What's On 2024

Dressed To Impress

Dressed To Impress

Take a step back to the 1980s and experience the nostalgia and excess of the times. Now on view.

In Bloom

In Bloom

A celebration of how nature has provided meaning and material for shoemaking across both time and place.

Obsessed

Obsessed

Discover how society became obsessed with shoes. Closes March 31.

All About Shoes

All About Shoes

Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.

Media Room

Media Room

Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.

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By the late 20th and into the 21st century, mass-produced shoes and multinational brands had become central to expressions of both individual and group identities. The fashion for cowboy boots in the early 1980s reflected a problematic nostalgia for the past. This pair of boots is by San Diego Boots.

Mexican, 2017
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At the end of Vivier’s life he began to make single boots and shoes that were works of art rather than footwear. Surrounded by his large and eclectic collection of fine art and furniture, Vivier began to concentrate on these masterworks. Some of his most spectacular pieces from this period are his re-imagined cuissardes boots. Many of these cuissardes were elaborately embellished but this striking boot features only a single large silk rose. The crushed velvet gives dimensionality to the surface of the boot while the stark black colour allows the lines of its silhouette to be fully appreciated.

French, late 1980s
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These vibrant pumps are made of bright blue suede and have uppers that feature a cowl-neck-like drape. They were made by French footwear brand Charles Jourdan, a producer of luxury footwear since 1919. This pair was purchased in Paris in the early 1980s by a fashion designer who was attracted to their vivid colour.

French, c.1980-85See these shoes on display in our "Dressed to Impress" exhibition. Sponsored by: @boom973toronto thetorontostar @designlinesmagazine @thekitca @azuremagazine
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March Break is here! 📣 Join us for our drop-in, Fun and Games themed family programming. All day, every day there will be a selection of self-guided crafts such as Shoe Game in a Box, Make Your Own Shoe Pins, and other pop-up crafts, in addition to daily scheduled programs fun for any age. Visit our website for the full schedule. ...

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As industrialization increased, shoe manufacturers tried to differentiate themselves through illustrated advertisements, trade cards, and small functional items such as button hooks and shoe horns. This card is typical of the shoe-themed items that were becoming popular at the end of the 19th century. ...

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New York–based designers Susan Bennis and Warren Edwards created this pair of show-stopping pumps. Their limited-edition styles were beloved by glamourous celebrities such as Cher and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis throughout the 1980s. The comic-book like font of the ‘Pop’ and ‘Power’ are reminiscent of pop art, which had a revival in the early part of the decade. American, c. 1982-89

See these shoes on view in our "Dressed to Impress" exhibition ✨ Sponsored by: @boom973toronto thetorontostar @designlinesmagazine @thekitca @azuremagazine
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Visit the Bata Shoe Museum this March Break (March 11 - March 17) to take part in our drop-in, Fun and Games themed family programming. All day, every day there will be a selection of self-guided crafts such as Shoe Game in a Box, Make Your Own Shoe Pins, and other pop-up crafts! Learn more on our website. ...

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We had so much fun for the final day of the skating season with our friends at @thebentway on Family Day with a fun scavenger hunt and making your own skate covers inspired by our online exhibition Boots & Blades: The Story of Canadian Figure Skating - we can`t wait to see you again next year ⛸️ ...

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Did you know that we offer FREE admission EVERY Sunday? Come by to Toronto`s favourite shoebox today, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm to learn about footwear history dating back 4,500 years ago! 👠 ...

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This pair of yellow boudoir slippers is embellished with two small bouquets of yellow ranunculus made of silk and attached with snaps. The slippers may have come with a variety of interchangeable blossoms, or perhaps the owner cleverly added them to the slippers after purchase. 💐

Italian, 1920–1930.

See these shoes on display in In Bloom: Flowers & Footwear.

Photo by: Margaret Mulligan
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Off the Shelf: Episode 139✨

Learn more about this pair of baby shoes!
#getcultured #museumtok
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The Puma Extrena in the orange colorway was specially designed for tennis superstar Serena Williams (@serenawilliams), who did her first collaboration with the brand at the young age of seventeen. It features gold detailing and was worn by Williams during the 2003 Australian Open where she won her fourth consecutive major singles triumph. Williams has collaborated with both Puma (@puma) and Nike (@nike) to design sneakers during her long and illustrious career. She is widely recognized as the greatest tennis player of all time. See these sneakers on view in our "Behind the Scenes" gallery 🎾👟 ...

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