It would be pretty safe to say that most all of us have a favorite movie, or perhaps even two. For whatever reason, some movies seem to resonate well and stay with us even long after we have seen them. Sometimes it is the storyline that keeps us enthralled, or it may be our favorite actor playing a character that we can relate with. Other times, however, it is because of an iconic outfit that makes us say to ourselves, “wow, wouldn’t it be cool if I had that?” The majority of the best and most popular movies out there have some of the most iconic outfits and iconic shoes that have remained in our hearts since first appearing on the big screen. Here is a list of the 10 most iconic fictional shoes ever.
10. Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman”
“Pretty Woman” is a 1990 film many have said to be a modern update on Cinderella where an escort and wealthy businessman fall in love. Julia Roberts plays the “other half” of a power couple alongside Richard Gere, creating many memorable onscreen moments that have captured viewers for years. Throughout several scenes in the movie, Julia Roberts is seen wearing knee-high patent black leather boots, boasting a pair of 44 inch long legs and inspiring a widespread fashion trend along the way.
9. Professor Philip Brainard’s Flubber Shoes
In both “The Absent Minded Professor” (1961) and the Disney Remake “Flubber” (1997), Professor Philip Brainard develops a new energy source in order to help keep his college from closing by raising enough money. This new energy source, named flubber, gains momentum as it bounces, eventually becoming unstable. During the movie, Professor Brainard supplies his college basketball team with flubber padded shoes, allowing them to secure the win.
8. Aquarium Platform Shoes
From the satirical movie, “I’m Gonna Git You, Sucka” (1998) came the iconic aquarium pimp platform shoes worn by Flyguy (Antonia Fargas) during one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. He adorns a banana yellow pimp suit complete with zebra trim and, of course, the iconic aquarium platform shoes. Breaking underneath him, these shoes with glass bottoms were so tall that they contained live goldfish inside of them. Thus, sparking the aquarium platform shoes craze.
7. Go-Go Gadget Spring Shoes
Inspector Gadget began as an animated television series which has since grown into a media franchise. Inspector Gadget is well known cyborg police inspector who investigates the criminal schemes of Dr. Claw. Being a cyborg, Inspector Gadget is part man and part machine with thousands of technological high-tech Gadgets installed. Part of his high-tech equipment are his iconic spring shoes that allow him to overcome obstacles and give chase to his suspects.
6. The “Get Smart” Shoe Phone
Released in the United States during the year 1966, the family friendly series known as “Get Smart” gained widespread popularity. Starring Don Adams as Maxwell Smart, agent 86, and Barbara Feldon as agent 99, this show was a parody of other spy shows and movies where Smart’s incompetence always seemed to cause problems. Throughout the series, he relied on the help of agent 99 and his trusty, infallible shoe phone to ultimately complete the mission and save the day.
5. The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
Many of us may be familiar with the popular nursery rhyme and children’s book known as, “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.” Today, several different versions have developed from the original but the story focuses around a woman who lived in a shoe and had lots of children. The different variations all have a slightly different ending or meaning, but the main takeaway is the doting, loving mother who loves all of her children even though they are living inside of a shoe.
4. The Winged Sandals of Hermes
The winged sandals of Hermes have long been popular in mythological folklore. Hermes, son of Zeus, is an ancient Greek god. He is most famously known for being the messenger of the Gods and he is often regarded as the “divine trickster.” Hermes is able to travel freely between worlds with great speed because of his iconic winged sandals. Hermes and his winged sandals have been featured in many different popular movies.
3. Alice in Mary Janes
“Alice in Wonderland” is a popular children’s tale that has since evolved to many different tellings since the first release in 1865, appearing as a novel written by English author Lewis Carroll. Since then, we have seen many different remakes of the “Alice in Wonderland” stories. However, the first movie, making its debut in 1965, shows a cartoon Alice in her iconic blue and white dress with her iconic white stockings and black mary janes shoes. Little did they know that Alice’s iconic look with her white stockings and black mary janes would inspire many other characters for years to come. For instance, Cher from “Clueless” and Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex in the City.”
2. Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers
Making it all the way up the list to the number spot 2 are the ruby red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” Originally a children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow, the first film adaptation hit the big screen in 1939 as an American musical fantasy. Dorothy, one of the main characters, gets swept up in a tornado and lands in a different place, known as Oz. She sets out to try and find the wizard, her only chance of making it home. During the journey she comes across several different friends who help her along the way. By the end, she finds out there is no real wizard but is gifted with her iconic ruby red slippers by Glenda the good witch. The ruby red slippers are what eventually help her, and Toto the dog, get back home.
1. Cinderella and Her Glass Slippers
Landing all the way up on the top spot for the 10 most iconic fictional shoes is Cinderella and her iconic glass slippers. “Cinderella” or “The Little Glass Slipper” began as a folktale about unjust oppression and triumphant reward. It has since grown into the wonderful tale of Cinderella and has been adapted to fit many different versions or tellings of the same story. But, perhaps most iconic of all, Cinderella and her glass slippers have always remained at the heart of the story.
