Skip to content
Caprini Pumps, rainbow patterned heels with a black floral pattern studded in small glass jewels

Caprini (1955–2006), manufacturer, United States, Pumps, circa 1957, silk, leather, glass jewels, Gift of Barbara A. Boyd, 1983.90a–b

Wohl Shoe Company's Evening Mules, jaguar print, open toe heels

Wohl Shoe Company (1914–1994), United States, Evening Mules, 1957–58, faux leopard fur, leather, vinyl, elastic, Gift of Stewart Shillito Maxwell, Jr. in memory of his mother, Marilyn M. Maxwell, 2005.669a–b

Delman's Evening Pumps, pointed toe heels with a metallic floral pattern

Delman (est. 1918), United States, Evening Pumps, 1957–61, metallic lace, leather, Gift of Mrs. Henry A. Marks, 1972.326a–b

Previous Next

Stepping in Style: Evening Shoes of the 1950s

Now–March 27, 2022 | Gallery 213

Pulled from the museum’s permanent collection, Stepping in Style features 22 pairs of elegant evening shoes from the 1950s. It was a time when the newly invented stiletto heel reigned supreme and women could choose from a variety of designs and materials. You will see everything from simple styles that were color matched to dresses to fashion-forward, leopard fur wedge heels. As you walk through the hallway gallery, we encourage you to think about your own shoe shopping experiences. What styles do you gravitate toward and why? What do the shoes on display tell you about the women who originally wore them?