Prince’s Epic Shoes Get an Exhibit of Their Own
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The late rock musician Prince left behind an untouchable legacy when he passed away in 2016. Aside from his many musical hits, the icon’s personal style—both on and off the stage—was also in a league of its own, and his influence on the fashion world is still felt today. Now, a new exhibit from Paisley Park—Prince’s former home and studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, which has since been turned into a museum—is offering a closer look inside Prince’s inimitable wardrobe. Specifically, his otherworldly collection of heels, which were a signature element of his look.
The new exhibit, titled The Beautiful Collection: Prince’s Custom Shoes, will open on July 9 at Paisley Park, and tickets go on sale today. More than 300 pairs of Prince’s shoes will be on display, many custom-made for his performances or music videos (or in collaboration with designers and close friends, such as Donatella Versace). With so much to choose from, one of the biggest challenges for the Paisley Park team was actually narrowing down the assortment. Prince kept everything—including the green sequin boots he wore to perform 1985 American Music Awards, and the hand-illustrated booties he wore while attending the 1987 MTV VMAs. Some had to be revived for the exhibit. “Some of these shoes were in storage for over 30 years,” says Mitch Maguire, Paisley Park’s legacy preservationist and curator of the exhibit. “A lot of work has gone into bringing them back to life.”
Prince used fashion, particularly heels, to challenge the status quo of fashion during his career. At the 1985 AMAs, for instance, he stormed the stage in a frilly white blouse, sequined suit, and the heeled boots to match—an ensemble that was hardly the norm among leather-clad rock stars at the time. “He was always pushing the boundaries of social acceptance, and he really ignited a whole new conversation in terms of how we look at gender roles and fashion,” says Maguire. “Prince used his shoes as an extension of his own artistry. He took something [like heels], which was typically associated with being feminine, and turned it into something really fiercely masculine.”
The assortment is truly impressive in its variety, ranging from heeled booties and pumps to roller skates. Iconic pieces include the cloudy-print boots he famously sported in the “Raspberry Beret” music video. “The clouds on those shoes were hand-painted,” says Maguire. “And, of course, there was a matching suit as well.” Another special pair in the exhibit is a pair of brocade boots that Versace had made for Prince as a gift (it was made by shoemaker Cos Kyriacou, using Versace fabric). “[Versace and Prince] had a relationship that spanned over two decades,” says Maguire. “Not only would Prince perform at her fashion shows, she would also use his music in those shows. He would even send her unreleased music.”
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Surprisingly enough, many of Prince’s shoes over the years were made by the same frequent collaborators, including Kyriacou and a made-to-measure shoe label called Andre No. 1. “These shoe makers understood what Prince wanted, and they were able to turn out the shoes and the quantity that Prince often wanted or needed,” says Maguire. Often, design inspiration would strike Prince organically, and he would take his ideas to these makers. Yes, the looks often began with the shoes. “Prince would often comb through fashion magazines to get inspired,” says Maguire. “Sometimes, he would rip pages out of those magazines, walk it over to the wardrobe department, and say, ‘Hey, I’d be interested in this.’ ”
While Prince’s heeled footwear makes up a big portion of this memorable, theatrical look, Maguire hopes that attendees also learn that the superstar’s approach to fashion and performing was always authentic—and never a gimmick. “At the end of the day, he was just being true to himself,” Maguire says. “He allowed others to have the courage to embrace that authenticity in themselves, and to celebrate what’s different about them. We still see that play out today.”
Below, an exclusive first look at some of Prince’s heels in the exhibit.
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Photo: John Wagner Photography/The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson1/7Custom Versace fabric shoes (1995)
As a gift to Prince, shoemaker Cos Kyriacou worked in collaboration with Donatella Versace to craft these Versace shoes.
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Photo: John Wagner Photography/The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson2/7Free Music shoes (1995)
Prince defended the idea of artist-owned music and music publishing; he disagreed with a system that allowed others to profit off something that was created by someone else. On these heels, a gold metallic sticker makes a statement about this, spelling out the words, “Free Music.”
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