Glitter heels from film go under the hammer for a 'wicked' price

'Wicked' is already one of the most popular films this autumn. The musical film starring superstar Ariana Grande brings a magical twist to the story of The Wizard of Oz from December 4 onwards. While fans eagerly await the premiere, the iconic red glitter heels from the original film are preparing for their own moment: on December 7, they will go under the hammer for a 'wicked' price.

'Wicked' is already one of the most popular films of the fall. The musical film starring none other than superstar Ariana Grande will bring a magical twist to the story of The Wizard of Oz starting December 4. While fans are eagerly awaiting the premiere, the iconic red glitter heels from the original film are getting ready for their own show: on December 7, they will disappear under the hammer for a 'wicked' price.

Dorothy's iconic glitter heels from The Wizard of Oz have a story as magical as the film itself. Designed by MGM's costume genius Gilbert Adrian, they shined in unforgettable scenes, such as the moment when Dorothy clicks her heels together and says: “There's no place like home.”

After filming, the shoes—along with a few others—went into MGM storage, where they sat for decades until 1969, when they were discovered by Kent Warner, an avid collector of Hollywood memorabilia, during a major studio sale. Warner found several pairs and shrewdly distributed them to collectors and museums.

De Stolen Shoes

The pair now up for auction has a checkered history. In the 70s, they came into the hands of Michael Shaw, who proudly displayed them in museums. But in 2005, things went wrong: the shoes were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota. It wasn’t until thirteen years later, in 2018, that they were recovered by the FBI during an undercover operation. This earned them the nickname “Stolen Shoes.” After a thorough comparison with another pair in the Smithsonian Museum, their authenticity was confirmed.

Although there are several pairs, this one has a special status. They shone in scenes such as “We're Off to See the Wizard” and the close-up where the Wicked Witch of the West gets an electric shock when she tries to grab the shoes, making them some of the most recognizable parts of the film.

The shoes will be on display in London until December 5, before traveling to Los Angeles for auction. The current bid is around €960.000, but the final sale is expected to reach around €4.5 million.