Designer Shoes

Being born in 1914 to a family to Jewish farmers might not be the origin you’d expect for one of the greatest shoe designers of the 20th century, but that is exactly where the life of Beth Levine started, in New York City.

Now, nearly a century later, her life and work are brought back to the public eye in an exceptional new exhibition at the Bellevue Arts Museum. “Beth Levine: First Lady of Shoes” documents how Beth started out as a shoe model, gaining the experience necessary for her to design fashionable yet comfortable shoes, before opening a shoe factory with husband Herbert in 1950. In an industry dominated by men, Beth chose to design shoes under her husband’s name and soon revolutionised the world of designer shoes with her whimsical and experimental designs, as well as popularising new styles like stilettos, boots and mules.

First Lady of Shoes features adverts for and articles about her shoes, as well as drawings of her designs, photographs of both Beth and her famous clientele and, naturally, lots of designer shoes! Shoes on display include the space-age boots to celebrate the moon landing, the Butterfly Boot, her papers shoes and even the Marlene Boot, named after Marlene Dietrich.

Along with three First Ladies of the USA, Beth’s shoes have been worn by Marilyn Monroe, Geoffrey Beene and Cher, to name but a few. Seeing this exhibition is a must for all lovers of designer shoes.

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