The Luxury French Brand Christian Louboutin
Born in 1964 in Paris, France, Christian Louboutin has become one of the most critical French shoe designers in the world whose creations are identifiable by their brilliant red soles were sold in exclusive upscale boutiques in major cities worldwide.
In the early 1980s, Louboutin gained experience through periodic work for the venerable Paris shoe brand Charles Jourdan with the master shoe designer Roger Vivier who became Louboutin’s mentor as Louboutin advanced in his career as a designer for the fashion houses formed by Coco Chanel, Maud Frizon and Yves Saint Lauren. In 1992, Louboutin launched his own business in Paris where he continued to use the boutique and design atelier as his headquarters. Louboutin’s remarkable invention for developing his own signature by giving all his shoes bright red soles, upon spotting his assistant painting her nails with red nail polish, Louboutin got the idea to change the prototype’s black sole to red, reasoning that, “red is more than a color; it is a symbol of love, blood and passion”.
According to the influential industry journal Footwear News, Louboutin’s trademark red soles were a “subtle status symbol” and were far more alluring than the overt branding of the well-known luxury brands. Louboutin maintained a high profile on the international fashion scene in the early 21stcentury, opening a European flagship boutique on London’s Mount Street as well as multiple stores in the most famous worldwide cities such as Las Vegas, New York, Paris, Jakarta, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai – United Arab of Emirates and Beirut – Lebanon.
The opening of an exhibition earlier this year honoring the life and work of shoe designer to the stars, Christian Louboutin, offers a chance to reminisce about the finest moments in the history of the red-soled shoe. From Carrie Bradshaw's many Louboutin moments to Elton John's studded shoes, Victoria Beckham’s custom made shoes made for last year’s Royal Wedding, these distinctively decadent designs have long been a mark of glamour. At the Jonathan Saunders London 2012 autumn/winter collection, you'll notice the models wore specially designed Louboutins to compliment the clothes.
Christian Louboutin, notorious for being the creator of sexy footwear, showcases his newest Spring-Summer collection at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus located inside the Fashion Mall on the Las Vegas strip. The Palazzo Las Vegas Hotel also has a full-fledged Christian Louboutin boutique inside its massive-three-story retail complex, the Shoppes at the Palazzo.
