Shoe History Corner: Bernard Rudofsky
Posted on October 20th, 2008 by Shomore under Shoe History CornerThis shoe history corner post is dedicated to Bernardo Rudofsky. A designer and architect, Bernardo was quite progressive in the mid 1900s for questioning the rationality of modern day designs. He felt that footwear and apparel were not designed with the shape of the human body in mind. To illustrate his point, Bernardo showcased what a person’s foot needed to look like if it was used to mold a pair of oxford shoes.
Similarly, he illustrated the shapely female curves which would warrant the design of this bustled Victorian era dress.
On the belief that footwear should actually mimic the shape of the foot and inspired by Roman sandals, Bernardo established Bernardo Footwear in 1947.
So popular and comfy were his sandals that it was rumored that Jackie Kennedy owned the ‘Miami‘ sandals (which are still sold today) in over 16 colors.
While today’s designers are certainly creating beautiful shoes, they are unfortunately, often quite painful. I hope that more designers can learn from Bernardo and design with both comfort AND design in mind.
Images courtesy of the Getty Museum and Piperlime
- Congratulations to our Bernardo Boot Winner!
- Friday Shoe History Corner: Bernard Figueroa
- Surreal Sandals
- Friday Shoe History Corner: Mid-19th Century American boots
- Would you wear missmatched shoes?
- Ivanka Trump the Shoe Designer
Piperlime
October 21st, 2008 at 5:52 am
Bernardo ROCKS! I think it’s the only designer line that has a history like that!!! And they are the best priced shoes at Nieman’s to boot….
October 27th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I own a pair of Bernardo “Biker” flats in leopard, and I LOVE them! They are comfortable, and so rocker-chic. Finally, I can feel stylish in flats!
November 6th, 2008 at 9:39 am
[...] is like owning a piece of history. We have discussed Bernardo’s rich history of shoeblog before, but I’ll recap for you a little bit. The company was founded by Bernard Rudofsky in 1947. [...]
November 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
[...] is like owning a piece of history. We have discussed Bernardo’s rich history of shoeblog before, but I’ll recap for you a little bit. The company was founded by Bernard Rudofsky in 1947. [...]
November 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am
[...] is like owning a piece of history. We have discussed Bernardo’s rich history of shoeblog before, but I’ll recap for you a little bit. The company was founded by Bernard Rudofsky in 1947. [...]
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 am
[...] Bernard Rudofsky. Alas he is no longer with us but his vision of comfortable stylish footwear really revolutionized casual footwear in the 50s and 60s. He had some very progressive views on the body and dressing that came out not only in his academic writing but in his design work. I am something of an obsessive Bernardo fan now that the brand has been revived. I do a lot of walking and his flats keep me in business. But when I am in a warmer climate I literally wear nothing but his patented Miami thong. [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Yours is the only website I’ve found that knows about Bernard Rudofsky’s foot models to fit shoe styles. He also did an exhibit of dressmakers’ dummies shaped as though the female body was actually what various fashions made it appear. (You show two sketches that must be from the same project.) Can anyone supply more information on the mannequin exhibit — I saw it at a university in Colorado in the 1970s, I’m fairly sure, but cannot find any references to it. What I’d really like is photos of the dummies. Please help if you can — many thanks.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hi K –
I wonder if some of Rudofsky’s books might contain the information you are looking for. Sorry I cannot be of more help. Good luck and let me know if you find the photos – now I’m curious as well!