Shoes!: A Footwear Fashion Frolic

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Author(s)

Anna Davies

Publisher

Cicada Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

May 05, 2026

ISBN

978-1800660571

Buy This Book

Lace up your boots and take a journey through the rich history of footwear.

Shoes tell stories about their wearers―their identity, wealth, origins, and the image they wish to project. Over the years, these stories and footwear styles have evolved. From André Perugia's surrealist creations of the 1940s to Terry de Havilland's iconic 1970s wedges, and the famous sneaker rivalry between the Dassler brothers that birthed Adidas and Puma, this book showcases the most captivating tales and personalities in shoe design throughout history. With stunning illustrations by award-winning Daisy Wynter, reminiscent of fellow shoe lover Andy Warhol's style, this book is a delightful addition to any fashion or footwear enthusiast's collection.

Editor review

1 review

If the Shoe Fits

March 09, 2026 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

4.0

There are two nonfiction topics I've been anticipating for years: the history of Black hair (which was partially filled by Qualls' Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America) and the history of SHOES. Thanks to Cicada Books, my toes are tapping with this great illustrated history! (Insert video of beginning of the 1984 version of Footloose!)

Not only does this give some ancient types of shoes, but it also discusses the anatomy of shoes and different types of heels. A lot of young readers, who have only ever worn Crocs and tennis shoes, might find it interesting to know the differences between kitten heels, platforms, and stilettos that were ingrained in earlier generations. This also goes through different historical periods starting with the Victorian Era and then taking deeper dives into each decade since the beginning of the 20th century.

Along with descriptions of the different types of shoes that were popular in each era(do love a chukka or Chelsea boot!), there is some historical context; for example, women in the 1900s needed different shoes because they were engaging in new activities, like riding bicycles.

Good Points

There are highlights on a vast array of shoe designers like Andre Perugia, Ferragamo, innovator Claire McCardell, Coco Chanel, and others. It was fun to learn that Birkenstocks had been around since the 1940s, even though they didn't catch on until 1966, when hippie culture embraced them. The 1990s saw the rise of Manolo Blahnik shoes, as well as Uggs and moon boots.

The history of sneakers will appeal to many tweens and teens, who might not realize that this type of shoe has roots in 1876 Plimsolls and 1916 Keds. I still regret not seeking out whatever centenary style Keds came out with for its anniversary! More innovation occurred with 1922 Converse shoes, as well as Adidas, Puma, Nike, Vans, and Reebok brands. Little did I know that when I bought my first pair of running shoes in 1981 that the Reeboks I purchased still included fairly new technology or that my college roommates' Freestyles (complete with the Union Jack on the logo) were iconic. This ends with a brief look at the future of shoes, which could be quite interesting with new technologies!

The illustrations are rendered in pastel colors, which makes them very pretty to look at. In my heart of hearts, I think I just want a photographic catalog of all the shoes of the 20th century, not just the fancy designer ones. What did my grandmother wear around the house and farm? Keds were available but I can't imagine her wearing them. Readers with a more casual interest in shoe history who enjoyed Frisch's The Story of Nike, Keyser's Sneaker Century, or Abdo's Sneakerheads series will appreciate this overview of everyone's underpinnings!