FROM ihe Bata Shoe Museum's collection: Heelless sandal from ’50s France (near right), kid

barrette boot from 1880s England (top left) and mid-18th century English silk brocade shoes.

Layne Christensen

Fashion Editor hey SHEWS.COM

JONATHON Walford has 2 shoe collection to rival Imelda’s.

The Toronto-based fashion historian figures he has about 70) shoes stashed away in his basement —- part of a larger collection of about 2,009 items of historical fashions dating back to the 17th century.

Walford will have many of his finest samples of footwear with him today when he pre- sents Sole Survivors: A History of Fashionable Footwear, an illustrated lecture at Performance Works on Granville Island. The lecture starts at 2 p.m.

A former North Shore resi- dent who cut his teeth in his- torical collections as an assistant curator at the North Vancouver Museum and == Archives, Walford, now 38, first became interested in historical fashions when he was a teen.

Whilc his private collection contains many fine frocks and couture creations, it is fanciful footwear that most captivates his attention.

Walford has a soft spor for shoes. He’s the former curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto and has researched historical footwear for film and television productions includ- ing The Road to Avonlea.

north shore news

‘& PASHION

THERE'S nothing like a bad pair of shoes to ruin an cutfit, says fashion historian Jonathon Walford.

“Shoes arc fike a piece of sculpture,” says the fashion his- torian from home before pack- ing the precious cargo into his hatchback and heading out West. “They are such a manu- factured little object... Even when they don’t have a foot in them, you can look at them and read them.”

Shoes say a lot abour the wearer, and about the time in which they were worn.

Walford has a pair of Italian

den of ———— DEN een

day spa

Weekly specials for April 5-10 Aroma Body Polish (includes massage) optional - finish with comfort zone self tanning cream $50

12-17 Cellulite treatment pkg. 4 sessions $200.00

19-24 Waxing 25% off 26-30 Super facial $50.00

anion fa: 9O3-OlOS

shoes from the 1850s. The shoes are made of straw and were hand-woven in Milan, known for its hat-making at the time, hence the origin for the word “milliner.

David Neel

The shoes were soft-soled and finely woven, more suited to marble ileors than muddy strects.

Unul the industrialization of the 1880s, women — wealthy women, anyways — were considered decorative objects.

Walford also has a pair of stilettos from the late °50s. They made women’s legs look shapely but were killer on the feet. They also revolutionized floor fashions when the dints they left in linoleum forced manufacturers to think up new floor coverings.

Walford scavenges shoes from a variety of sources. He haunts flea markets and auc- tions.

He has a pair of Norma Kamali high-heeled sneakers from the late °70s that he pur- chased for $35 US. They’re identical to a pair that went for auction at Sotheby's last March for $1,900.

Walford has a duplicate pair and, he says jokingly, “if any- body wants them. I'd be happy to ict them go.”

Walford’s lecture is at 2 p.m. today. Tickets are available at the door.

Fine NATIVE JEWELLERY

Wedding and Engagement Rings

48x1 Gop Diamond AND Ruay Rincs

988-9215

Sunday, April 18, 1999 — North Shore News - 15

BILL ingledew is bringing his family’s 84-year- old footwear business into the 21st century.

Footwear family expands empire

BILL Ingledew knows his shoes.

A third generation retailer, he’s worked in footwear since °71.

In that time, Ingledew’s, the 84-year-old family busi- ness begun by his grandfather Wiiliam Wright Ingledew has made a few changes.

There are currently nine stores in B.C., including locations in Kelowna, Burnaby, Richmond and Coquitlam. In March, the retailer launched a mail-order catalogue as well as an online service.

Last month, Ingledew’s also expanded its shoe empire to include two new shops at Park Royal, Clarks of England — a shop within the newly renovated Ingledew’s space — and Rockport, a separate identity, located next door.

Both fines cater to shoppers in search of comfort footwear, a trend that began with New York’s public transportation strike in the early °80s, says Ingledew.

Like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, commuters accessorize their power suits with running shoes for the walk to work.

“Long after the strike was over, they kept up the prac- tice,” says Ingledew.

ankfully, footwear makers like Clarks of England and Rockport, whose parent company is Recbok, now offer stylish yet comfortable alternatives to the sweatsock and sneaker. — Layne Christensen

The EpiTouch™ Alex safely removes unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and structures of. the skin. In less than 20 minutes legs, back and chest can be treated —- faces and bikini lines even faster!

DERMAL LASER CENTRE 200 - 265 25th St., West Vancouver 926-2609

Call for o Complimentary