Shoes
Designer Beth Levine American
Manufacturer Herbert Levine Inc. American
Not on view
Beth Levine's ingenious and witty designs, experimentation with novel materials, and ability to invent practical solutions have earned her the place of top female shoe designer of the 20th century. Levine was particularly adept at predicting future trends and devising structural innovations. Chief among her achievements were the popularization of the fashion boot in the 1960s, the use of vinyl and spandex, and the inventions of the Spring-o-lator mule, the stocking shoe, and the topless shoe. These boundary-breaking innovations earned Levine a Coty award 1967.
The unusual rolled heel of this shoe is a highlight of the designer's creative genius. Levine produced another shoe in the same vein, where instead of rolling the leather it was accordion folded to form a cube.