WARHOL
| POP ARTisan |