Christian Louboutin, luxury shoe designer.
Christian Louboutin has been creating luxury shoes since 1991, and it all started with the court shoe. He has now become one of the most renowned shoe designers in the fashion world. The infamous red-soled shoe will forever be the brands signature, however Louboutin has since gone on to design ballerina pumps, leather derby shoes, and a collection of high-end leather goods.
It all began with the court shoe...
Parisian born Christian Louboutin would spend time at the music hall Folies Bergère from an early age, admiring the dancers on stage and behind the scenes. He first took an interest in shoes when he was young; he saw a poster in a museum forbidding the wearing of stilettos. Ever since then, Christian Louboutin has been fascinated with trying to represent the perfect curve of a shoe. In 1982, the designer-to-be completed an internship with the French shoe designer Charles Jourdan, pioneer of the heeled court shoe worn by “Louis XV”. In 1992, after ten years of freelancing, Christian Louboutin launched the brand that bears his name today. The idea of the scarlet touch, today a trademark of the brand, came from a single event. Christian Louboutin’s assistant was painting her nails in red Chanel, whilst sat next to him. He took the bottle and painted the sole of one of his model’s shoes. And so, the first red-soled court shoes were born, becoming iconic in their own right.
The brand now offers not only shoes, but a range of leather items. From large tote bags to clutches, all designs are lined with red leather, in keeping with soles of Louboutin shoes. Some of the most common models are the Sweet Charity chain bag and the Paloma tote bag, available in multiple sizes.
French elegance and "savoir faire".
During the 1990s, Christian Louboutins became the shoe worn by many fashion designers, including Lanvin, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chloé and Givenchy. Louboutins were on the catwalk at [Yves Saint Laurent]’s last show (/journal/de-ysl-a-saint-laurent/) in 2002. In order to cater to the needs of his consumer, in 2005 Christian Louboutin began to offer made-to-order ateliers. This allows celebrities such as Mika, Dita Von Teese and Arielle Dombasle to enjoy the luxury of leather shoes, designed especially for their feet. In 2009, he participated in the exhibition "Fetish", in collaboration with director David Lynch.
Over the years, the shoe designer has brought out many styles that are very different to his original style, such as the Louboutin Pigalle ballerinas, and women’s Derby shoes. In 2010, he opened his first Paris boutique entirely devoted to menswear, where you can shop Louboutin sneakers and leather moccasins. However, to this day, the high-heeled court shoe remains the brand’s iconic piece. Iconic styles: