Museum as shoeseum: What our footwear says about our souls

Boots aren't just made for walking. On the contrary, footwear has captivated hearts and minds worldwide for centuries.

Whether a pair of crystalline embellished slippers, or thigh-high boots with platform heels, shoes show our personalities, moods and social status.

That's the premise behind Shoes: Pleasure and Pain, an exhibition opening last Saturday at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, examining the history and cultural relevance of what we strap to our soles.