The History Behind Stuart Weitzman’s Million-Dollar Shoes on the Oscars Red Carpet: From Laura Harring’s Diamond Heels to Diablo Cody’s Controversy

Stuart Weitzman‘s contribution to the luxury shoe industry spans over five decades. During the early noughties, the brand became a celebrity favorite and was known for its million-dollar, headline-making creations which were often seen on the Academy Awards red carpet.

It all started in 2002 with actress Laura Harring, who attended the Oscars ceremony wearing a custom pair of heels adorned with 464 diamonds. The dream shoes, as they were called, were evaluated at $1 million. Harring, who was also wearing a $25,000,000 diamond necklace, was accompanied on the red carpet by four bodyguards.

“When worn at the 2002 Academy Awards by Laura Harring, it solidified our leading position with celebrities and brought worldwide recognition to the brand,” Weitzman previously told FN.

The designer released a more affordable version of the shoes worn by Harring ten years later, swapping the diamonds for Swarovski crystals, while the price tag went from $1 million to $595.

In 2004, Weitzman continued his mission to impress on the Oscars red carpet, creating a pair of Cinderella-inspired glass slippers that featured 565 Kwiat diamonds set in platinum. Alison Krauss wore the shoes, which were priced at $2 million.

Krauss was also accompanied by a security guard on the red carpet. She later received a replica of the shoes with crystals instead of diamonds.

Regina King was chosen to follow Krauss as the wearer of Weitzman’s dream shoes in 2005 when she was nominated for her work in “Ray.” The actress’ shoes were adorned with a pair of earrings once owned by Marilyn Monroe.

Later, Christie’s auctioned the heels for $1,000,000 — although Weitzman had replaced Marilyn’s earrings with replicas by then.

Kathleen York was one of the last celebrities to wear a million-dollar Stuart Weitzman shoe on the Oscars red carpet. The singer attended the event in 2006 donning the designer’s Rita Hayworth Heel, which was priced at $3 million. The shoes featured earrings made of diamonds, rubies and sapphires previously worn by Rita Hayworth.

In 2007, “Dreamgirls” actress Anika Noni Rose wore $500.000 diamond slippers created by Stuart Weitzman to the Oscars.

In 2008, the dream shoes caused controversy. Diablo Cody, who was invited to wear Stuart Weitzman pumps evaluated at $1 million on the Oscars red carpet that year, refused to wear the shoes before the ceremony.

“They’re using me to publicize their stupid shoes and nobody asked me,” Cody, who ended up winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “June,” wrote on her MySpace, adding, “I would never consent to a lame publicity stunt at a time when I already want to hide.”

Weitzman told AP back then that he had made the cost of the heels clear to Cody when he met with her and blamed her team for the lack of communication. “I’m just embarrassed that she wrote what she wrote,” he told AP.

2008 also marked a shift in red-carpet dressing in Hollywood. Following the financial crisis, celebrities decided to avoid over-expensive pieces at the Oscars to show respect to people affected by the recession.

In 2009, Weitzman told the New York Post he would stop creating million-dollar shoes for the event.

“There will be no Million Dollar shoe for the Oscars this year. With so many people struggling financially, and unemployment at 10 percent, I don’t think it is appropriate. The actresses still want to go for glamour, but this year it will be more understated,” the designer said.

The 2024 Oscars will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.