Victoria and Albert Museum - Shoes: Pleasure and Pain opens at the V&A

SHOES: PLEASURE AND PAIN 13 June 2015 – 31 January 2016 Sponsored by Clarks Put your best foot forward and get ready to explore the transformative power of footwear from around the world as we present over 200 pairs of the most extreme shoes. This exhibition highlights the obsession shoes can inspire and brings together exceptional footwear from the latest innovations to a dazzling range of historic shoes, many displayed for the first time
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Share your extreme footwear on Twitter and Instagram with #vamShoes

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Supported by Agent Provocateur; with additional thanks to the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers

THE SHOES BLOG Find out what goes on behind the scenes as we prepare the show, with insights into putting on a major exhibition and the stories behind some of the key objects that will be on display.Read more *COMING SOON* CINDERELLA SHOES Look out for this beautiful animation online exploring the well-loved story of Cinderella as it has been told across the globe for centuries. The underlying themes of good over evil prevail but the shoes that transform Cinders vary greatly from culture to culture and throughout history: from the exquisitely embroidered 9th Century Chinese slippers worn by Ye Xian to Perrault's 17th Century French Cinderella where the glass slippers originated.  CLARKS Clarks - shoemakers since 1825 - are delighted to be partnering with us in a celebration of the unfolding story of shoes and the extraordinary legacy of British style. The partnership includes exclusive product collaborations and headline sponsorship of the exhibition. Look out for the Clarks ‘Desert Boot’ in the exhibition, perhaps the brand’s most famous silhouette. Launched in 1950, the shoe has become a design classic, and is as popular today as it has ever been. AGENT PROVOCATEUR Agent Provocateur the iconic globally recognized lingerie brand, is delighted to support Shoes: Pleasure and Pain. Agent Provocateur’s unique brand image is renowned for being provocative while celebrating and empowering women. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CORDWAINERS Involved in the shoe trade since 1272, the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers is a City livery company, which provides bursaries to students and entrepreneurs, enabling them to become top shoe designers.  Designer Caroline Groves is a member of the historic Cordwainers Livery Company. FROM THE MUSEUM ONTO THE STREET With a shared passion for design and craftsmanship, Clarks have created a unique series of collections inspired by the V&A’s fashion collections. A/W15 sees the launch of the first collection with standout styles inspired by the fabulous 50s and the club culture of the 80s. Read more V&A MAGAZINE STYLE, SEX AND PSYCHOLOGY The Summer issue of the V&A Magazine is out now. Cover: Photograph by Jaron James, V&A Photographic Studio, for V&A Magazine. Fabric and leather stilettoes, by Casadei for Fausto Puglisi, 2014. Mirrors provided by Artefact, London. Buy this issue online

THE GUARDIAN REVIEW: V&A EXPLORES EXQUISITE TORTURE OF FOOTWEAR Read the review here "The exhibition moves beyond the obvious associations of heels as a signifier of height and a luxurious lifestyle to show the humour and fun in shoe obsession” @JessC_M SHOES: PLEASURE AND PAIN MEMBERS' PREVIEW DAY Friday 12 June, 10.00 – 22.00 Become a Member and see the exhibition first – and don’t miss the Curator Talk at 14.00 (tickets £12). Read more Membership starts at just £57, with concessions for under-26 year olds and the over 60s. Plus, you can add a guest or an extra card to your Membership. Read more To join call 020 7942 2271, goonline or visit the Membership Desk at the V&A SHARE YOUR #vamShoes Whether it’s on#TuesdayShoesday or your favourite daily #Shoefie, we want to see your extreme footwear! Tag your photo with the exhibition hashtag #vamShoes and you could be featured on the V&A website and in with a chance of winning one of our monthly prizes. WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS AND SHOES BOOK BUNDLE Who famously fell over in these Vivienne Westwood blue platforms on the catwalk in 1993? Email your answer to social@vam.ac.uk to enter the prize draw. Competition closes 30 June 2015.