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“The moccasin is the perfect shoe for walking, not only because it adapts itself to the foot, but because it is in perfect harmony with the natural elements and any pair of shoes was always decorated with care and adapted to the identity of the user”.

( B. BERNSTEIN in FIRST AMERICAN ART)

Moccasins are par excellence the shoes created and worn by the populations from the North America, handing down the traditional techniques from generation to generation.

The cultural beauty and richness in the North American continent is indeed represented by these wonderful creations.

In these populations men hunted the animals and obtained the skins that were used by their women as crafts products, clothes and shoes were among them. The decorations of these moccasins represented the artistic expression of these native populations that through that tried to preserve their traditional values protecting their identity.

(Pair of moccasins of Hidatsa origin with needlecraft carried out with hedgehog’s quills).

From the wonderful Indian moccasins, which are the symbol of comfort, crafts and also spiritual and cultural values, around 1939 the “penny loafer” took place, comfortable shoes to be used in the spare time with the famous lips-shaped toe-cap that later on contained a penny coin.

Worn all over the world, by Fred Astaire to the young mods, in the Eighties and Nineties the new designers like reinventing the moccasin with a glamour touch, or as Renzo Rossetti did already in the Seventies, introducing the legendary little bows, which are criticized at the beginning by the fashionists, but very much appreciated later on, until today at the presentation of the BRERA moccasin, name dedicated to the historical Milanese district, since ever place of innovations and cultural and art events.

(Brera Moccasin, autumn/winter 2011 Fratelli Rossetti collection).

Today walking in the streets of the centre and along the corridors of the shopping malls, which is the shop window that does not offer to our absent-minded glance the shape of a moccasin, that could be sportive, colourful, of glamour or created by a designer?

(Colourful and designer Car Shoe)

The native populations of the North America would be proud to see that their masterpiece has become so popular and maybe without all those symbolic and spiritual importance belonging to their identity and civilization.

Cristina Girelli

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Who does not remember the sixties cult image of Brigitte Bardot, the blond hair loosed und ruffled, sitting sideways on a motorbike saddle, biker leather jacket, black mini shorts and a pair of cuissard boots at her feet?

Gorgeous.

But dated, with those boots that now are only good to protect you from the road dust.

Time, to say it with Baudelaire, is an avid gambler.

It has made a spinning turn, has laid other cards.

Rules have changed.

For women’s legs as well.

Mirrors reflecting art and masquerade’s boundless fancies.

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THE UNRIVALLED

There is no doubt, Madonna is the queen of look, the only one who went trough 25 years of music with the awareness that she could choose the item or the colour that would become fashion the day after.

Leather has always been an old friend to her, weather it was black boots or a purple jacket.

MICHAEL JACKSON

Leather has been for the great star the link between many of his performances.

The red biker leather jacket in the video “Beat it” and “Thriller” (the best selling album in music history).

BONO VOX

“I want 40 of them for my next tour”.  On the other side of the phone is Bono Vox who has fallen in love with the leather jackets (accidentally noticed in two shops in London and Los Angeles). In 2005 he ordered the complete collection of a smaller designer from Carpi.

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History of a passion

THE KING

Rock’n’roll bad boy, America’s clean face, a tragically lonesome fallen king.

In all his three incarnations Elvis Presley never abandons his leather jacket, black at the beginning, then white, finally strewn with studs, frills and sequins like a Christmas tree.

An indissoluble link.

THE DEMON

Gene Simmons Kiss’ bass player, rock longest tongue, embodies “the Demon” in the American band circus-shows.

Here the leather is twisted in a parody in between the middle Ages and Star Wars.

The only engine is the cult of excessive performance and mere amusement.

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Black T-shirt, leather bomber and sweatshirt: there she is, Noomi Rapace, in a “Millennium” look… the perfect style to copy if someone stamps your feet!

Cynical with a heart for fashion: Sandra Bullock, in the movie: “The Proposal”, wears tight suits and Louboutin shoes, but when it comes to love, she switches to cardigans and pumps.

Take notice.

But if you’re thinking about reinventing your life  (for example, dumping a husband), don’t hesitate to take your inspiration from Patricia Clarkson in “Whatever works”.

From the little pink suit, so representative of the American provincial mentality to the optical-print scarf and black bohemian suit.

It definitely works in the movie.

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