Shoes

The Osgood collection comprises 179 objects, chiefly fashionable Italian-made women's shoes dating from the years 1954 to 1958. The shoes were collected by Charline Osgood, Director of the Kid Leather Guild, a trade organization of American kid leather manufacturers. Highlighting the use of kid leather in footwear, the collection provides a fascinating and enticing view of high-style European shoe design from the period, representing many of the finest and most inventive Italian makers.
In addition to extreme, spiky high-style dress shoes, Italian shoe design was particularly strong in this period for simple but creative sportswear styles. Osgood found these shoes remarkable for the novel color of the leather, the soft construction, and neckline like throat treatment.