Pleasure and pain

This all changed with the arrival of the 20th century. Fashion Institute of New York curator Valerie Steele once suggested that some men exhibit an almost Pavlovian response to the sight of a woman in high heels. Shoes play an important part in what is culturally considered to be sexy and have long been objects of fetishism. The erotic aspects of footwear can be an empowering expression of sexuality or can identify the wearer as a passive source of pleasure.

The genderisation of high-heeled shoes, especially, exerts a constant fascination on the popular imagination and a particular way of walking – epitomised by the stylish wiggle of Marilyn Monroe, who is intimately associated with this phenomenon. The allure of high heels, it has been argued, is down to the way they force out a woman's breasts and buttocks, and make her hips move from side to side as she walks. 

Learn (and see) more at Pacific Place in Hong Kong as part of the touring Victoria & Albert Museum's Pleasure and Pain exhibition. The collection of more than 140 pairs of shoes invites visitors to gaze at unique creations by the likes of contemporary legends including Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Salvatore Ferragamo. There's also a capsule collection of shoes designed specifically for local celebrity icon Karen Mok on the occasion of her concerts, which have pushed the Hong Kong foot and shoe fetish envelope over the years, as well as those at her wedding, film appearances and luxury events. The Ferragamo HQ in Rome even has one with her name on it. Take the measure of mankind's standing until October 28.