Evening shoes, c. 1916-1923
Client
FIT Graduate Studies Collection
Goal of treatment
To stabilize the shoes, in order to facilitate future study and possible display
Summary of treatment
Before treatment, the silk-covered uppers of these Louis-heel evening pumps were very deformed and exhibited extensive breakage of the metal-wrapped brocading threads. Due to restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, the shoes were transported from the lab to a home studio, where chamber and directed humidification was performed.
Soft inserts were made to support the shoes from the inside, and laid-and-couched stitching was used to stabilize the (mostly) realigned brocading threads to the surface of the shoes, improving their overall appearance and shape.
Ethafoam was carved to support the breast of each heel: covered with stockinette and mounted to acid-free board, these storage mounts were used during the shoes' transport back to the lab.
