Joseph LaRose: Jacksonville's Legendary Shoe Guru

[undergroundgourmet]

sent private message

[Dog Walker]

My mother was very proud of her shoes from LaRose and her hats by Archie, the ones with the green sequin.

[Cheshire Cat]

Not having those shoes here in Jacksonville is a pure "miss" when it comes to the iconic and fashion forward influence of this well known shoe store.  Thumbs down to MOCA for selling off the shoes gifted them.  I hope someone or group of someones can acquire the remaining shoes and have them installed in a public display. 

[Sandyfeets]

In the early 1980's UNF had a downtown campus in what is now the MOCA building.  I'd park on the street at a meter and walk by LaRose shoes before and after class....whistlfully dreaming of those shoes.  Such art.  Wearable art.

[pgh_mike]

I've always been a shoe freak, I drove my parents crazy as a child with my terribly picky taste in shoes. As an adult I still am. When married my wife had very small feet, Joseph LaRose being one of my favorites also made small sizes. In the time I was married I bought my wife well over 100 pairs of shoes, a significant number Joseph LaRose. Before we divorced 8 years ago she handed me a bag of shoes she wanted to give away. I went through the bag to find 8 pairs of LaRose shoes. I could not force myself to give them away, I still have them today.
  Very sad they sold his collection. Clothing and shoes are art, more visible than commonly accepted forms, overlooked as such by many.  Joseph LaRose was truely one of the great artists of our time.