Dorothy’s Kansas farmhouse is swept up in a tornado, eventually touching down in a strange place called Munchkinland. Before Dorothy leaves for her journey to see the Wizard of Oz, whom she is told can help her return home, she changes into a clean dress made from blue and white gingham. She pairs the dress with the silver shoes that formerly belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East, who was crushed by Dorothy’s house.
We typically envision Dorothy’s magic shoes as ruby red, rather than silver. This underscores the influence of the beloved 1939 movie version of The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland. The movie was filmed using the costly Technicolor technique, and it was decided that silver shoes would not show up well on screen. Today, it is difficult to look at a pair of glittering red shoes without recalling Dorothy’s iconic footwear. Even these heel-less shoes acquire a Dorothy-like flair when covered in crimson crystals.
