Nine designers will take on the iconic style...
There’s nothing we love more than a new pair of dream shoes, and, as fairytale footwear scenarios go, having our own Cinderella 'if the shoe fits' moment is right up there with a Carrie Bradshaw-style Manolo proposal.
So imagine our joy when we found out that Jimmy Choo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia and more are brining Cinderella’s iconic glass slippers to life, giving them a haute, new season makeover in honour of the new live-action Disney film, released on 27th March.
From crystal embellishments to sculptural Perspex uppers, each designer label has put its own luxurious stamp on the fantasy footwear’s concept. The nine new styles will be available exclusively at Harrods and will be officially unveiled this Friday.
‘I think every girl desires a Cinderella moment in their lives,’ Jimmy Choo creative director Sandra Choi said of the project. ‘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.’
‘Cinderella’s glass slipper has become a magical symbol of transformation,’ added David Lee, footwear director at Disney EMEA. ‘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.’
Which pair would you choose? See what each designer had to say about their interpretation below, and tell us what you think on Twitter @marieclaireuk.
Jimmy Choo: '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.
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.'
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.'
Renee 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.'
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, Salvatore Ferragamo.
Nicolas Kirkwood: 'Cinderella has both delicate and strong qualities as a character. The moment of transformation emphasises both and gave me the design inspiration to create a piece that spoke to the film’s magic.'
Charlotte Olympia: 'This transparent platform shoe made with my signature PVC & perspex materials is adorned with star and crystal detailing as befits any princess.'
Jerome Rousseau: 'The stroke of midnight is a wonderful element of the Cinderella fairy tale, 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.'
Stuart Weitzman: 'Cinderella in 2015 has a timeless appeal. The diamond and translucent bootie enhance the vision I have of her.”'
