1966 | DAVID EVINS | RED & GREEN SATIN SLIPPERS (NOT MADE FOR AVA GARDNER)

1966 | David Evins

Buckled satin slippers (detail)

Source: San Francisco Examiner - August 24, 1966

"Never were fashion and footwear so dependant on each other. Take the new party pants and at-home things. They're either extravagantly elaborate or extravagantly amusing"

He (Lee Evins) displayed the perfect shoe answer for either category: a pair of backless pumps with enormous round jewelled buckles one shoe red, the other go-ahead green.

David Evins' brother Lee interviewed by Fashion Editor Mary Stanyan

San Francisco Examiner - August 24, 1966

1966 | David Evins

Red & green buckled satin slippers

Source: "Shoes" (Workman Publishing, 1996)

1966 | David Evins

Satin slipper

Source: The Museum at FIT

SO, WHAT ABOUT AVA GARDNER?

Both Linda O'Keffe's book "Shoes" and The Museum At FIT states that this slipper was made for the famed actress although with different dates: 1955 the former and 1960 the latter.

Most probably they were both mistaken by a 1989 press photo that collected four shoes supposedly made for as many celebrities: Liz Taylor, Lena Horne, Ava Gardner and Judy Garland (clockwise from top of the below photo).

1989 Press photo | David Evins shoes

Photograph: Buster Dean

Source: Historic Images

And while all of them were certified Evins customers, for at least three shoes out of four we can prove they were part of an ordinary Evins collection. Lee Evins' statement on top is proof of that; also, take the photograph here below: the lady assisted by Lee Evins doesn't look like Ava Gardner, does she?

Case closed.

1966 | Lee Evins at I. Magnin shoe salon

Right below corner: buckled satin slippers

Source: San Francisco Examiner - August 24, 1966

DAVID EVINS

I N D E X

1996 | David Evins

No Ava Gardner, no 1955: is "Stop & Go" at least correct?

Source: "Shoes" (Workman Publishing, 1996)