The 5 Most Iconic Shoes In Wicked: Unpacking The Symbolism And New Designs In The 2024 Movie

Step into the magical world of Oz, not through a tornado, but through the footwear. As of this current date, December 12, 2025, the conversation around the highly anticipated two-part film adaptation of *Wicked* is dominated by the breathtaking costumes, and no detail is more loaded with plot and symbolism than the shoes. Beyond just being beautiful accessories, the footwear worn by Elphaba, Glinda, and Nessarose serves as a powerful visual language, charting the characters' emotional journeys, political power, and ultimate destinies within the Land of Oz.

From the custom-made heels for Glinda’s iconic "Bubble Dress" to the heavy, dusty boots that define the Wicked Witch of the West, the shoes in *Wicked* are narrative devices. The film’s acclaimed costume designer, Paul Tazewell, has taken the foundation laid by Broadway legend Susan Hilferty and infused it with fresh, intricate details, making the footwear a pivotal focus of the new cinematic universe.

The Definitive Guide to Wicked's Pivotal Footwear

The story of *Wicked* is a prequel to *The Wizard of Oz*, and its most famous piece of footwear—the Ruby Slippers—is central to the plot. However, due to rights issues with the 1939 MGM film, the musical and the original Gregory Maguire novel, *Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West*, use a different, yet equally significant, pair of magical shoes.

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1. Nessarose’s Silver Shoes: A Symbol of Obsession and Maternal Love

The most crucial pair of shoes in the entire story belong to Elphaba's sister, Nessarose Thropp, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the East. These are the famed Silver Shoes—the color used in L. Frank Baum's original 1900 novel, *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*.

• The Rights Issue: The reason they are Silver Shoes and not the iconic Ruby Slippers is simple: the dazzling red color was an invention of the 1939 Technicolor film, and Universal Pictures does not hold the rights to that specific design detail.
• Deep Symbolism: In the novel and the musical, the Silver Shoes are a gift from Nessarose and Elphaba's father, Frex, to Nessarose. For Elphaba, they become an intense symbol of the fatherly love and acceptance she desperately craved but never received, fueling her lifelong obsession with the shoes.
• The 2024 Film's Fresh Detail: Costume Designer Paul Tazewell introduced a powerful new layer of meaning for the upcoming film. He revealed that the Silver Shoes are established as having belonged to Mrs. Thropp (Elphaba and Nessarose’s mother). Tazewell’s design, created with intricate detail, features a crystallized heel that swirls up and wraps around the foot with spiral waves, visually referencing the tornado that brings Dorothy to Oz. This detail beautifully connects the shoes to the destructive force that ultimately leads to Nessarose's demise.

2. Elphaba’s ‘Kick-Ass’ Boots: The Evolution of a Witch's Power

Elphaba’s footwear mirrors her transformation from a shy, misunderstood student into the formidable Wicked Witch of the West. Unlike Glinda’s delicate heels, Elphaba’s shoes are grounded, earthy, and practical, evolving into a symbol of her independence and growing power.

The Journey in Soles:

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In her early days at Shiz University, Elphaba's shoes are modest. As her journey progresses and she embraces her destiny, her footwear becomes more commanding. The film's costume design emphasizes this style evolution.

• The "Kick-Ass" Factor: Paul Tazewell specifically described Elphaba's final footwear as "kick-ass boots". These are dusty black and increasingly tall, a visual metaphor for her rising stature and increasing political power in Oz.
• The Connection to Glinda: Surprisingly, Tazewell noted that the design of the boots subtly references Elphaba's deep connection with Glinda. The dusty black boots, much like the pointed hat she receives, become part of her own "mythology," tying back to the bond with her best friend.
• Practicality Meets Power: The boots are not just a fashion statement; they are essential for Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba, representing her grounded nature and her ability to stand firm against the corruption of the Wizard.

3. Glinda’s Dazzling Heels: From Bubble Dress Pink to Good Witch Glamour

Glinda, played by Ariana Grande in the film, is the epitome of Ozian glamour. Her footwear is, naturally, as sparkling and ethereal as her personality. Her shoes represent her privileged status and her journey from Galinda Upland, the shallow "Popular" girl, to Glinda the Good.

• The Bubble Dress Heels: The most famous pair are the pink heels worn with her iconic "Bubble Dress." These are custom-made satin pink heels featuring intricate crystal embroidery. Historically, the shoes for both Glinda and Elphaba on Broadway were custom-crafted by the Jitterbug Boy company, a tradition that continues with the film's custom creations.
• The Increasing Heel: In a fascinating detail, Paul Tazewell mentioned that the height of Glinda's heels increases throughout the film, a subtle visual cue that mirrors her growing confidence, social stature, and transformation into the powerful Good Witch.
• High-Fashion Collaborations: While the on-screen shoes are custom, the film’s influence has sparked major fashion interest. The British shoe brand Ruby Shoo was noted as a potential source for the vintage-inspired shoes seen on Glinda’s shelves. More notably, the global brand Aldo launched an official *Wicked* footwear collection, offering Glinda- and Elphaba-inspired shoes and accessories to the public, blending high fantasy with modern fashion.

The Enduring Topical Authority of Ozian Footwear

The deep focus on the shoes in *Wicked* is a testament to the power of costume design in storytelling. Both the original Broadway costume designer, Susan Hilferty, and the film’s Paul Tazewell understand that these accessories are not secondary elements; they are essential entities in the narrative.

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The Silver Shoes, the Magic Slippers, are the ultimate MacGuffin, driving the conflict between the sisters and connecting the prequel directly to *The Wizard of Oz*. Elphaba’s dusty black boots symbolize her rejection of Ozian conformity and her embrace of the wild, untamed nature of her power, especially during the emotional climax of "Defying Gravity." Glinda's sparkling heels, on the other hand, represent the dazzling, often superficial, nature of the Emerald City's elite.

The commitment by director Jon M. Chu and Paul Tazewell to imbue every costume, down to the smallest detail of a heel or a spiral design, with profound symbolism ensures that the visual language of Oz remains rich and compelling for a new generation of fans. The shoes in *Wicked* are more than just props—they are the very foundation upon which the epic tale of friendship, power, and destiny is built.