Toronto: Bata Shoe Museum
You don’t have to be Imelda Marcus or Carrie Bradshaw to love this museum. I defy anyone not to be fascinated by the permanent display of shoes through history supplemented by several special exhibitions. When we were there in April, these included Arctic footwear, the history of men in heels, fashion victims of the 19th century, and footwear of the stars. The last two were my favourites and I was excited to see a signed pair of Roger Federer’s tennis shoes and some shoes worn by Jon Hamm in Mad Men. Sorry, blurry iPhone pics taken through glass.
The museum’s atrium featured an installation by Jim Hake called Pump It Up. The glass shoes catch the light and are inspired by cathedral windows. Beautiful!
This was the last morning we spent in Toronto before flying home – but it’s not the end of my posts. I’ve saved our one venture out of the city till the end: next time – Niagara!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I only have to hear or see the word “shoes” and I’m right there. What an interesting collection they have. I also love the ruby slippers, but the glass shoes are just fabulous. 🙂
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Thanks, they are!
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I missed this entry until now! I love Bata shoe museum and see they have added more which is great. I never thought I would like this museum but it is one of the best.
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One of the best I have seen anywhere too!
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This sounds like a fantastic museum. I like social history and it sounds like you got some here, eh? 😉
Niagara! I was there with my friend when I visited her in Boston. The highlight of my American holiday. Loved it. Can’t wait to see your pics 🙂
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Coming up later today!
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Fascinating!
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Certainly was! Thanks.
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It looks like my kind of museum, nice and quirky. If I go, I’ve have to take my daughter Erika with me. She’s been a mini-Imelda since she was three!
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Ah – she would love it then!
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I love that museum as well.
I also agreed with your comments about the ROM and AGO, they are expensive. I take a yearly membership for myself and a guest, that way I can take my husband or a friend. With the membership I can go when I feel like it and the temporary shows are free. We saw the tattoo exhibit and I know I would have thought twice about paying that entry fee otherwise.
I also agree about the food they serve. Luckily as a member there is a private lounge at the AGO that is lovely. Not sure about the ROM.
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Yes, I thought that would be the way to go – especially now I know about the private lounge!
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That must be a very unique and interesting museum!
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Definitely was! We both loved it.
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What a quirky and different place – love the sound of this museum!
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I know! When I tell people their first reaction is to think it weird but when I describe it they all want to go. There’s actually a lot of social history in shoes.
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Gorgeous glass slippers! Niagara next? I’ll be there in spirit. 🙂
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I know, Cinderella has nothing on those!
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Brilliant! I must admit I thought until I saw your post that Bata was a New Zealand company that just made sneakers (she admits somewhat shamefaced). I love the art installation; clever and beautiful.
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Thanks! Company originally founded in Czechoslovakia in the 1890s, not quite sure when the Canadian connection happened but the museum grew out of a personal collection by a Bata family member.
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I have narrow feet too and could only ever hobble in high heels. My footwear of choice is the low-heeled black leather boot you might see on the Fonz. Historical shoes are fascinating (like historical costume) so I’d be looking for 18th-century French pumps and Ceylonese silk slippers…
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The history gallery had examples of just about everything you might want to see!
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I am not a shoe fanatic, yet this is my favourite museum. I’m glad you saw it.
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I’m not either, but it’s so interesting.
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As a shoeaholic this is my dream museum!
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You would love it!
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The unusual ideas for museums never ceases to amaze me! Yet even the most unlikely topic can prove interesting
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The human imagination is limitless it seems!
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I never would have thought I would enjoy visiting a shoe museum, but you changed my mind. Interesting concept and very entertaining, indeed! 🙂
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Yes, they have been very creative with it.
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I’m not sure I could get my husband to go with me to that one. The glass shoes are gorgeous! What an inspired art installation!
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Oh, John enjoyed it! Though he was a lot more interested in the Arctic section than I was, particularly the parka made out of some sort of intestines. I didn’t bother including that picture….
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I’ve never seen ‘high’ heels like that before!
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Quite unique!
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This looks so fun! I always love the little quirky specialty museums like this. And shoes make a great focus. I love how they were incorporated into the art as well.
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It was fun – and extremely well presented.
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This looks fun! Who would have thought there would be a museum just dedicated to shoes? Looking forward to seeing your posts/pictures from Niagara.
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Apparently they have 12500 items in total!
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You did cover a lot of ground on your trip to Toronto and got to some of the off-the-beaten track attractions. The Shoe Museum is fascinating. We visited a few times when we had visitors and it was always interesting. Even the architecture of the museum is interesting as it is looks like a shoe box…Glad you enjoyed your time in Toronto. (Suzanne)
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Yes, I can see you would get something different out of it every time – you can’t possibly look at all the shoes at once!
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Now that might be a museum for my wife. 😉
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Ah, she is a shoe fan! I find them interesting to look at but, sadly, my feet are such that I can’t wear anything too fancy. A combination of being very narrow and a history of broken bones 😦
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Luckily, she doesn’t have those problems.
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I wish I didn’t!
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Fab. As always. I did not even know such a museum existed in Toronto.
Gx
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It’s a brilliant museum! I’ve never been to anything else quite like it.
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