Evening pumps

Bergdorf Goodman|Delman

ca. 1937 · leather · Costume Institute

Herman Delman (1895 -1955) is remembered as the great showman of the New York footwear industry. Targeting wealthy socialites and celebrities as his customers, Delman opened a small custom shoe shop on Madison Avenue in 1919. Gradually shifting his attentions to manufacturing, Delman hired top designers, most notably Roger Vivier, to create finely-crafted, chic and luxurious footwear in stand-out designs. Delman was a savvy promoter who realized that product image was paramount. He pioneered the practice of featuring film stars in his advertisements and partnered with exclusive clothing stores, including Saks and Bergdorf Goodman, to distribute his shoes. Contrary to common practice, Delman insisted that his name appear in every shoe he manufactured, thus securing his company's reputation and success. The hand-painted metallic leather of this pair of evening pumps is extraordinary, usually only found on custom-made shoes, and marks this as the highest level of production for Delman, Inc. The walled toe, a fashionable feature in the next decade, here makes an early appearance.

Artist

Bergdorf Goodman|Delman

Date

ca. 1937

Medium

leather

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Diana S. Field, 1964