The Wizard of Oz, Ruby Slippers, The Arabian Test Shoes

replica movie costume

After MGM fired director Richard Thorpe from production of The Wizard of Oz in 1938, costume designer Gilbert Adrian designed a wild pair of ornate shoes as a concept for what might become the Ruby Slippers.  Later to be known as The Arabian Test Shoes, these slippers were only used in a couple of wardrobe test shots for Judy Garland on October 31, 1938.  The Arabian Test Shoes featured thousands of sequins, rhinestones, round, rectangle & shield shape jewels. Custom made base shoes crafted by Western Costume Co. were used by MGM (given the signature yellow pigskin lining and the "W.C.C." stamped on the lining.  The ruby slippers were put into storage after being scrapped for filming and would later be discovered by Kent Warner in 1970.  They went on to be owned by Debbie Reynolds, who sold them at auction in 2011.  

These replicas are exact recreations of The Arabian Test Shoes were created by Eric Decker to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the film.  The custom-built shoes are lined in yellow pigskin and feature "W.C.C." stamped on the lining.  They are hand stitched with thousands of deep blood red translucent sequins, thousands of vintage rhinestones, vintage round cabochons, vintage shield shape sew on rhinestones & rectangle emerald cut jewels.  These are a One of a Kind reproduction.