If Cinderella's Glass Slipper Were Designer, This Is What It Would Look Like
Cinderella's glass slipper might be the most famous shoe in history, but it's just a fairy tale. Or at least it was until now. In celebration of the March 13 release of the live-action movie version of the Disney classic, Saks Fifth Avenue commissioned nine of the world's best shoe designers to reimagine the heel for today's woman.
The limited-edition, fit-for-a-princess shoe line — made using crystals provided by Swarovski, who produced not only the film's costumes but also the iconic slipper — will retail globally.
From a timeless Jimmy Choo silhouette to Charlotte Olympia's signature platform to a Ferragamo crystal-covered cage heel, you'd trade in Prince Charming for a pair of pumps this good. Below, a first look at the sketches and photos of some of the actual shoes before the complete footwear collection is unveiled next month.
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The Sketch: Jerome C. Rousseau
"The stroke of midnight is a wonderful element of the Cinderella fairytale — it adds tension and intensity to the story. I was inspired by that when I designed this style for Cinderella and the result is a dramatic midnight-blue glitter sandal on a sky-high heel. The clear strap is reminiscent of the crystal slipper, while the refined gold and silver trims add the right amount of whimsy to the design. I wanted to create something that, if left behind, the prince would feel even more captivated by Cinderella’s allure."
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The Shoe: Jerome C. Rousseau
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The Sketch: René Caovilla
"'Works of art called shoes' to grant wishes and raise emotions. Passion and never-ending research don't draw the line at fantasy and creativity. This is how dreams come true in our fairy tale."
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The Shoe: René Caovilla
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The Sketch: Paul Andrew
"Cinderella's glass slipper represents every woman's dream shoe. The story, being a classic, inspired me to use my iconic pointed-toe silhouette, which I embellished with an array of hand-encrusted Swarovski crystals to create the ultimate fantasy shoe. I used transparent PVC to create a 'glass' effect and ivory suede for luxurious texture and dimension."
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The Shoe: Paul Andrew
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The Sketch: Charlotte Olympia
"I am delighted and honored to design one of the most iconic shoes in history. It was such a pleasure to create my version of Cinderella's glass slipper, which I have aptly named If the Shoe Fits. This transparent platform shoe made with my signature PVC & perspex materials is adorned with star and crystal detailing as befits any princess."
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The Shoe: Charlotte Olympia
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The Sketch: Salvatore Ferragamo
"The magic of a shoe that turns a woman into a princess and gives her the feeling of walking on clouds is a universal dream . . . a modern Cinderella fairy tale of rediscovering a soft sensuality and a powerful femininity. A shoe made of transparency and light: the cage heel, an iconic symbol of Salvatore Ferragamo, is covered with Swarovski crystals and is transformed by sparkling impalpability." — Massimiliano Giornetti, creative director
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The Shoe: Salvatore Ferragamo
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The Sketch: Jimmy Choo
"I think every girl desires a Cinderella moment in their lives. This story ignites a love affair and fascination with shoes that never dies. The power they have to transform is instilled from a young age and the fantasy remains alive forever. I wanted to create a shoe that felt magical, with alluring sparkle and a feminine, timeless silhouette evoking those childhood emotions." — Sandra Choi, creative director
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The Shoe: Jimmy Choo
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The Sketch: Stuart Weitzman
"Cinderella in 2015 has a timeless appeal. The diamond and translucent bootie enhance the vision I have of her."
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The Shoe: Stuart Weitzman
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The Sketch: Alexandre Birman
"My vision of the glass slipper was inspired by the timeless and feminine beauty that I believe Cinderella and the Alexandre Birman brand both share. I reinterpreted our classic Johanna pump, this time giving it a fashionable and romantic twist with satin and Swarovski crystals. It's a shoe I imagine a modern princess would wear."
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The Shoe: Alexandre Birman
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The Sketch: Nicholas Kirkwood
"Cinderella has both delicate and strong qualities as a character. The moment of transformation emphasizes both and gave me the design inspiration to create a piece that spoke to the film's magic."
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