When Judy Garland sang “Over The Rainbow” in 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, she could have been referring to a pair of custom-made Salvatore Ferragamo wedges. Ferragamo – then known as the “shoemaker to the stars” – crafted the 8.5cm rainbow-coloured platforms for Garland in 1938, in what would become one of the defining designs of his career. Though Garland did not wear them on screen (she, as the character of Dorothy of course, sported ruby slippers), they were inspired by her famous song.

Made of napa leather and suede, the wedges featured rainbow-like panels of dusty red, mauve, yellow, green and blue, with gold straps and were said to have signalled the return of platforms in the modern era. (Titled “Rainbow”, a reissued version of the design is available here.)