Have you ever done a post on the different versions of Cinderella’s slippers?
No, but I absolutely should! Here’s a list of notable slipper variations, with my thoughts on each one:
Famous Players' Cinderella, 1914
From the look of it, a white slipper, not a glass one. But it is pretty, however simple in its design.
Betty Boop's Poor Cinderella, 1934
Sleek, elegant, and glittery, with little red and blue sparkles that make it unique among its simple, clear glass counterparts.
Russian film Zoluska, 1947
A little bit kitschy, but pretty, with silver studs for extra sparkle and the unique touch of a white tulle rose on the front.
Disney's animated Cinderella, 1950
The iconic slipper that so many of us grew up with. Sleek and elegant, like this version of Cinderella herself, and with a sculpted glass heart on the front that radiates magic sparkles, only possible in animation.
MGM's The Glass Slipper, 1955 (sorry about the abysmal image quality)
Another simple yet pretty design, decorated with silver bows.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, 1957
Another sleek, elegant shoe, and the design of little flower buds or berries on tiny silver stems at the front is a striking and creative touch.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, 1965
The tiny crystals/diamonds on the font create a feeling of "magic sparkle" similar to what we see in Disney's animation. I'll admit, the design looks a tiny bit tacky and theatrical to me, but the same is true for all the costumes in this production.
Tales from Muppetland: Hey, Cinderella!, 1969
The glitter around the edges looks a little like the salt on a margarita glass, but still, it's a pretty shoe.
Czech TV film Popelka, 1969
Another simple yet pretty design with a bow in the front. The slipper is gold, not glass, because this isn't an adaptation of Perrault's version, although we only know its color from the dialogue because the film is in black and white.
Turkish film Sinderella Külkedisi, 1971
One of the more inventive slipper designs, with its red trim, borders of pearls, and crystals/diamonds on the front. It's a little too busy and kitschy for my taste, but the same is true for most of the costumes in this film, and it's certainly interesting.
Tři oříšky pro Popelku (Three Wishes for Cinderella), 1973
A white slipper, not glass, because this film isn't based on Perrault's version of the tale. Simple yet elegant.
The Slipper and the Rose, 1976
A particularly unique and striking slipper design. Even though they're not entirely made of glass, all the ornate silver filigree and glass beadwork is gorgeous, and the high-arching open heels are an interesting design touch too. Although I must say that although they're beautiful, they look uncomfortable and hard to dance in.
Soyuzmultfilm's animated Zolushka, 1979
Another simple yet pretty slipper design, decorated with large bows. they're also the tiniest of all the slippers: they fit in the palm of a hand! It's remarkable that Cinderella can walk on such tiny feet.
Faerie Tale Theatre: Cinderella, 1985
A delicate, glittering design that's like a cross between The Glass Slipper and Hey, Cinderella!, with borders of silver sparkles and with silver bows on the front.
German TV film Aschenputtel, 1989
The slipper is gold instead of glass because this is an adaptation of the Grimms' version of the tale, not Perrault's. The design is a little bit "old lady-ish" for my taste, but it's shimmering and pretty all the same.
Cinderella Monogatari, 1996
Another simple yet uniquely pretty design. I wonder if the gold decorations on the front are a subtle allusion to the gold slippers from the Grimms' version? These slippers also have a unique origin, as decorative art pieces that belonged to Cinderella's mother, which are enchanted by the Fairy Godmother to be wearable.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, 1997
I've seen this slipper design mocked and called a "glass loafer" in the past, but it works just fine for me. It's simple yet delicate and elegant, and yes, it looks reasonably comfortable too.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story, 1998
Slippers for a "realistic" Cinderella. I like that while they're not entirely made of glass, the heels are glass, and the off-white silk is covered with an intricate pattern of glass beads. The open heels and soft silk make it hard to imagine that many women would have trouble fitting them, but that's okay: this film omits the slipper-fitting and there's more concern about who has the right to wear them than who is able to.
British TV film Cinderella, 2000 (sorry about the bad picture quality)
A pretty and creative new twist: purple slippers made from flower petals, which magically come together on Cinderella's feet. They're also the only slippers on this list without high heels, which must make them especially comfortable.
German TV film Märchenperlen: Aschenputtel, 2010
This is an adaptation of the Grimms' version, so the slippers aren't glass, although instead of gold, they're silver. A simple design, yet elegant and very pretty.
German TV film Sechs auf einen Streich: Aschenputtel, 2011
A red slipper with a gold buckle (again, this is based on the Grimms' version, so no glass). It's less ethereal than if it were glass or gold, but still a beautiful shoe, and fitting for this feisty Cinderella, whose signature color is red.
Into the Woods' Cinderella plot line is based on the Grimms' version, not Perrault's, so the slippers are gold. And because they come from a tree in this version, they're designed to look as if they're made of leaves. A clever choice with a unique woodsy beauty.
Disney's live action Cinderella, 2015
A unique and beautiful design, made of Swarovski crystal, in keeping with the entire film's sumptuous aesthetic. I love the prism effect that makes the slippers shine in all the colors of the rainbow, and the golden butterflies, which match the butterfly decorations on Ella's gown, are a nice touch too.
Sony Pictures & Amazon Studios' Cinderella, 2021
The intricate crystal studs are not only pretty, but fitting for a fashion designer Cinderella, who wouldn't settle for a plain design. And though the shoe's shape is a little bit sharp and pointy, that fits too, because it belongs to the tough-edged "Girlboss Cinderella."
Norwegian film Tre nøtter til Askepott (Three Wishes for Cinderella), 2021
This remake of the Czech classic gives us a more unique slipper than the original: while it's still white instead of glass, it's covered with intricate studs (apparently that was the trend for 2021 Cinderellas) and features a glass flower as an apparent shout-out to Perrault.
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