Celebrating the Stylish and Scandalous History of Delman Shoes

In 2010, an open high heel that laces up the calf might not be too shocking. But in 1940, such a provocative style was a scandal — a scandal sandal, to be precise. Delman Shoes' signature Scandal Sandal and about 50 other styles are now being celebrated at the Museum at FIT's exhibition, "Scandal Sandals & Lady Slippers: A History of Delman Shoes." Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Delman Shoes has been making glamorous yet comfortable shoes to flatter women's feet for decades, and the brand is being honored by FIT for the first time with a retrospective chronicling the company's rich past. The pieces on display include shoes from both the Delman archives and FIT's permanent collection juxtaposed with current styles, emphasizing the relationship between historic and modern fashion trends (hello, high-heeled booties from 1950). As an extra treat, interspersed among the elegant footwear are advertisements, newsreel footage and illustrations, many pulled straight from the pages of Bazaar. Focusing on the brand's golden age, the 1930s-1950s, when such iconic women like Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich and Ava Gardner all donned Delman, the exhibit provides a dose of old Hollywood glamour with a nod to the future — Anne Hathaway, Blake Lively, and Leighton Meester have all stepped out in Delman heels in recent years. For a well-heeled walk down memory land, don't miss the student-curated show, which is free and runs through April 3rd at the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, located at 227 West 27th Street at Seventh Avenue in New York City. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12pm-8pm, and Saturday 10-5pm Read more: Celebrating the Stylish and Scandalous History of Delman Shoes - Harper's BAZAAR