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Just the Right Shoe is a collectible figurine line originally produced by Willitt's in 1998 and designed by Raine, now produced by Department 56. Since 1998, Raine has designed hundreds of shoes, releasing new shoes at least twice a year, plus exclusives, artist variations, and special club, holiday and cause-related shoes. In addition, there were matching handbags for some shoes, children's shoes, and a line of miniature chairs, called Take a Seat, also designed by Raine.
First Shoes and Thailand Variations:
The first group release of Just the Right Shoe was released in June, 1998, and consisted of 18 shoes. The original shoes came in blue and black boxes that were tied with silver elastic cording. Some came in purple and cream boxes with gold cording. Most of these shoes were made in China, but a few were made in Thailand.
The Thailand variation was sought-after. At one time, the most valuable shoes were signed original shoes in the blue/black boxs from Thailand.
Exclusives:
Among the most valuable and popular shoes in the JTRS line were the exclusives. Partnering with syndicated catalog companies (Gift Creation Concepts (GCC) and Parade of Gifts), retail corporations (Carlton Cards) and home shopping channels (QVC), there were several limited releases that were hard to obtain, even at the time they were released.
The most valuable of these exclusives was Victoria, a light blue replica of a design from the early 1900s. Victoria was a QVC exclusive that sold on eBay at outrageous prices, sometimes even as high as $2,000. The shoe could be had in pink or ivory under different names (Promenade and Edwardian Grace, respectively) for $18, but it was the light blue shoe sold on QVC that was so valuable.
Likewise, the Blue Tuxedo shoe, a remake of the Tuxedo shoe that sold for $16.50, was a
GCC exclusive that could sell for $400; the Celebration shoe, a green remake of the burgundy version, Pastiche (sold for $13), was made for NALED/Parkwest and sold for over $150; and Pink Frosted Fantasy, a remake of Frosted Fantasy (originally in blue) for POG, that could sell for over $150.
Some shoes were originally released as exclusives (ie: not re-colored for the exclusive). Some of these shoes are Patricia (POG), Victorious (POG), Courageous Rose (POG and Gottschalks).
Some were released to JTRS dealers in limited quantities only. These include special event shoes and special holiday shoes (e.g. Cameo Appearance, the Beverly Feldman Heart Collection, Intrigue, the Lone Star Set, Opulent, and Star Spangled.
Other shoes were released as exclusives and then later brought into the regular collection, as occurred with Denim Blues, which was originally a GCC release, and later a regular line release.
If you see a shoe that's labeled QVC, GCC, POG, GoCollect, Gottschalks, NALED/Parkwest, it's an exclusive and that usually means it's fairly rare.
Signed Shoes:
Although the number of signing events has dwindled, there is still a very active JTRS collectors community, so there are some signing events. The most valuable and sought-after shoes are signed by Raine, often in gold.
Variations, One of a Kinds, and Other Special Shoes:
The most valuable shoe of all time was a Stardust Memories shoe with red, white and blue rhinestones. The original shoe was made with clear or white rhinestones. This shoe was sold on eBay by Willitt's, the manufacturer, to raise money for the New York victims of 9/11 and sold for over $4200.
The second one-of-a-kind shoe sold on eBay by Willitt's was the Carolynn shoe in pink. The original design was a light blue and was designed to honor a special collector who had battled breast cancer. This pink version, sold on eBay to raise money for a breast cancer charity, was purchased by a collector for over $3700 and given to the woman for whom the shoe was named.
Star Spangled is another important shoe- the first dealer exclusive. This shoe was released in 2002.
Also of interest is the Felicity shoe in Blue. Originally created in purple, the Felicity shoe was re-released as a limited edition in blue. Prior to the release of the blue edition, 125 prototypes of the shoe were released to The Limited Edition. There are only 125 of these prototypes in existence.
There were also special event shoes, available only at signings and other special exclusive events. Among these shoes are Karner Blue and Flight of Fancy.
As previously mentioned, the first variation was the China/Thailand variation. Also considered a variation is the shoes that came in the blue/black boxes.
As an indication of other kinds of shoes that can be considered variations, the Victorious shoe was released as a Parade of Gifts (POG) exclusive. This exclusive status was indicated on the label. Several shoes were discovered with a label that did not say POG exclusive, and this was considered a valuable variation.
A special variation is the Flight of Fancy shoe that was available in the UK. Around 700 prototype shoes were released in the UK, then the shoe was released in the US with a different colored stone.
Breast Cancer Shoes:
There are several shoes that were designed to raise money for breast cancer charities. The first was the QVC/FFANY shoe, Calla Lily. Later, this shoe was released without the QVC label but still was a breast cancer charity fundraiser. Later shoes included Courageous Rose (POG exclusive and a Gottschalks exclusive Courageous Rose), Pink Raine Runner, Daffodil Hope, Foxglove, Freesia, Lavish Lilies, Patricia (POG exclusive), Pink Ribbon Miracle, Treasured Tulips, and the aforementioned Victorious.
Club Shoes:
Just the Right Shoe had a collectors club, to whom special shoes and sales were offered twice a year. First, each members kit came with two shoes, then some time during the year, Willitts would offer a "redemption shoe." This would be a shoe only members could purchase. The first of these redemption shoes was "Ribeting," a delightful low-heeled shoe with a rambunctious frog. Later shoes included Christmas ornaments (Let It Snow being the first). There were six redemption shoes in all.
More:
This guide couldn't possibly be complete- there's so much more to say about this collection! This guide should be considered an overview ONLY. There are so many more items to cover and so many other variations and collections. There were musical boxes, jewelry, buttons, hat boxes, pins, a collector's magazine and more. To capture it all in one guide would be a huge task.
The Just the Right Shoe line continues to be released by Department 56 and Raine. Today the shoes are still as beautiful, elegant, graceful, and whimsical as always. Though not as popular as they once were, the Just the Right Shoe line is an excellent example of art finding its way into the mass market as a collectible.
First Shoes and Thailand Variations:
The first group release of Just the Right Shoe was released in June, 1998, and consisted of 18 shoes. The original shoes came in blue and black boxes that were tied with silver elastic cording. Some came in purple and cream boxes with gold cording. Most of these shoes were made in China, but a few were made in Thailand.
The Thailand variation was sought-after. At one time, the most valuable shoes were signed original shoes in the blue/black boxs from Thailand.
Exclusives:
Among the most valuable and popular shoes in the JTRS line were the exclusives. Partnering with syndicated catalog companies (Gift Creation Concepts (GCC) and Parade of Gifts), retail corporations (Carlton Cards) and home shopping channels (QVC), there were several limited releases that were hard to obtain, even at the time they were released.
The most valuable of these exclusives was Victoria, a light blue replica of a design from the early 1900s. Victoria was a QVC exclusive that sold on eBay at outrageous prices, sometimes even as high as $2,000. The shoe could be had in pink or ivory under different names (Promenade and Edwardian Grace, respectively) for $18, but it was the light blue shoe sold on QVC that was so valuable.
Likewise, the Blue Tuxedo shoe, a remake of the Tuxedo shoe that sold for $16.50, was a
GCC exclusive that could sell for $400; the Celebration shoe, a green remake of the burgundy version, Pastiche (sold for $13), was made for NALED/Parkwest and sold for over $150; and Pink Frosted Fantasy, a remake of Frosted Fantasy (originally in blue) for POG, that could sell for over $150.
Some shoes were originally released as exclusives (ie: not re-colored for the exclusive). Some of these shoes are Patricia (POG), Victorious (POG), Courageous Rose (POG and Gottschalks).
Some were released to JTRS dealers in limited quantities only. These include special event shoes and special holiday shoes (e.g. Cameo Appearance, the Beverly Feldman Heart Collection, Intrigue, the Lone Star Set, Opulent, and Star Spangled.
Other shoes were released as exclusives and then later brought into the regular collection, as occurred with Denim Blues, which was originally a GCC release, and later a regular line release.
If you see a shoe that's labeled QVC, GCC, POG, GoCollect, Gottschalks, NALED/Parkwest, it's an exclusive and that usually means it's fairly rare.
Signed Shoes:
Although the number of signing events has dwindled, there is still a very active JTRS collectors community, so there are some signing events. The most valuable and sought-after shoes are signed by Raine, often in gold.
Variations, One of a Kinds, and Other Special Shoes:
The most valuable shoe of all time was a Stardust Memories shoe with red, white and blue rhinestones. The original shoe was made with clear or white rhinestones. This shoe was sold on eBay by Willitt's, the manufacturer, to raise money for the New York victims of 9/11 and sold for over $4200.
The second one-of-a-kind shoe sold on eBay by Willitt's was the Carolynn shoe in pink. The original design was a light blue and was designed to honor a special collector who had battled breast cancer. This pink version, sold on eBay to raise money for a breast cancer charity, was purchased by a collector for over $3700 and given to the woman for whom the shoe was named.
Star Spangled is another important shoe- the first dealer exclusive. This shoe was released in 2002.
Also of interest is the Felicity shoe in Blue. Originally created in purple, the Felicity shoe was re-released as a limited edition in blue. Prior to the release of the blue edition, 125 prototypes of the shoe were released to The Limited Edition. There are only 125 of these prototypes in existence.
There were also special event shoes, available only at signings and other special exclusive events. Among these shoes are Karner Blue and Flight of Fancy.
As previously mentioned, the first variation was the China/Thailand variation. Also considered a variation is the shoes that came in the blue/black boxes.
As an indication of other kinds of shoes that can be considered variations, the Victorious shoe was released as a Parade of Gifts (POG) exclusive. This exclusive status was indicated on the label. Several shoes were discovered with a label that did not say POG exclusive, and this was considered a valuable variation.
A special variation is the Flight of Fancy shoe that was available in the UK. Around 700 prototype shoes were released in the UK, then the shoe was released in the US with a different colored stone.
Breast Cancer Shoes:
There are several shoes that were designed to raise money for breast cancer charities. The first was the QVC/FFANY shoe, Calla Lily. Later, this shoe was released without the QVC label but still was a breast cancer charity fundraiser. Later shoes included Courageous Rose (POG exclusive and a Gottschalks exclusive Courageous Rose), Pink Raine Runner, Daffodil Hope, Foxglove, Freesia, Lavish Lilies, Patricia (POG exclusive), Pink Ribbon Miracle, Treasured Tulips, and the aforementioned Victorious.
Club Shoes:
Just the Right Shoe had a collectors club, to whom special shoes and sales were offered twice a year. First, each members kit came with two shoes, then some time during the year, Willitts would offer a "redemption shoe." This would be a shoe only members could purchase. The first of these redemption shoes was "Ribeting," a delightful low-heeled shoe with a rambunctious frog. Later shoes included Christmas ornaments (Let It Snow being the first). There were six redemption shoes in all.
More:
This guide couldn't possibly be complete- there's so much more to say about this collection! This guide should be considered an overview ONLY. There are so many more items to cover and so many other variations and collections. There were musical boxes, jewelry, buttons, hat boxes, pins, a collector's magazine and more. To capture it all in one guide would be a huge task.
The Just the Right Shoe line continues to be released by Department 56 and Raine. Today the shoes are still as beautiful, elegant, graceful, and whimsical as always. Though not as popular as they once were, the Just the Right Shoe line is an excellent example of art finding its way into the mass market as a collectible.
Guide created: 05/25/08 (updated 09/06/09)
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