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Wicked's Slippers: Silver, Not Ruby, Honoring Original Book
22 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Wicked's slippers are silver, not ruby, echoing the original book.
- The 1939 film changed slippers to ruby for Technicolor visual impact.
- Dorothy's ruby slippers from the 1939 film sold for $28 million.
The recent release of "Wicked: For Good" highlights a significant detail about Dorothy's iconic footwear: her slippers were not originally ruby. In L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, the shoes were depicted as silver. The shift to ruby occurred for the 1939 film adaptation, "The Wizard of Oz," as MGM sought to showcase the capabilities of Technicolor.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell, for the "Wicked" movie, drew inspiration from Baum's original concept. He designed the slippers to be silver, incorporating iridescent beads and jewels, paying homage to both the book and Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" novel. In Maguire's story, the shoes transform into red upon Glinda's enchantment, enabling Nessarose to walk.
Beyond the film's creative choices, the history of Dorothy's ruby slippers is also notable. Between six and ten pairs were created for Judy Garland in the 1939 movie. One pair, recovered after a 2005 heist and valued at an estimated $3.5 million, fetched a record-breaking $28 million at auction in December 2024.
