French shoe designer Christian Louboutin is the man most women love and most men envy. He is the name on every fashionista's lips, while his signature red soles parade effortlessly on the feet of every superstar, glamour diva and sex symbol the world over. I've run into Louboutins at a Bollywood wedding in Bombay, in the elevator of a luxury hotel in Dubai, at a charity soiree in NYC and on countless red carpets in between. These days it's impossible to watch a film without noticing his coveted pumps on the lead actress or read a magazine that doesn't sport the celebrity of the moment pairing Louboutin's signature platform styles with jeans or a little black dress. And that's only the beginning...
Later this year, when Warner Bros. releases its sequel to Sex and The City, the infamous NYC ladies won't be flaunting their Manolos we hear. Rather, in keeping with the trends, Carrie Bradshaw and company were spotted around the Big Apple during filming flaunting - you guessed it - Louboutin's crimson soles, a clear statement of the importance of accessories during this economic recession. While luxury brands struggle to maintain their customer base, Louboutin continues to win new shoe addicts each and every day. And the master has achieved all this with hardly a stitch of advertising.
The list of celebrities who will - get this - pay good money for the chance to be photographed in Christian Louboutin's creations keeps growing. Indeed, most starlets and lesser-known rockers are paying full retail for the honour of wearing those infamous crimson soles. Why would it be any other way, when Louboutin has several songs mentioning him - one by Foxy Brown, another by Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West, and even Jay-Z's 'I know' - and has a line dedicated to his creations in Guy Ritchie's film RocknRolla? Oh, and let’s not forget the break-up ballad of the moment, Jennifer Lopez' single titled Louboutins - where she mentions his name 45 times! In this new age of conservative spending, Christian Louboutin shoes rule steadfast as the one must-have women will simply not do without.
My personal connection with Louboutin shoes is quite simple. I have been a shoe model for most of my adult life, since I was fifteen. While growing up within what would appear to be the female Nirvana - surrounded by footwear of all styles and degrees of glamour - I realised early on that what looked good on my foot was always accompanied by blisters, cramps and pain. Then one day, magically, I stepped into a pair of Christian Louboutin high-heeled pumps. I took a couple of steps to the closest mirror and was astounded by the beauty that was reflected back at me and luxuriated in the stable and relaxed fit I was experiencing on my feet. Could 120mm high stilettos really feel so fabulously comfortable? I knew then and there that I had discovered the secret to life. OK, maybe not life but beauty for sure! Needless to say, I have never gone back and prefer to save money on countless other things than give up my Louboutin addiction.
Monsieur Louboutin's own mantra is "I don't believe that one has to suffer to be beautiful. If you suffer in your shoes, it shows on your face and I don't see why a woman should be in pain." He continues "Roger Vivier taught me the most important part of a shoe is the body and the heel. Like good bone structure, if you get that right, the rest is makeup." From studying the master, I’ve learnt to walk around shops, choose the shoes I want and align them on the shelves to check their 'pitch'. If a shoe leans or wobbles, it's not a keeper. Needless to say, that rule doesn't leave room for most other designers... Try it, you'll end up going home with a pair of Louboutins.
While clothing turns increasingly dark and drab to satisfy the average customer's demands for 'basics', the Louboutin woman can look forward to silver snakeskin and big bold fuchsia flowers on her shoes for Spring 2010. Of course, it may be sensible to purchase pieces that will take you easily into the next season, but we Louboutin girls are never sensible. We prefer instead to wow with sultriness and mysterious allure.
