Evening sandals

André Perugia

1928–29 · leather, metal · Costume Institute

André Perugia's elegant and innovative footwear has earned him a place among the top shoe designers of the 20th century. Perugia collaborated with many of the top couturiers for over sixty years, most notably with Paul Poiret in the 1910s and 1920s, and Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s. He was an innovator on all fronts; style, construction technology, and utilization of materials. This pair of evening sandals represents the height of progressive design and craftsmanship for which Perugia was known. No detail escaped the designer’s attention, as seen here in the cast heel and wreath-shaped buckle. It was not usual for evening shoes to have open backs until the mid 1930s, so this daringly bare design is extremely advanced, even shocking, for the period.

Artist

André Perugia

Date

1928–29

Medium

leather, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Carleton Putnam, 1981