No big deal, just an average day at work. You know, made some copies, rehung a bunch of costumes, got to touch a pair of Dorothy's ruby slippers!!!
There were a few pairs of slippers used in The Wizard of Oz designed by Adrian. Most are in museums but Western Costumes (the costume company that actually made the shoes) happens to have a pair. Since I'm working there this summer I got to hold them and get a closer look.
They are super tiny and oh so sparkly. The "rubies" are really large sequins and are arranged in curved rows that accentuate the light reflection. The little red bows are raised by felt and decorated with faux gems and tubular beads. The insides of the shoes are bright yellow leather and have a Western Costume tag with Judy Garland's name on it. Oh, and to top it off they're stored in a blue gingham shoe box!
And yes, I totally geeked out when I saw them. Growing up with the movie I feel like it's an extension of who I am. While so many of my friends are huge Alice in Wonderland fans, I will always prefer Oz. Dorothy could take Alice any day. Nuff said ;)
did you see the shoe patterns too? i had no idea they did them that way, but i guess they sewed all of the sequins in the correct shape and size onto chiffon or organza first, then that is attached to the actual form of the shoe. my favorite was the bows! :)
ReplyDeleteOh HMG! Oh, oh, oh!!! So awesome! I've seen the ones at the Smithsonian, but wow! Cool!
ReplyDeleteThe Museum person inside of me asks, "Miss Greene where are your white gloves?!" You should have seen the uproar on the nerdy Museum listservs when Oprah did that a few years ago. Angry nerds! :)
ReplyDelete@LBW
ReplyDeleteUh, white gloves didn't really go with my outfit at the time....it IS a costume house after all!
You'd be shocked how these old costumes are stored. There's so much that it all is kind of crammed together. And then they let us lowly interns man-handle priceless pieces.
What a treat... !
ReplyDelete!! i want to watch wizard of oz on bluray now!
ReplyDeleteOooh these are the dreamy shoes, I'm searching for them since years !
ReplyDeleteSee U !
ohhhhhhhhhhh the only thing is......... WESTERN COSTUME CO. did not actually make the shoes OR sequins... the ONLY thing they provided for the wizard of oz in 1939 was the jewels for the bows that were sewn onto the shoes.
ReplyDeletethe company that did however actually make the shoes was a company called innes shoe co. every single authentic pair of ruby slippers worn in the movie to this day have a label or golden stamp inside that says innes shoe co.
ReplyDeletemy guess is that these were worn by judy the same year at the rose parade...
ReplyDeleteNot an original pair. Western Costume created these for the 50th Anniversary of the Film. They were a limited edition, created using a shoe last or form from one of Judy Garlands later films.
ReplyDelete