Tuxedo Confessions

From spiked stilettos to negative heels and from platform soles to ballerina flats, all is documented in this bible of footwear styles, materials and production methods – a must-have for any shoe addict or professional.

Organized by time and by style, this ravishing book, uniquely illustrated with photographs of actual period shoes, takes us on a remarkable tour of the shoe closets of the world over the last four hundred years. Exploring how historical events and social change have influenced styles and production, Jonathan Walford shows why almost-forgotten designs will still appeal today.

Fabulous images of conversation-starting shoes with revealing commentaries fill the pages. There is an illustrated section devoted to biographical notes on shoemakers, designers and manufacturers who have shaped footwear history, and a detailed glossary of all the main terms.

Jonathan Walford has held curatorial positions with several institutions, including the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto of which he was founding curator. He has lectured and published widely on the subject of historic costume and social history and is now the artistic director of his own company, Kickshaw Productions, which promotes the history of fashion through a variety of media and venues.