Book Review: "Art & Sole" - Jane Gershon Weitzman | A Timeless Valentine's Day Gift!

Happy Valentine's Day! I was gifted this gorgeous haute book to review and it's the perfect coffee table book and timeless treasure for shoe lovers who not only like to wear beautiful shoes, but enjoy looking at them as well; fashionistas and art aficionados.  

When Stuart Weitzman opened it's first boutique on Madison Avenue, its displays of specially commissioned fantasy art shoes quickly became a destination, drawing crowds from all over the world to its magical windows.  The best of this carefully curated collection is on display in book form for the first time in the unique gift volume, where these imaginative creations are presented in vivid detail.  With its inventive and beautifully crafted footwear in a vast range of materials --- from watercolor paper to playing cards, from fresh flowers to frosting --- this stunning showcase where fashion and fantasy meet will thrill show and art lovers alike.

My personal favorite of course, is called "Sewing Circle" by Robin Roth-Murphy.  Robin uses mixed -media such as metal wrapped in silk and synthetic textured fibers; fabric, torn fabric woven into mesh canvas; new and vintage buttons, zippers, spools of thread, and embroidery needles; paint; wire; jewelry collected from estate sales; and glue.

The line between fashion and art is often crosses and sometimes entangles.  And this beautiful book of "fantasy shoes" is a perfect representation.

The bright and colorful photographs capture the innovative designs of these spectacular non-functional shoe sculptures.

There are 150 fantasy shoes in the book.  I find the creativity of each artist and the use of their imaginations to be breathtaking.  And since this book has a new home on my coffee table, I'm sure it'll be a great conversation piece.

About the author:

Jane Gershon Weitzman, wife of esteemed shoe designer Stuart Weitzman --- was the Executive Vice President of Stuart Weitzman and the first Vice President of Stuart Weitzman Retail.  She spearheaded philanthropy for the company by generating funds to support breast and ovarian cancer research and awareness.  Her efforts were brought to life through innovative charity events on the brand's website, such as the Stuart Weitzman Celebrity Breast Cancer Shoe Auction, and its retail stores.  She serves on the Trust Board of the Boston Children's Hospital. 

Art & Sole ($30.00, Harper Collins) is an amazing book.  And even if you aren't the biggest shoe lover, you can definitely appreciate the art aspect from the perspective of a lady that clearly knows a lot about shoes.