Evening shoes

Susan Bennis/Warren Edwards

ca. 1990 · silk, leather, nylon · Costume Institute

Unable to find the type of merchandise they wished to sell in their New York shop, Susan Bennis and Warren Edwards began designing shoes in 1973 out of necessity. The partners were known for their stylish but comfortable and wearable shoes, often bringing elements of contemporary culture into their designs. This pair of evening sling-backs marks the crest of 1980s extravagance, showing the flashy interpretation of luxury and elegance with strong colorations, rich surface, and oversize trim.

Artist

Susan Bennis/Warren Edwards

Date

ca. 1990

Medium

silk, leather, nylon

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 Candice Gold, 1993