Celebrity shoes nice fit in exhibition

Deepa Bharath

Salvatore Ferragamo made his first pair of shoes when he was 9 years

old.

The 11th of 14 children born to a poor farmer in Bonito, Italy,

Ferragamo made those shoes for his sisters, who were about to

celebrate their first communion. The family couldn’t afford to buy

the girls new shoes and were faced with the embarrassment of sending

them to church in clogs.

So, young Salvatore borrowed leather from a cobbler and crafted

their footwear with his own little hands. After that, there was no

looking back. Ferragamo started his own store in his parents’ home at

14. He expanded his business to the United States.

It was in California that Ferragamo struck gold. Starting in the

1920s he designed shoes for famous Hollywood actresses, such as

Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren.

Some of those original celebrity shoes handcrafted by Ferragamo

more than half a century ago will be featured at an exhibit titled “A

Love Affair with Shoes” in South Coast Plaza starting on Thursday.

The exhibit will be hosted by Salvatore Ferragamo’s son, Massimo

Ferragamo, who is chairman of Ferragamo U.S.A. The company will put

on the show in partnership with the Orange County Performing Arts

Center.

The exhibit is an opportunity for the company to showcase the work

of its founder, who died in 1960, Massimo Ferragamo said.

“We are very proud of this exhibition,” he said in a written

response. “It showcases my father’s unique creativity and innovation

in shoemaking and celebrates the heritage of the company, which is

rooted in Hollywood.”

Featured in the show will be red rhinestone creations worn by

Marilyn Monroe. Most shoes at the exhibit will reflect the styles of

the Hollywood glamour era, company officials said. Some are avant

garde, way ahead of their time while others are more in line with the

fashions of the time.

This partnership with one of the leading shoe designers in the

world is an exclusive opportunity for the center, said Performing

Arts Center Executive Vice President, Judy Morr.

“It’s special and exciting for all of us,” she said. “The shoes

are works of art. It takes the same amount of creativity as do other

works of art.”

There is also an element of celebrity mystique to the exhibit,

Morr said.

“It would be interesting to see who wore what,” she said.

Salvatore Ferragamo will also donate to the center 10% of the

amount of purchases made in Ferragamo’s South Coast Plaza boutique

through Oct. 10, Morr said.

The exhibit will open at 6:30 p.m. today with a cocktail reception

at South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court at 3333 Bristol St. The shoes will

remain on display until Oct. 10.