NEW YORK – Forget ogling the most beautiful gowns at this year's Oscars. Some lucky actress will hit the red carpet wearing shoes adorned with Rita Hayworth's jewelry.
"This is true Hollywood glamour!" shoe designer Stuart Weitzman said in a statement Monday. "I am taking personal jewels from a screen legend and creating a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes, which will be worn by a movie star of today."
Weitzman said Hayworth's daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, had given him permission to use the jewels.
The Oscar shoes and the actress who will wear them will be unveiled by Weitzman on March 2.
Weitzman has selected two pairs of earrings, one ruby and one diamond, and will choose one pair to coordinate with the color of the actress' gown, Roger Neal of Neal Public Relations, which represents Weitzman, told The Associated Press.
Neal estimated the value of the bejeweled shoes at more than $3 million.
The shoes adorned with a replica of the jewels by Swarovski Crystal will be auctioned March 6, the day after the Oscars, with proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association, Neal said.
Hayworth, the red-haired "Love Goddess" of 1940s films, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She died in 1987 at age 68.
This is the fifth year Weitzman has created opulent shoes for the Oscars.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox