Toronto exhibition spotlights the shoe designer who invented the metal heel
Like
Save
【Attraction Tickets】Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Tickets in Toronto, Ontario
【Attraction Tickets】Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto
Toronto exhibition spotlights the shoe designer who invented the metal heel
Attention, Toronto shoe lovers and fashion fans! This summer, step into footwear history and discover the work of a celebrated designer at the Bata Shoe Museum.
André Perugia ranks among the most significant craftsmen in women's footwear. His designs and legacy still influence the world today, even though his work is often overlooked by scholars.
Now Toronto museum-goers can get an up-close look at newly displayed Perugia pieces through the André Perugia exhibition, which showcases 22 new items out of nearly 100 artifacts on view.
It's shoe time! Here's an early look at some of the treasures in the Bata Shoe Museum's Perugia exhibition.
Mask Shoe
One of Perugia's most recognizable creations, the mask shoe became iconic and inspired numerous copies by other designers.
Drawing on Venetian masks, the shoe debuted in 1923 and was repeatedly revised and remixed over the course of Perugia's career.
Cut-out designs
Perugia's style is defined by his meticulous attention to detail, with signature touches like recurring motifs, delicate trims, contrasting leather and cutouts. These labor-intensive details are what set his work apart—and continue to inspire.
Blade Heel
Arguably one of Perugia's boldest inventions, the Blade Heel reshaped women's footwear when its steel heels arrived in the 1950s. Unlike anything else at the time, these heels were revolutionary—and helped pave the way for the stiletto.
Golden Platform
Perugia's gold and silver platform sandals are a striking example of his collaborations with major fashion houses. Created with Elsa Schiaparelli, the sandals blend silver and gold leather into a remarkably modern design.
Want to see more? Head to the Bata Shoe Museum to explore additional newly exhibited and rare Perugia shoes. For extra Perugia lore, don't miss the exclusive Curator's Talk on Dec. 15.
André Perugia: A Design Legend Unveiled
When: On view until April 4, 2027 Where: Bata Shoe Museum Cost: Included with General Admission for $16 — Available here
【1-Day Tour Routes】Toronto Scenic Night Tour (Including CN Tower Ticket)
%3c/title%3e%3cg%20id='页面-1'%20stroke='none'%20stroke-width='1'%20fill='none'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%3e%3cg%20id='门票-PC版'%20transform='translate(-380.000000,%20-936.000000)'%3e%3cg%20id='biaoti--(1)'%20transform='translate(380.000000,%20936.000000)'%3e%3cpath%20d='M29.2924678,10.0515624%20L20.0320722,0.710853928%20C19.0922202,-0.236951309%2017.5719019,-0.236951309%2016.6316885,0.710853928%20L6.60688654,10.8228609%20C6.22124946,11.3929134%206.21858367,12.1449499%206.60001872,12.7172846%20L16.8634322,23.0726673%20C17.6753259,23.8880583%2018.985272,23.8880583%2019.7934607,23.0726673%20L29.2924678,13.4912761%20C30.2358441,12.5400475%2030.2358441,11.0031561%2029.2924678,10.0515624%20Z'%20id='Fill-1'%20fill='%2338ACFF'%3e%3c/path%3e%3cpath%20d='M7.32022794,13.4600612%20C6.44543588,12.5674601%206.44543588,11.1167505%207.32022794,10.2241494%20L11.8421053,5.60872924%20L10.0964389,3.82734556%20C9.22214789,2.93474446%207.80087842,2.93474446%206.92626857,3.82734556%20L0.655718222,10.2241494%20C-0.218572741,11.1167505%20-0.218572741,12.5674601%200.655718222,13.4600612%20L6.92289751,19.856865%20C7.79714291,20.7494661%209.21895905,20.7494661%2010.0932045,19.856865%20L11.838552,18.0754813%20L7.32022794,13.4600612%20Z'%20id='Fill-3'%20fill='%238AD2FF'%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Related products
More guides
'%20fill='%23FFFFFF'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%3e%3cg%20id='编组-21'%20transform='translate(-0.000000,%203463.000000)'%3e%3cg%20id='编组-20'%20transform='translate(1.000000,%200.000000)'%3e%3cg%20id='icon_笑脸-线'%20transform='translate(816.000000,%2030.000000)'%3e%3cpath%20d='M19.21303,6.10470121%20C18.2037939,3.71403528%2016.2952466,1.8054106%2013.8906615,0.782116903%20C11.4027873,-0.260705634%208.59416917,-0.260705634%206.10629501,0.782116903%20C4.91666008,1.28572876%203.83723503,2.01342091%202.92805438,2.92472122%20C1.04614471,4.80688405%20-0.00655231541,7.35002886%203.06899824e-05,9.99827546%20C-0.00794350862,14.002809%202.39392443,17.6273163%206.10767507,19.2148894%20C7.3381427,19.7347973%208.66245796,20.0018927%2010.0003183,19.9999899%20C12.6582825,20.0035648%2015.2058681,18.9480672%2017.0689021,17.0713743%20C17.9861712,16.1605967%2018.7148343,15.0808699%2019.21303,13.8936713%20C20.2623233,11.4012434%2020.2623233,8.59712911%2019.21303,6.10470121%20L19.21303,6.10470121%20Z%20M18.5864902,9.99690929%20C18.5841901,14.7315867%2014.7315681,18.5841759%2010.0003183,18.5841759%20C5.26630843,18.5841759%201.41506647,14.7315867%201.41506647,9.99690929%20C1.41506647,5.26086575%205.26630843,1.40918727%2010.0003183,1.40918727%20C14.7343282,1.40873188%2018.5864902,5.26086575%2018.5864902,9.99690929%20Z'%20id='形状'%3e%3c/path%3e%3cpath%20d='M6.05201331,8.95224739%20C6.83127798,8.95224739%207.46655809,8.31834619%207.46655809,7.53963133%20C7.46655809,6.76091647%206.83127798,6.12747066%206.05201331,6.12747066%20C5.27320865,6.12747066%204.64160864,6.7600057%204.64160864,7.53735438%20C4.63743561,7.91062437%204.78408398,8.270074%205.04894631,8.53577921%20C5.31380865,8.80148442%205.67492953,8.95141992%206.05201331,8.95224739%20L6.05201331,8.95224739%20Z%20M13.9500034,8.97957071%20C14.726508,8.97957071%2015.359488,8.3456695%2015.359488,7.56832083%20C15.359488,6.78687364%2014.726508,6.15297242%2013.9500034,6.15297242%20C13.1711987,6.15297242%2012.5359186,6.78687362%2012.5359186,7.56832083%20C12.5359186,8.3456695%2013.1711987,8.97957071%2013.9500034,8.97957071%20Z%20M15.1078601,12.139969%20C14.7924485,11.915954%2014.3543915,11.9800345%2014.1179087,12.2847826%20C13.1707387,13.5571389%2011.6301499,14.3135397%2010.0003183,14.3135397%20C8.37002671,14.3135397%206.82943792,13.5571389%205.88410798,12.2870596%20C5.64808665,11.9810113%205.20927089,11.9156996%204.89277659,12.1395136%20C4.57951444,12.3738969%204.51529087,12.8142693%204.74879203,13.1267965%20C5.34212496,13.922147%206.11410645,14.5700647%207.00378343,15.0193924%20C8.88588273,15.9647756%2011.1106138,15.9647756%2012.9927131,15.0193924%20C13.8835983,14.5695462%2014.6569145,13.92123%2015.2518446,13.1254304%20C15.4818519,12.8130337%2015.4179099,12.375405%2015.1078601,12.139969%20L15.1078601,12.139969%20Z'%20id='形状'%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cg%20id='编组-26'%20transform='translate(1682.000000,%201051.000000)'%3e%3ccircle%20id='椭圆形'%20fill='url(%23linearGradient-1)'%20cx='30'%20cy='30'%20r='30'%3e%3c/circle%3e%3cg%20id='客服'%20transform='translate(14.000000,%2012.000000)'%20fill='%23FFFFFF'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%3e%3cpath%20d='M23.139712,32.8694615%20C23.0243663,33.9087509%2022.2900098,34.7706057%2021.2891951,35.0412633%20L18.0476443,35.9180006%20C16.7097139,36.2683278%2015.3422219,35.4641013%2014.9844463,34.1165239%20C14.6266708,32.7689465%2015.4124959,31.3822989%2016.7447036,31.0104172%20L19.9862544,30.1336799%20C20.8331551,29.9041779%2021.737345,30.1363734%2022.3726019,30.7464927%20C24.8216791,29.7521616%2026.8802401,27.9748183%2028.2328984,25.6867646%20L27.4067797,25.6867646%20C24.9354154,25.6867646%2022.9322035,23.6648493%2022.9322035,21.1704104%20L22.9322035,16.6540562%20C22.9322035,14.1596173%2024.9354154,12.137702%2027.4067797,12.137702%20L28.5254238,12.137702%20C28.6867882,12.137702%2028.8464746,12.1461701%2029.0036441,12.1631065%20C27.293517,7.07656252%2022.3505086,3.38726566%2016.5,3.38726566%20C10.6494919,3.38726566%205.70648348,7.07656252%203.99635639,12.1631065%20C4.15352588,12.1461701%204.31321232,12.137702%204.47457672,12.137702%20L5.59322077,12.137702%20C8.06458514,12.137702%2010.067797,14.1596173%2010.067797,16.6540562%20L10.067797,21.1704104%20C10.067797,23.6648493%208.06458514,25.6867646%205.59322077,25.6867646%20L4.47457672,25.6867646%20C2.00321236,25.6867646%200,23.6648493%200,21.1704104%20L0,16.6540562%20C0,16.5360664%200.00447510069,16.4192058%200.0131445921,16.3034742%20C0.00433474352,16.232501%200,16.1610399%200,16.0895119%20C0,7.18862456%207.40150888,0%2016.5,0%20C25.5984916,0%2033,7.18862456%2033,16.0895119%20C33,16.1620558%2032.9955254,16.2334707%2032.9868559,16.3034742%20C32.9955254,16.4192058%2033,16.5360664%2033,16.6540562%20L33,21.1704104%20C33,22.6797195%2032.2667288,24.0157136%2031.1399746,24.8359964%20C29.6761543,28.5069437%2026.7841947,31.4109054%2023.139712,32.8694615%20L23.139712,32.8694615%20Z'%20id='路径'%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cg%20id='编组-28'%20transform='translate(1682.000000,%201121.000000)'%3e%3ccircle%20id='椭圆形备份-2'%20fill='url(%23linearGradient-1)'%20cx='30'%20cy='30'%20r='30'%3e%3c/circle%3e%3cg%20id='电话'%20transform='translate(13.000000,%2013.000000)'%20fill='%23FFFFFF'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%3e%3cpath%20d='M33.6821921,30.2461546%20L32.0856631,31.837563%20C31.4335904,32.4881786%2030.6232405,33.0074431%2029.671634,33.384009%20C28.6256363,33.8004465%2027.4505065,34%2026.1947808,34%20C21.3730567,34.0022143%2013.753793,29.5065467%208.70469844,24.4718343%20C2.33929522,18.1242322%20-1.47463066,9.39000338%200.541004575,4.33791995%20C0.835564238,3.59815655%201.24448921,2.94070137%201.73113444,2.36314497%20L1.72981321,2.36054124%20L1.83325883,2.1935543%20C1.87930807,2.11808567%201.93305159,2.04984529%201.99367338,1.98933826%20L3.66897177,0.32016841%20C4.09355739,-0.106722803%204.78347984,-0.106722803%205.20794884,0.32016841%20L5.96226253,1.07186222%20L12.5334689,7.62589538%20C12.9579768,8.04769573%2012.9579768,8.73480209%2012.5321477,9.15901188%20L10.7752431,10.9133656%20L9.58048888,12.1050469%20C9.58048888,12.1050469%208.95526852,16.1008029%2013.4058785,20.5383729%20C17.856333,24.9739609%2021.8452848,24.3695125%2021.8452848,24.3695125%20L24.8151302,21.4071946%20C25.2396381,20.9829848%2025.9304932,20.9829848%2026.3537575,21.4071946%20L33.6808708,28.7105899%20C34.1061559,29.1351883%2034.1061559,29.8218672%2033.6821921,30.2461546%20L33.6821921,30.2461546%20Z'%20id='路径'%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cg%20id='编组-27'%20transform='translate(1682.000000,%201191.000000)'%3e%3ccircle%20id='椭圆形备份-3'%20fill='url(%23linearGradient-1)'%20cx='30'%20cy='30'%20r='30'%3e%3c/circle%3e%3cg%20id='手机'%20transform='translate(15.000000,%2012.000000)'%20fill='%23FFFFFF'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%3e%3cpath%20d='M25,0%20C27.7613637,0%2030,2.21624998%2030,4.95000002%20L30,31.05%20C30,33.78375%2027.7613637,36%2025,36%20L5,36%20C2.23863635,36%200,33.78375%200,31.05%20L0,4.95000002%20C0,2.21625003%202.23863635,0%205,0%20L25,0%20Z%20M18.6363636,29.25%20L11.3636364,29.25%20C10.6105208,29.25%2010,29.8544156%2010,30.6%20C10,31.3455844%2010.6105208,31.95%2011.3636364,31.95%20L18.6363636,31.95%20C19.3894792,31.95%2020,31.3455844%2020,30.6%20C20,29.8544156%2019.3894792,29.25%2018.6363636,29.25%20Z%20M25,2.7%20L4.99999999,2.7%20C4.39723523,2.7%203.81915815,2.93705289%203.39293911,3.35900975%20C2.96672007,3.78096661%202.72727273,4.35326292%202.72727273,4.95000002%20L2.72727273,25.2%20L27.2727273,25.2%20L27.2727273,4.95000002%20C27.2727273,4.35326292%2027.0332799,3.78096661%2026.6070609,3.35900975%20C26.1808418,2.93705289%2025.6027648,2.7%2025,2.7%20L25,2.7%20Z'%20id='形状'%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)