Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers Are In Big Trouble

WASHINGTON, DC — They are perhaps the most iconic fashion pieces in film history: those ruby red slippers that Dorothy wore in "The Wizard of Oz." And they're in trouble.

The slippers are nearly 80 years old and are really starting to show their age. Now, the Smithsonian — the museum that currently houses them — is asking for the public to help pay to get them restored through a Kickstarter campaign.

It's not exactly a trip to the cobbler that the Smithsonian is talking about. This restoration is expected to cost about $300,000, according to the Kickstarter page. As of late Monday afternoon, a total of $12,783 had been raised from 338 backers with 30 days left to go.

"Now you can join us on this special journey to conserve and display this American icon," said costume designer William Ivey Long in a video posted on the Kickstarter page.

The video notes that millions of visitors each year see the slippers, but all that gawking has come at a price. After 30 years on display, the harsh light it sits under has caused darkening and cracking in the shoes, and it could shorten the shoes' lifespan greatly.

Dawn Wallace, a conservator at the National Museum of American History, said in the video that the museum is "looking at the materials and the construction, finding a way to better preserve and conserve them for the future."

The project would fund an environmentally controlled case that would prevent further deterioration.

Image via Smithsonian