Prince William kicked off the craze for velvet slippers – Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren fit among the fashion brands with styles in suitably august colours and regal trim
When it comes to footwear for formal dressing, few styles rival the artisanship and versatility of the velvet slipper. A quiet luxury staple, it has a storied history that is now getting a modern update.
Slippers have been around for centuries but first gained popularity in the West during the Victorian era. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, famously commissioned pairs to wear indoors at the couple’s many royal residences. That slipper, an embroidered velvet rendition with roll-bound edges, would later be named the Albert after the prince consort.
Later, in the mid-1900s, Hollywood A-listers, such as American actor Clark Gable, took to wearing velvet slippers outside the home as an alternative to the patent leather loafers traditionally worn at black-tie events. One distinguishing feature that sets the velvet slipper apart though is the practice of personalising them with family crests, the embroidery serving as a subtle form of heraldry.
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In more recent years, a new wave of luxury brands has brought renewed energy to the classic design, incorporating the velvet slipper into their offerings in sleeker silhouettes and unexpected finishes.
William, Prince of Wales, kicked off the current craze back in 2022 when he stepped onto the red carpet for the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in a pair of black velvet slippers embroidered with an F-18 Super Hornet, the fighter jet used in the original 1986 action film. The slippers, which retail for around HK$3,000, were custom-made by Crockett & Jones, a British shoemaker established in 1879 that received a Royal Warrant in 2017. Also a favourite of James Bond actor Daniel Craig, the brand offers similar styles with a fleur-de-lis, a skull and crossbones motif, and a heraldic lion rampant.
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Back in February, Prince William’s embroidered slippers made headlines once again at a gala dinner in support of London’s Air Ambulance Charity. In attendance was Top Gun star Tom Cruise, and upon spotting the actor, the prince dropped the now-famous line: “I haven’t got my Top Gun slippers on!”
It’s not just British royalty that champion the velvet slip-on today. Hollywood’s finest have taken up the style again too. David Oyelowo favours a bold and daring pair embroidered with bright yellow bees, while actor and Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick is a fan of an all-red variety with matching draped tassels. John Legend, meanwhile, has previously been photographed on the red carpet sporting a classic midnight-blue variation.
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As for where to find a pair, there are plenty to choose from. Legendary shoe designer Manolo Blahnik offers the slipper in luxe shades of navy, red and purple – a highlight being the Eaton which comes embellished with a crystal buckle. With its preppy Alonzo Bullion loafer, Ralph Lauren takes its style notes from British royalty, having an “RL” logo embroidered across the top. Gucci, meanwhile, has patterned the entirety of its Jordaan slipper with its “GG” monogram, adding blue leather trim and topping with the Florentine house’s signature horsebit. As for Tom Ford, its Bailey slipper embodies classic evening glamour with a stamped crocodile finish in a dark chocolate hue.
- Vintage Hollywood stars like Clark Gable popularised the quiet luxury staple before it was a thing – today, James Bond actor Daniel Craig is a fan of Crockett & Jones, holder of a Royal Warrant
- Sadly Prince William didn’t have his ‘Top Gun slippers’ on when he ran into Tom Cruise earlier this year – Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick, fellow actor David Oyelowo and singer John Legend are all slipper fans