Evening Shoe thumbnail 1
Evening Shoe thumbnail 2
Not on display

Evening Shoe

1954 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Roger Vivier (1913-98) was a designer of luxury shoes, and is credited with creating the stiletto heel. He designed for several couturiers, including Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s, but notably for Christian Dior from 1953-63. He is the only one of Dior's collaborators permitted to have a credit on the final design - 'Christian Dior crée par Roger Vivier' - which is marked inside every shoe.

He often worked in elaborate and expensive materials including silks, pearls, beads, lace, metal threads and jewels.

This shoe was given to the V&A by Roger Vivier himself as a good example of his work.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk satin and tulle
Brief description
Silk satin evening pump, designed by Roger Vivier for Christian Dior, Paris, 1954
Physical description
Black silk satin evening pump with a tulle rosette on the toe and high stiletto heel. Long squared-off pointed toe.
Style
Production typeHaute couture
Marks and inscriptions
'Christian / Dior / crée par / ROGER VIVIER' (Embossed inside shoe lining)
Gallery label
Shoes Roger Vivier (1913-98) Paris 1950s Roger Vivier started working for Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s, when his designs were considered shocking by major retailers. He went on to collaborate with many couturiers to create shoes for their collections and started collaborating with Dior when the New Look brought emphasis to the ankle and foot. Vivier created a number of innovative heel shapes for Dior, including the comma heel and the stiletto. 1. Shoe, black tulle over satin Roger Vivier (1913-98) 1954 Given by Roger Vivier V&A: T.148-1974 2. Shoe, pink satin embroidered with beads and silk and metal thread Roger Vivier (1913-98) Late 1950s Given by Roger Vivier V&A: T.149-974 3. Shoe, satin embroidered with beads and silk and metal thread Roger Vivier (1913-98) Late 1950s Given by Roger Vivier V&A: T.154-1974 4. Shoe, camouflage pattern Roger Vivier (1913-98) Late 1950s By courtesy of Roger Vivier 5. Shoe, satin with bows Roger Vivier (1913-98) Late 1950s By courtesy of Roger Vivier 6. Shoe, satin with imitation pearls Roger Vivier (1913-98) Late 1950s By courtesy of Roger Vivier(22/09/2007)
Credit line
Given by the designer
Object history
Part of the Cecil Beaton collection, no catalogue number but mentioned on the Addenda
Production
Attribution note: Possibly a one-off made as a designer sample or model shoe
Association
Summary
Roger Vivier (1913-98) was a designer of luxury shoes, and is credited with creating the stiletto heel. He designed for several couturiers, including Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s, but notably for Christian Dior from 1953-63. He is the only one of Dior's collaborators permitted to have a credit on the final design - 'Christian Dior crée par Roger Vivier' - which is marked inside every shoe.

He often worked in elaborate and expensive materials including silks, pearls, beads, lace, metal threads and jewels.

This shoe was given to the V&A by Roger Vivier himself as a good example of his work.
Bibliographic reference
Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, 2007), pl.2.14
Collection
Accession number
T.148-1974

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Record createdAugust 3, 2007
Record URL
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