Christian Louboutin, stylish shoes for men, too.
Louboutin may be synonymous with the red-soled stiletto heels coveted by women the world over, but in 2010 the brand introduced a selection of models for men. The men's collection, more recent and not getting as much media attention as the ladies' collection, is just as wide and inventive. While some of the models are extravagant, others are more classic, and Christian Louboutin knows what he is doing when it comes to men's feet.
Shoes for the show and reinvented classics.
With a passion for shoes dating back to his teenage years, Christian Louboutin learnt his trade with Charles Jourdan and Roger Vivier before setting up under his own name in 1991. He opened his first ladies' footwear boutique in the heart of Paris at 19 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau almost immediately, but success did not happen overnight. Luck was on his side when Anna Wintour, the emblematic and influential editor-in-chief of American Vogue, took an interest in his red-soled high-heels. After two articles in the magazine, sales of Louboutin high-heels shot up first on the other side of the pond and then in Europe. Collaborations with a succession of leading brands followed. Christian makes shoes for the Givenchy, Lanvin, Chloé, Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent fashion shows. The foray into men's shoes was not, however, an obvious next step for Louboutin. It was only in 2010, when British singer Mika made a specific request for his "Imaginarium Tour", that the designer started to consider the proposition. The idea of designing shoes for stage performances appealed to Christian Louboutin, and it was with that in mind that he made his first collection of men's shoes.
Extravagance and avant-garde style are ever-present, as can be seen in the high-top Louboutin sneakers adorned with rhinestones or spikes, and the brand's velvet or python skin moccasins. The Louboutin studded trainers have caused a buzz with their confident glam rock style and their casual look. Today, male fashionistas and stars may not be able to get enough of these shiny shoes and studded models - Christian Louboutin's speciality, but you can also find a range of more classic footwear in the men's selection, as with the ladies' footwear collections. The Greggo lace-up model and the Mortimer lace-ups are good examples. These traditional models are better adapted to more formal looks, characterised by the high level of comfort they provide and small areas of novel detailing.
All the models have red soles.
The famous red-soled shoes are not reserved for ladies' feet by any means. Louboutin's collection of men's shoes does not break with tradition, adorned with the same colour of passion that helped the label build up its impeccable reputation. From boots to classic moccasins, leopard-print moccasins, studded trainers and patent lace-ups with a dash of flash, the males of the species are spoilt for choice.
The recipe for Louboutin's shoes for women has, with amazing panache, been applied to the men's collection. Red soles for luxury, quirky details for style and high-quality materials for elegance. Some of the models from Louboutin's men's line worthy of a mention are: