There isn’t a more iconic pair of shoes in American history than Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”
And now, the most iconic shoe designers from around the world are going to show us their spin on the ultimate sparkly pumps.
For the 70th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” Warner Bros. and Swarovski have selected 19 designers to create their interpretations of Dorothy’s slippers to commemorate the event.
A. Testoni, Abaeté, Alberta Ferretti, Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi and Tuleh have all be invited to participate. They will use Crystallized Swarovski Elements in their designs, which will be officially unveiled at Saks Fifth Avenue on Sept. 4.
Then the shoes will be on display during New York Fashion Week before travelling around the country to Art Basel in Miami. An auction of the collection will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
[Image: Everett Collection/Rex Features; Source]
I don’t know if this is of any interest to most people, but I am a genuine Ruby Slipper shoe maker.
With authentic 1930′s shaped pumps, I cover each shoe in strands of dark red sequins, hand sew the jewels to a piece of leather creating the replica of the original bows, and the bottoms are coated red.
Not only do I make the Wicked Witch of the East’s Ruby Slippers, I re create them in Ocean Aqua owned by the unseen Good Witch of the South, and I make them in Emerald Green, owned by the Wizard of Oz himself’s daughter.
If anybody is interested, these are unlike any rip off’s you may have come across that you’ve ever seen before. These are straight out of your Wizard of Oz dreams.
jennadwyer@hotmail.com