Rate this book

Women From The Ankle Down: The Story Of Shoes And How They Define Us (2012)

by Rachelle Bergstein(Favorite Author)

3.38 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0061969613 (ISBN13: 9780061969614)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Harper

review 1: Hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars on this one..no especially groundbreaking or brand new information here, but a light, fun romp through the cultural history of shoes, that explores the relationship between women and their footwear. Made me wonder why I walked past the Bata Shoe Museum every day on my way to grad school and didn't ever go in! Inspired me to make a visit to Toronto for that very purpose in the near future. If you're into Sex and the City, loved the book Shoe Addicts Anonymous, or even just enjoy and appreciate a good stiletto, you will probably enjoy this book as much as I did. What was missing? Glossy, colour photos of the shoes in question would have made this book jump to a 4.5-5 star rating in my opinion. Although I did decide to click the 4th star rath... moreer than the 3rd for this reason: in the author's note, Bergstein mentions that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls blows the United States' side away. Oh Canada!
review 2: Bergstein frames the social and popular culture history of women in the 20th century through iconic shoes--Ferragamo, Hollywood and the first mass marketed luxury brand (disclaimer--I buy Ferragamo 8.5AAAA), the ruby slippers and the Depression, wartime rationing and cork wedges, Dior and the New Look's stilettos of conspicuous consumption, Audrey Hepburn's beatnik ballet flats, hippies and Birkenstocks, disco and platform shoes, Jane Fonda's aerobic Reeboks, grunge and Doc Martens and Carrie's Bradshaw's Manolos. less

Download links for: Women from the Ankle Down: The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us

Advertising