Tribute thumbnail 1
Tribute thumbnail 2
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Tribute

Sandal
2014 (made)
Artist/Maker

Shoe designer Francesco Russo joined the house of Yves Saint Laurent in 2000. Working alongside Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati, he created several influential shoe designs including the Chinese Lacquered Wedge shoe, the Tribute, Tibtoo and the Cage Boots. He left YSL in 2008 to become Artistic Director at shoe label Sergio Rossi and in September 2013 launched his own label Francesco Russo, 8 Rue de Valois Paris. Launched in 2009 the ‘Tribute’ sandal shows the influence of fetish footwear in its design with its high heel, patent leather and deep platform under the toes. It is strikingly similar in shape to shoes worn for pole-dancing; the heel used to grip the pole and the platform allowing greater height and providing a firmer footing on which to launch the body into a spin. The ‘Tribute’ took the early 21st trend for high heels to an extreme.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Sandals
  • Sandals
TitleTribute (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Patent leather
Brief description
Black patent high-heeled platform sandals, 'Tribute' by Francesco Russo for Yves Saint Laurent, 2014
Physical description
One pair of black patent high-heeled platform sandals
Gallery label
(2015-2016)
Label for the exhibition Shoes: Pleasure and Pain

Stripper Heels
Sleek, streamlined and leg-lengthening shoes like these have been worn by celebrities from Beyoncé to Helen Mirren and quickly spread to the high street. The design is strikingly similar to shoes worn by exotic dancers. Dancers use the heel to grip the pole, with the platforms allowing greater height and providing a firmer footing from which to launch into a spin.

‘Tribute’ shoes
2014
France
Francesco Russo for Yves Saint Laurent
Patent leather
V&A: T.92:1, 2-2014
Object history
RF2014/301
Summary
Shoe designer Francesco Russo joined the house of Yves Saint Laurent in 2000. Working alongside Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati, he created several influential shoe designs including the Chinese Lacquered Wedge shoe, the Tribute, Tibtoo and the Cage Boots. He left YSL in 2008 to become Artistic Director at shoe label Sergio Rossi and in September 2013 launched his own label Francesco Russo, 8 Rue de Valois Paris. Launched in 2009 the ‘Tribute’ sandal shows the influence of fetish footwear in its design with its high heel, patent leather and deep platform under the toes. It is strikingly similar in shape to shoes worn for pole-dancing; the heel used to grip the pole and the platform allowing greater height and providing a firmer footing on which to launch the body into a spin. The ‘Tribute’ took the early 21st trend for high heels to an extreme.
Collection
Accession number
T.92:1,2-2014

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Record createdMay 21, 2014
Record URL
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