Bata Shoe Museum to exhibit Roger Vivier shoes
A museum in Toronto claims it will host the first North American exhibit dedicated to the work of Roger Vivier, the French designer who brought the stiletto heel to the modern masses.
The Bata Shoe Museum will unveil “Roger Vivier: Process to Perfection” on May 9. The exhibition will focus on the working process of the shoemaker, including never-before-seen drawings.
The 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. In the 1950s, Vivier became the shoe designer for Christian Dior. Following Mr Dior’s death, Mr Vivier continued to create footwear for the French fashion house, but set out on his own in 1964.
Mr Vivier has been credited for the modern-day invention of the thin stiletto heel, dating back to 1954. He has also been the creative force behind a number of other innovative shoe designs such as needle and comma heels.
The exhibition will be on view until April 7, 2013.
