Several real-life elements inspired this story:
- Andersen had a half-sister, Karen Marie, whom he apparently disliked because she was born out of wedlock of a liaison his mother had had.
- Andersen's father was a shoemaker. One day, a rich lady sent him some red silk with which to make a pair of dancing slippers for her daughter. He carefully crafted the shoes, adding some red leather to the silk; the customer was dissatisfied and claimed that he had spoiled her silk. Andersen's father's reaction was to tell her "In that case, I may as well spoil my leather too" and to proceed to cut them up in front of her.
- For Andersen's confirmation, his parents bought him a new pair of boots. By his own admission, he enjoyed that everyone at church could see him in them and lifted his cassock to show them off, but conscious of his sin, asked God for forgiveness. He did claim to one informant that this event had not consciously inspired the fairy tale.
