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9th out of 25 books
—
4 voters
Women from the Ankle Down: The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us
What is it about a pair of shoes that so enchants women of all ages, demographics, political affiliations, and style tribes? Part social history, part fashion record, part pop-culture celebration, Women from the Ankle Down seeks to answer that question as it unfolds the story of shoes in the twentieth century.
The tale begins in the rural village of Bonito, Italy, with a vi...more
The tale begins in the rural village of Bonito, Italy, with a vi...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
May 29th 2012
by Harper
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I get a kick out of women's shoes--the protrusions and spikes, the high fashion toes like ship's prows and the platforms like personal podiums. Bergstein's debut book on how shoes define women offers the reader a celebrity-infused history of our relationship to footwear. The diversity of shoes reflects something more than function and personal style; our choices are inextricably laced with desire and identified with social currency.
Bergstein begins with Farragamo's humble beginnings in a small I...more
Bergstein begins with Farragamo's humble beginnings in a small I...more
One thing I was reminded of while reading this book: I really need a new pair of classic black pumps.
First of all, Women from the Ankle Down: The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us by Rachelle Bergstein is really a book about women’s shoes. There are mentions of men’s shoes, but not many — let’s face it, men’s shoes are boring. Most of this book is about women’s shoes and how they evolved and what influenced them.
There is a lot of interesting information in this book about modern shoes. If yo...more
First of all, Women from the Ankle Down: The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us by Rachelle Bergstein is really a book about women’s shoes. There are mentions of men’s shoes, but not many — let’s face it, men’s shoes are boring. Most of this book is about women’s shoes and how they evolved and what influenced them.
There is a lot of interesting information in this book about modern shoes. If yo...more
This history of (mainly) women’s shoes pretty much starts in 1900, the point in history when women’s skirts became short enough to show their shoes, and when the making of shoes changed from a craftsman’s job of creating one pair at a time to factories that made hundreds of pairs in a day. This lowered the price of shoes to the point where the average person could afford more than one pair of shoes, and shoe obsessions could begin.
The author intersperses biographies of famous shoemakers- Ferrag...more
The author intersperses biographies of famous shoemakers- Ferrag...more
When I saw there was a book about women and their shoes, I knew I wanted to read it. This book is about much more than that, though, telling the history of twentieth century western culture through footwear.
Those of us who never had to live through war rationing don't usually give a lot of thought to supply and demand, but this book highlights how such things can dictate fashion when it tells the story of Salvatore Ferragamo and his invention of the wedgie. I also never knew how important Ferrag...more
Those of us who never had to live through war rationing don't usually give a lot of thought to supply and demand, but this book highlights how such things can dictate fashion when it tells the story of Salvatore Ferragamo and his invention of the wedgie. I also never knew how important Ferrag...more
I had read a review of this book, and was intrigued, so I borrowed a copy from the library. I should qualify this by saying that a) I am fascinated with the history of clothing, and b) one of the ways in which I am a stereotypical woman is that I love shoes.
This is a very readable social history of women's shoes, and I found it to be really interesting. For instance, I didn't know that until the mid-nineteenth century, only well-to-do people had shoes that we made for one foot or the other. I al...more
This is a very readable social history of women's shoes, and I found it to be really interesting. For instance, I didn't know that until the mid-nineteenth century, only well-to-do people had shoes that we made for one foot or the other. I al...more
First of all, let me say that this book is not just about women's shoes. What women wore on their feet from the beginning of the 20th century to now is just author Bergstein's--pardon the pun--stepping off point for a look at the culture and morés of modern America. Chapters cover such topics as Salvatore Ferragamo's decision to leave Italy for America, but then return to Italy years later to perfect a superbly made designer shoe; and the little known sequence of events that led to the choice of...more
Hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars on this one..no especially groundbreaking or brand new information here, but a light, fun romp through the cultural history of shoes, that explores the relationship between women and their footwear. Made me wonder why I walked past the Bata Shoe Museum every day on my way to grad school and didn't ever go in! Inspired me to make a visit to Toronto for that very purpose in the near future. If you're into Sex and the City, loved the book Shoe Addicts Anonymous, or...more
Only got as far as page 98. The book starts with the history of Ferragamo and I was interested in his story. I liked the tidbits of shoes in the movies and how they played an influential part in what women wore as well as setting the tone for a scene and the personality of a character. Sounds like a good book, huh? I just couldn't get past the authors opinion of women in the past being miserable and suppressed by their husbands. I admit that there was lots of that going on, but not all women wer...more
Everything said and related here is interesting on the level of a well written and well edited magazine feature. None of it belongs in a book; this is what fashion mags should be but aren't.
I got this book from Goodreads.com advanced reader giveaways****
I was really excited to have won this book from the giveaways section on goodreads because I love to read non-fiction books on random topics. This book is all about shoes, and though every girl knows some shoe basics, I never knew so many interesting stories about shoes existed. Each chapter focused on a different time period and on a different types of shoes. Usually, the chapter included a lot of pop culture too, which I will adm...more
I was really excited to have won this book from the giveaways section on goodreads because I love to read non-fiction books on random topics. This book is all about shoes, and though every girl knows some shoe basics, I never knew so many interesting stories about shoes existed. Each chapter focused on a different time period and on a different types of shoes. Usually, the chapter included a lot of pop culture too, which I will adm...more
Bergstein frames the social and popular culture history of women in the 20th century through iconic shoes--Ferragamo, Hollywood and the first mass marketed luxury brand (disclaimer--I buy Ferragamo 8.5AAAA), the ruby slippers and the Depression, wartime rationing and cork wedges, Dior and the New Look's stilettos of conspicuous consumption, Audrey Hepburn's beatnik ballet flats, hippies and Birkenstocks, disco and platform shoes, Jane Fonda's aerobic Reeboks, grunge and Doc Martens and Carrie's...more
I just reviewed this for Amazon Vine. My review begins..."Shoes are many things for women. Some of us wear them for style, others for comfort, and still others to make environmental statements. Shoes are a way for women of all sizes and incomes to be fashionable and trendy, and may also provide generational links...."
Please visit http://www.amazon.com/review/R179BLB9...= for the remainder of my review.
Please visit http://www.amazon.com/review/R179BLB9...= for the remainder of my review.
I recently sprained my ankle and have been literally crying over how I can't wear any of my beautiful shoes. And they're so beautiful.
In an effort to make me feel better, my friend sent me this book and boy did it do the trick. Its a wonderful collection of stories of how the shoes you wear lift your spirits. Not even men are exempt from the power of shoes.
I highly recommend this book for a quick, fun read. It's well written and, well, just a lot of fun!
In an effort to make me feel better, my friend sent me this book and boy did it do the trick. Its a wonderful collection of stories of how the shoes you wear lift your spirits. Not even men are exempt from the power of shoes.
I highly recommend this book for a quick, fun read. It's well written and, well, just a lot of fun!
"Women ffom the Ankle Down" is the kind of book I wish I could get my husband to read. Bergstein does a fantastic job of tying together art, film, social customs, and fashion to make one understand why shoes matter...the statement(s) they make...and why women love them. The author's tone and obvious knowledge about her subject matter makes the topic accessible event to non-shoe mavens. This book, which I got as part of a Goodreads giveaway, was great!
A very interesting and fun read about shoes and how the climate of the times affected what was worn and how shoes evolved. Some good celebrity tidbits are told throughout as well. The book was a good length and I feel the author included just the right amount of info to keep the book moving along and interesting. Thankfully I was born in the times when I can collect and wear all sorts of beautiful shoes :)
I loved this book! Anyone who loves pop-culture, fashion, and shoes will love this book. I wish it was in a multi-media format. Complete with a picture of Judy Garland in the ruby red slippers, video clip of Marilyn's walk in Niagara, snippet of Nancy Sinatra singing These Boots are Made for Walking. The book is a mixture of history and nostalgia.
A social/pop culture history of twentieth century American shoes. Eminently readable, it kept my attention the whole way through - and I am a woman who doesn't have the slightest bit of shoe envy when I see a new Louboutin design.
More illustrations would have been nice, the small pen/ink drawings that start each chapter just tantalize .
More illustrations would have been nice, the small pen/ink drawings that start each chapter just tantalize .
This book went into the history of some shoe makers and some cultural importance of shoes. I found that often the book went on about irrelevant things then threw shoes in at the last moment to try to tie it back in. I did like how it described the progression of fashion and the reasoning behind it.
The best parts Center on a specific designer, Salvatore Ferragamo for example. That gives the facts a dynamic purpose and her discussion a focus. I'll remember the story about Salvatore Ferragamo making cow boy boots for Hollywood back in the day. But the general survey of the history of fashion falters.
The title and premise of this book are a little misleading. Or maybe my expectations were a little off. This was really a mini-history of shoes from the 20th century, beginning with the arrival of Salvatore Ferragamo on the scene and in America. Bergstein chooses to tell this story mainly through the tales of some iconic shoes: Dorothy's "ruby" slippers, stilettos (of course), Birkenstocks, Chuck Taylor's, etc.
While I did learn a few things (Ferragamo's history was really interesting), this fel...more
While I did learn a few things (Ferragamo's history was really interesting), this fel...more
I found this book on a list of required summer readings for colleges. It was an informative and historical narrative of the 20th century through a journey of shoes. It explores how people respond to wars, depression, excess and women's lib. I loved the Judy Garland/Dorothy information. I would recommend.
This is a well-written, perfectly enjoyable read, but not really what the title suggests. As another reviewer notes, this book really only covers shoes in America during the 20th century. It also tends to focus on a few major brands and their rise and fall from decade to decade. Worst of all -- no pictures! Not what I was hoping for.
Well researched and interesting, but NO PICTURES??? The line drawings at the beginning of the chapters were just not enough. Very fun, though. Made me feel old, realizing that the running shoe as we know it was basically invented during my life time!
This book was incredibly well written and researched. Spanning the history of shoes from their earliest beginnings to today. This is a must read for those who love shoes and their history. Because it spans such a wide history Bergstein picks and chooses where to focus. Sometimes it's the lowly shoe maker and other times it's the Hollywood starlet. I enjoyed the shoemaker history more than the starlet and wish there would have been more focus on them.
I do wish that this book provided pictures of...more
I do wish that this book provided pictures of...more
In addition to being a good history of shoes, this gives a sense of the overall fashion of succeeding decades and, just as interesting to me, how the fashion reflects social, historical, and cultural changes.
A must read read for anyone who loves shoes, fashion, and independent women. Bergstein relates not only the history of the shoe industry ( something near and dear to my heart), but also chronicles women's transformation from domestic cheerleader to independent provider.
What isn't to love about a book all about shoes?? Not much, that's for sure. I learned quite a bit and now believe that Salvatore Ferragamo should have parades thrown in his honor! He helped make our shoes so much better. He studied the foot and redid the way shoes were made. What an amazing man!
I did wish that the book didn't rely so much on the history of sex that went with the shoes. Then I would be able to recommend this book for some of the book clubs I'm in.
I did wish that the book didn't rely so much on the history of sex that went with the shoes. Then I would be able to recommend this book for some of the book clubs I'm in.
Aug 02, 2012
Emily
marked it as to-read
Heard author on NPR this morning and she told the story of Salvatore Ferragao (creator of my favorite shoes) and how he came to be a cobbler's apprentice. Sounds like a fun read.
I was hoping for something much more decadent; the cover certainly implies that this book is dessert! The reality is that this chronological collection of the histories of important shoes is constantly veering off course. Worse, there's not a single picture of a single shoe anywhere within the pages.
I love books and I love shoes, so I was really excited about reading this one. While it was pretty good, I was a little disappointed that it seemed just as much about celebrity culture as it is about shoes.
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06. April, 08:22 Uhr
06. April, 15:57 Uhr