Among the most recognizable, memorable and desirable footwear in pop culture, the red shoes of Dorothy, aka a very young Judy Garland in the film The Wizard of Oz (1939) directed by Victor Fleming, return to show off their magical powers on the big screen thanks to the film Wicked: Part 1 by Jon M. Chu, inspired by Act I of the musical of the same name. Just as they protected the Kansas heroine by bringing her home with three clicks of the heel, today Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) enchanted shoes give Nessarose (Marissa Bode) the ability to walk and get up from a wheelchair. But with an unexpected twist: goodbye to the iconic ruby red, the heels are tinged with silver.
Initially created by costume designer Adrian in the well-known red satin version studded with 2,300 sequins, with the typical rhinestone-covered bow applied to the upper, it is estimated that between six and eleven pairs were produced for different purposes, from close-ups to dance. Becoming not just a metaphor for the country girl tout courtbut the most important prop in Hollywood history according to some collectors, so much so that a pair will be auctioned off next month with eye-popping sales estimates.
Although the rights to the original design are still owned by MGM (the production company of The Wizard of Oz), for the costume designer of Wicked Paul Tazewell was not at all difficult to find an alternativeeven abandoning the nuance which made them famous in favor of silver. Not a random choice, but a very specific one, as it refers to the original description of the shoes present in the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum.
In fact, in Adrian’s time the studio chose not to be faithful to the text at the suggestion of screenwriter Noel Langley in order to make the most of the potential of Technicolorwhose iridescent, saturated, almost surreal colors were experiencing the boom precisely in those years. And where that vibrant red in contrast with the saffron yellow pebbles of the path definitely made its way into the mise-en-scène and in the fascinated eyes of the public.
“I wanted it to not be just another ruby shoe, but to be specific to the world we were creating,” Tazewell tells WWDfully succeeding in his aim. To do from common thread in his costumes we find spirals and twisters, 3D printed on the shoes in question by Miodrag Guberinichcraftsman avant-garde who recently manufactured the amazing wings for the comeback of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Finally replacing the scarlet sequins with 1,165 hand-set Preciosa crystals.
What can I say, they change shape, they change color, but now as then the magnetic shoes from the Kingdom of Oz win the game challenge clicking the cleats of imagination once again.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
