
Family Day at the BSM
Celebrate Family Day at the BSM!
Celebrate Family Day at the BSM!
Experience the vibrant energy of Powwow dancing in this workshop led by Deanne Hupfield.
“What is art?” This question has sparked debate for centuries.
Sleuth out the complex role of footwear in crime, policing, and the judiciary.
Take a step back to the 1980s and experience the nostalgia and excess of the times. Now on view.
Black History Month Resources
Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.
Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.
Step back in time and relive the magic of the 1980s at The Final Countdown: An ’80s Video Dance Party as we celebrate the closing of our hit exhibition, Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s, with an unforgettable evening of retro fun on Saturday March 22, 2025. Purchase your tickets on our website now.
On Monday, February 17, spend your Family Day with us making crafts, including a mini-game in a box, ‘Laces and Ladders’, and more. Explore our current exhibitions, have some family fun in the Try-On Shoes area, and play iSpy around the museum with our exhibition-themed activity cards. Visit our website for more information 👟
These sneakers were a collaboration between sportswear brand Puma and fashion icon Dapper Dan. In 1982, Dapper Dan opened his boutique in Harlem, New York City. He quickly developed his trademark style of incorporating the logos of high-end brands such as Gucci and Fendi in his custom designs. His work catered to many prominent Black consumers who had long been ignored by the high fashion world. Throughout his career, he dressed notable figures including LL Cool J, Diane Dixon, and Jam Master Jay. Eventually, the high fashion world took notice with brands such as Gucci collaborating with Dapper Dan in 2017. This Puma Clyde sneaker was released in 2022 and features a monogram print specially designed by Dapper Dan. See these shoes on display in our Behind the Scenes gallery.
The word ‘sneaker’ was used in the 19th century in both England and the US to describe criminals and others of ill repute. However, in the US, the term sneaker was also used for rubber-soled athletic footwear because the soles allowed wearers to walk around noiselessly. A rather curious interview in a news article from 1887 quoted Chicago mugger Patrick Kent, recommending that if one wished to be a successful criminal, “you must wear rubber shoes, then you can sneak up when [a victim’s] back is turned.”
Perfection high tops, American, early 20th century
Join us on February 8 in this hands-on workshop where participants will create their own luxurious foot scrub using a selection of natural ingredients. Guided through the process by Catherine Chambers of @letsmakeittoronto, you’ll work with clays, exfoliants, and natural fragrances while learning about their skin-nourishing benefits. Visit our website to purchase tickets!
We`ve partnered with YETI Arts to co-host an Art/Wear Sneaker Battle inspired by our current exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists. Space is limited so get your tickets fast by visiting our website.
Artists Competing: @chiemodes @inkscrpt @marvisionink @kushtatts_ @egrartist @earthtoelize
Buy tickets on our website now 🎟️👟
Join us on Sunday January 26 for special performances from @liondancetoronto, crafts from @tohistorymuseums’s Youth Volunteers, tea ceremony demonstrations with the @chineseculturalcentreofgta, and photo opportunities to commemorate the coming Lunar New Year! Reserve your tickets on our website now 🎟️
This pair of bespoke shoes was designed by Roger Vivier for Princess Lilian of Belgium. Vivier cleverly played with the motif of the fabric used to make these shoes by ornamenting the throat with a three-dimensional leaf decoration that seems to spring to life out of the leafy patterned silk. These shoes were probably designed to complement an entire ensemble designed by Christian Dior for the Princess. These shoes were bespoke, meaning that they were specifically designed and made to fit only the Princess’s feet, and therefore feature proportions like the wide toe-box, which were suited to her.
Roger Vivier for Delman-Christian Dior
French 1953-1955