Prince is undoubtedly revered for his pioneering sound and revolutionary approach to musical production, but the late icon’s legacy encompasses so much more. Prince’s boundary-pushing, gender-fluid image propelled him to stardom and his unapologetic approach to style still influences fashion today.Paisley Park — the musician’s former studio and home in Chanhassen, Minnesota, which now lives on as a museum — will pay respect to the rockstar’s colorful wardrobe with a new exhibition showcasing his collection of one-of-a-kind shoes.Titled The Beautiful Collection: Prince’s Custom Shoes, the upcoming exhibition will display more than 300 pairs of Prince’s shoes — many that were custom-designed for on-stage performances and music videos, and others that were created in partnership with fashion’s top players, including Donatella Versace.Among the silhouettes on show, Prince’s blue ankle boots hand-painted with white clouds harken back to his “Raspberry Beret” music video, while a pair of blue-green heels with gold floral detailing memorialize his performance of “Purple Rain” at the 1985 American Music Awards, where he also took home trophies for Best Soul/R&B Album and Best Pop/Rock Album.Black shoes with gold stripes and “Love Symbol #2” zippers commemorate the moment when he and his then-wife Mayte Garcia met Prince Charles at the “Diamonds Are Forever” charity fashion gala, and a pair of gem-studded white heels celebrate his 2004 Musicology Live 4ever tour, along with hundreds of other distinct footwear memorabilia.“Prince continuously pushed the boundaries of fashion, music, and culture in general,” said Mitch Maguire, Paisley Park Managing Director and The Beautiful Collection Curator, in a statement. “His expansive, incredible shoe collection is just one example of his artistic expression, personality, and lasting impact on fashion. When guests visit this exhibition, they will be immersed in the drama, taste, and complexity of Prince while also revealing some of the collaborators who worked so closely to bring his vision to life.”Aside from the vibrant shoe displays, the exhibition will offer video clips of the late performer and his shoes in action along with various recordings from designers — including Versace, Andre No.1 and Cos Kyriacou — detailing their experiences crafting each shoe to be durable enough to withstand Prince’s high energy stage presence.The Beautiful Collection: Prince’s Custom Shoes will open on July 9 and close on September 6. Tickets are now available to purchase on Paisley Park’s webstore.Last year, Prince’s estate partnered with Warner Bros. to drop an unreleased track by the late artist titled “Cosmic Day.”Click here to view full gallery at HYPEBEAST
