‘Oz’ merchandising tie-in treasures
If Disney’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” continues to be a tornado at the ticket counter (opening weekend saw $80.3 million in domestic ticket sales, making it the most successful 2013 release to date), the inhabitants of the Emerald City aren’t the only ones who stand to see some serious green.
Long before the movie touched down at the multiplex, Disney Consumer Products was in full flying monkey mode, making sure there were merchandising tie-ins that would appeal to every level of fan, from books and dolls for those with Munchkin-sized wallets to high-fashion runway gowns and designer handbags.
Thanks to the Art Deco fantasy backdrop (by production designer Robert Stromberg) and a troika of well-wardrobed witches (by costume designers Gary Jones and Michael Kutsche), it doesn’t take a wizard to see the potential in fashion- and style-related products inspired by the Sam Raimi film. Among the notables:
Maison Dumain by Be&D
Thanks to copyright restrictions involving the original 1939 film, there’s nary a ruby slipper to be seen in Disney’s land of Oz (though sharp-eyed viewers may notice that a particular pair of sparkly silver kicks gets a close-up at one point, perhaps a homage to the silver shoes described in L. Frank Baum’s original book). That means these trompe l’oeil heels — white high-top sneakers emblazoned with a pink glittery high heel silhouette — might be the closest a girl from modern-day Kansas can hope for. (We suspect they’re also a bit more sensible shoe choice for outrunning winged baboons.) They are also available in black with gold glitter. ($128, hsn.com)
Sue Wong
Fashion designer Sue Wong, based in L.A., is no stranger to film-fashion tie-ins (including a 2010 collection with Disney keyed to “Alice in Wonderland”). And her design aesthetic is tailor-made for the femmes fatales of the Emerald City. Among the standouts from Wong’s Oz-inspired collection are a strapless gown with a mesh overlay, hand-beaded in intricate geometric detail, and a white strapless cocktail dress with a blue floral applique design inspired by the patterns and colors of the porcelain-teapot homes and the residents of Oz’s China Town. ($400 to $800-plus at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s)
OPI Nail Lacquers
As a tie-in to “Oz the Great and Powerful,” OPI has created seven film-inspired, limited-edition shades of nail polish, including a gold iridescent confetti color called When Monkeys Fly!, a taupe shade with a textured matte gold sheen (What Wizardy Is This?) and a silver glitter with iridescent confetti (Which Is Witch?). ($9, at nail salons and beauty counters. A complete list of retailers can be found at opi.com.)
Jerome C. Rousseau Collection
Jerome C. Rousseau, who designed the futuristic killer heels for the release of Disney’s “Tron: Legacy,” has returned to work his shoe-design wizardy for “Oz,” creating a glittery peep-toe pump with a curlicue metallic leather embellishment evoking the spiral fans might remember as the very beginning steps of the yellow brick road. ($695 at Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, with a special silver version available exclusively at shoescribe.com)
Raven by Raven Kauffman Couture
Anyone familiar with the aesthetic of Los Angeles-based handbag and accessories designer Raven Kauffman — and her unabashed love of all things feathered — might be forgiven for thinking she had personally styled the witches of Oz, from Rachel Weisz’s Evanora and her plumaged headpiece to Michelle Williams’ Glinda in her feather-embellished gown.
As part of an Oz-themed, multi-designer collection sold through HSN, Kauffman designed a range of handbags and small accessories inspired by the film, including peacock feather tassel clips, a feathered collar, a feather flapper bag, a minaudiere with a shooting star embellishment and a leather clutch with a laser-cut peacock feather design over genuine peacock feathers. ($95 to $595 at hsn.com)
Joe Vilaiwan Collection
No trip to a fantasy world — cinematic or otherwise — would be complete without a bejeweled bauble or two, and while the movie merchandise offerings include a wide range of jewelry from multiple designers, the most befitting for an empress of the Emerald City might be something from the incredibly ornate, opulently bejeweled 52-piece collection by L.A.-based jewelry designer Joe Vilaiwan.
Divided into six inspirations (Bad Witch, Good Witch, Yellow Brick Road, Emerald City, China Doll and Garden), standout pieces include a collar of black freshwater pearl loops and mother-of-pearl leaves; a chunky crystal necklace that cascades into a starburst pattern; and our favorite: a simple but elegant necklace of emerald crystal glass and 14k white gold plated over silver that might have even the wickedest of witches cooing: “Oz, you shouldn’t have!” ($250 to $3,200 at fine jewelry boutiques and museum stores, including the FIDM Museum Shop and Jonathan Club Shop in downtown L.A. and the Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica)
Urban Decay Cosmetics
Urban Decay’s “Oz”-inspired offerings consist of two different cosmetics palettes, each inspired by one of Oz’s resident witches. Glinda is a collection of pinks, peaches and purples. Theodora (Mila Kunis’ naive young witch in the film) is a range of browns, blacks and greens. Each palette includes eight eye shadow shades, an eye pencil and a lip color. ($49 each, available at Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta)
