Have you been dreaming of that Cinderella moment since you were a little girl? The one where your Prince Charming scours the land and, against all odds, returns a gorgeous shoe to you before live like royalty forever after? Consider your wish granted ... at least the part with the enviable shoes.
Aligned with the release of the live-action film inspired by the fairy tale, Disney has collaborated with nine luxury shoe designers to reimagine Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper. Talk about great expectations!
“Cinderella’s glass slipper has become a magical symbol of transformation. Each pair of shoes in this exciting global collection captures Cinderella’s elegance and grace through the lens of celebrated designers, making this shoe collection truly fit for a princess,” Jonathan Symington, vice president and general manager, licensing, Disney Entertainment at Disney Consumer Products shared in a press release.
While the 2015 real-life versions won’t actually be made of glass, the lofty list of designers on board are worthy of a modern-day princess. The list includes Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, Stuart Weitzman and more — swoon!
The stunning sketches below give us a glimpse of what to expect — like sky-high heels and diamond, translucent booties — before the shoes become a reality in March and go on display in luxury department store windows across the globe, including Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Beverly Hills.
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.” - Paul Andrew
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.” - Alexandre Birman
René Caovilla
“‘Works of arts 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.” - René Caovilla
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 Jimmy Choo
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 at Salvatore Ferragamo
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.” - Nicholas Kirkwood
Charlotte Olympia
“I am delighted and honoured to be invited by Disney 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.” - Charlotte Olympia
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.” - Jerome C. Rousseau
Stuart Weitzman
"Cinderella in 2015 has a timeless appeal. The diamond and translucent bootie enhance the vision I have of her.” - Stuart Weitzman