Friday Shoe History Corner: Floating Heels of the late 1950s
posted by: shoesense in Marc Jacobs Shoes, Shoe History Corner on April 18th, 2008
By now, we’re all familiar with the Marc Jacobs “inverted heel” pumps, right? Here’s a little visual aid:
Some have already remarked on the quasi-similarity with the work of famous shoe designer Andre Perugia, who was experimenting with heel-less shoes as early as the 1930s. Perugia is a whole fashion chapter in and by himself, and the similarity is definitely there, but we here at Shoeblog believe we’ve found an even uncannier resemblance in these vintage black pumps, ca. 1958-1960 (unlabeled, American or Italian-made):
Turns out that the desire for novelty in women’s shoes gave birth to this particular design concept, a “floating heel,” made with a cantilevered sole and elevated mid-sole cast from one piece of metal sturdy enough to support the wearer’s weight. The patent belonged to Martin Friedmann (1956). Here’s one more example:
According to Jonathan Waldorf, author of The Seductive Shoe, this was “a short-lived fad” that died ca. 1961.
Well, until Marc Jacobs brought it back in 2008, that is!
7 Comments
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October 18, 2011 at 7:13 pm, Marilyn said:
I just Love these the ones with the cork floating heels, I had a pair in (68) Sooo comfortable I went back & got another pair. Never could find them again,Sooo happy there coming back !!!!!!! Now where r they???Marilyn M
August 11, 2009 at 4:02 pm, Khtiya (Honeylime8 E said:
Where can I buy these? Thank you.
September 23, 2008 at 10:31 am, Y-3 Phasma 90 wedge would you wear it | ShoeBlog said:
[...] stop staring at. This is not necessarily a good thing. This is almost a backwards-heel a la Marc Jacobs. At the same time, it is almost an Ice Skate gone horribly [...]
May 29, 2008 at 12:46 pm, Sararhie said:
I LOVE THEM, THEY ARE THE MOST FABULOUS SHOES I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. I WOULD FIND SOME WAY TO WEAR THOSE SHOES AND I WOULD WORK THE HELL OUT OF THEM. MARK JACOBS WOULD WANT ME PERSONALLY TO WALK DOWN THE RUNWAY AND SELL THE SHOE FOR THEM. I LOVE THEM MARKY, THEY ARE FABULOUS.
April 18, 2008 at 3:39 pm, MizzTissa said:
I think this will be a short lived trend. Hope so.
April 18, 2008 at 3:57 am, savvygal said:
very interesting and chic but can we gals actually walk with them??? I am imagining my center of gravity will be off balance.
April 18, 2008 at 2:14 am, rey said:
They're very artistic but not very practical for walking. But I would own a pair just for something different.