Hubert Felbacq, Director of the Fashion and Accessories department at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris, commented

“In April Paris will host two major fashion sales. The first is dedicated to footwear, tracing styles from early designs to modern creations and presenting shoes as collectible objects. From the emergence of heels in the 1830s to jewelled bar shoes of the 1920s, the stiletto of the 1950s, youth-driven styles of the 1960s, platforms of the 1970s, and designer-led trends of the 1990s, each era is reflected. The sale includes rare models, with examples held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The second focuses on Haute Couture & Vintage a Fashion Story, showcasing collections that represent the height of French luxury, with designs highlighting exceptional craftsmanship and offering a rare glimpse into this exclusive world.”

Choose Your Shoes: The Art of Dressing Your Feet highlights include

1910-1930’s:

• A pair of silk and gold metallic leather evening shoes with spool heel, by Hellstern & Sons, circa 1925. Hellstern & Sons was a prestigious Parisian footwear maison founded by Louis Hellstern in 1870, later based at Place Vendôme, renowned for high-quality, extravagant, Art Deco and earlier shoe designs. The shoes are offered with an estimate of €500-700.

• A Pair of Madeleine Vionnet, open-toe evening sandals with gold metallic leather straps and heels, circa 1938. The shoes have exceptional provenance, having originally belonged to Marcelle Chaumont and later passed down to her daughter, Madeleine Chapsal. Chaumont served as head seamstress for Madeleine Vionnet before establishing her own fashion house in the 1930s. Her daughter, Madeleine Chapsal, who became a noted French writer, counted Vionnet as her godmother. The shoes are offered with an estimate of €400-600.

1940’s:

• A pair of anonymous, cognac leather and sheepskin ankle boots, circa 1940. Offered with anestimate of €800-1,000.

• A pair of  Salvatore Ferragamo Invisible Sandals, circa 1947. The design first created in 1947, showcases one of Salvatore Ferragamo's most significant and pioneering designs, crafted from a single nylon thread. Offered with an estimate of €800-1,000.

1950 & 1960’s:

• Two pairs of gold shoes by Christian Dior created by Roger Vivier, circa 1950. Offered with anestimate of €500-700.  

• A pair of André Courrèges, Spring Summer 1966, white leather ankle boots with zip and Velcro fastening. Offered with an estimate of €400-600.   

• A pair of Schiaparelli white leather evening mules with jewelled buttons, circa 1960. Offered with an estimate of €150-200.

    1970’s:

• Three pairs of sandals from the Paco Rabanne by Camilla Unglick, Circus collection, circa 1973. The open toe shoes in leather and orange wood are offered with an estimate of €1,000-1,500. 

• A pair of Jan Jensen wedge sandals, distributed by The Wild Pair, circa 1970. The wicker and silver metallic leather, with openwork platform sandals are offered with an estimate of €600-800.

1980’s:

• A pair of World & Westwood, Buffalo girl model suede pumps, circa 1983, offered with an estimate of €600-800. 

• A pair of Tokio Kumagaï red leather car ballerina flats, circa 1983, offered with an estimate of €600-800. 

1990 & 2000’s:

• A pair of Martin Margiela black leather Tabi boots, circa 2004. The split-toe design was inspired by the 15th century Japanese sock of the same name, offered with an estimate of €1,000-1,200.

• A pair of Vivienne Westwood black patent leather platform heel sandals, circa 1990. Offered with an estimate of €600-800.

The Haute Couture & Vintage a Fashion Story sale highlights include

Elsa Schiaparelli:

• An Elsa Schiaparelli, Haute Couture collection, Autumn Winter 1938, evening jacket in black embroidered wool crepe. The jacket is embellished with mirrored paillettes, is offered with an estimate of €5,000-7,000. 

• An Elsa Schiaparelli, Haute Couture collection, evening jacket in black crepe and embroidery, circa 1944. The jacket, typical of Schiaparelli’s structured silhouette, is offered with an estimate of €4,000-6,000. 

• An Elsa Schiaparelli boutique, paillettes cape 1950 in wool, in the signature colour of ‘shocking pink’, offered with an estimate of €600-800.

Christian Dior: 

• A John Galliano for Christian Dior, long zipped dress in black chiffon with gold playing card applications, Spring Summer 2001. Offered with an estimate of €8,000-12,000.

• A Christian Dior, Haute Couture collection, Fall Winter 1958, black cocktail dress. Offered with an estimate of €5,000-7,000. 

• A Christian Dior, Ready-to-Wear collection, Fall Winter 2005, gold sequin Bar jacket. Offered with an estimate of €4,500-6,500.

Chanel: 

• A Chanel, Haute Couture collection, circa 1975. Cocktail jacket and skirt set in fuchsia silk and gold lurex. Offered with an estimate of €4,500-5,000. 

• A Gabrielle Chanel, Haute Couture collection, Spring Summer 1961, beige tweed suit. Offered with an estimate of €2,000-3,000. 

• A Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Haute Couture collection, Fall Winter 1987, midnight blue chiffon cocktail dress. Offered with an estimate of €2,500-3,000.

Cristóbal Balenciaga:

• A Cristóbal Balenciaga Haute Couture collection, Fall Winter 1951, evening dress in lace and black silk. Offered with an estimate of €5,000-7,000.

• A Cristóbal Balenciaga Haute Couture collection, Spring Summer 1954, short evening dress with asymetrical length in bubbling white silk tulle. Offered with an estimate of €5,000-6,000. 

• A rare Cristóbal Balenciaga Haute Couture collection, Spring Summer 1948, houndstooth wollen cloth suit. Offered with an estimate of €4,000-6,000.

Yves Saint Laurent:

• A Yves Saint Laurent, Haute Couture collection, Spring Summer 1981, long evening dress. Offered with an estimate of €4,000-6,000. 

• An Yves Saint Laurent, Haute Couture collection 1978, long black velvet evening dress. Offered with an estimate of €4,000-6,000.

• An Yves Saint Laurent, Haute Couture collection, cocktail dress, offered with an estimate of €2,000-3,000.