Maharani Indira Devi Of Cooch Behar Ordered 100 Pairs Of Ferragamo Shoes Adorned With Diamonds

Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch Behar is the perfect example of royalty. Daughter of Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Maharaja of Baroda and his second wife, Chimnabai II, Indira was raised as a princess in the luxurious Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Baroda. From a very young age, Indira was intellectually inclined and actively fought for numerous social causes.

Indira became the first princess to go to school and college. Indira Devi’s social life was quite colourful, and she was a doyenne of European high society. She hosted lavish parties for many dignitaries from around the world. Not only this, Indira was an icon in fashion and was hailed as the best-dressed woman. Do you know she once ordered 100 pairs of shoes? Read on to know more about it.

Indira Devi once ordered 100 pairs of shoes studded with diamonds and other precious stones

Maharani Indira Devi loved everything luxurious. A book by historian Angma Dey Jhala, titled Royal Patronage, Power, and Aesthetics in Princely India, mentions that Maharani Indira Devi was fond of shoes. She was very particular about the brand of shoes she wore and loved the Italian luxury fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo, as it was known for its fine-quality shoes.

She once ordered 100 pairs of Ferragamo shoes, some of which were studded with precious gems. In 1938, the Maharani ordered a custom-made Salvatore Ferragamo footwear piece encrusted with rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. The wedge of the sandal was covered in velvet. Her love for Ferragamo shoes was well-known in Europe, and the custom-made footwear is now displayed at the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence, Italy.

Indira Devi popularised sarees

Regarded as the most beautiful woman, Indira popularised the trend of sarees and would order chiffon sarees woven in 45-inch widths from Paris. In Delhi and Calcutta, shops from which she purchased her sarees were only allowed to make the same pattern for other customers after one year.

Indira Devi went against her parents to get married

Maharani Indira Devi was engaged to the Maharaja of Gwalior, Madho Rao Scindia. However, she called off the engagement owing to the Maharaja’s strict regime. She later fell in love with Prince Jitendra Narayan, the younger brother of the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar. However, his parents were against their alliance as they didn’t consider it an equal match. She was adamant about marrying Jitendra and went against her parents to tie the knot with him in a registrar’s office in London. 

Indira Devi became a widow at a very young age

After Jitendra’s elder brother passed away, he became the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. However, a decade after his union with Indira, Jitendra passed away, leaving behind a young widow and their five children. Despite being a widow, Indira led a life of independence. In an era when widows were often restricted to prayer and a housebound life, Indira lived in England and France, hosting parties.

Her free thoughts and intellect got her a reputation as a strong woman. Her daughter, Maharani Gayatri Devi once talked about her mother and said:

“Mother was quite simply the most beautiful and exciting woman any of us had known. She remains in my memory as an unparalleled combination of wit, warmth and exquisite looks.”

Indira Devi was an activist, social figure and fashion icon. Despite the many difficulties, she is a true inspiration to millions of women.

Also Read: Meet Gaurav Gupta, Fashion Designer Who Transformed Wife's Near-Death Fire Accident Into A Theme

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