In celebration of the shoemaker's 52nd birthday, we take a look back at some of the most important lessons we've learned from the man who made red soles hot.
When we mention the words 'red soles', it will, without a doubt, be associated with Christian Louboutin, the man who owns the eponymous shoe label that has transformed the world of high heels.
Yesterday (7th January 2015), Louboutin celebrated his 52nd birthday and we want to pay tribute to the man behind the soles with lessons we have learnt from him through the years.
Thank you and happy birthday Mr Louboutin!
High heels are pleasure with pain
Many who aren't familiar with high heels often think comfort is priority when buying shoes but not with Louboutin. He famously said that it is never a compliment to say that a pair of Louboutins is comfortable. After all, like Louboutin once said, "A heel is not a pair of slippers and never will be."
We learned that with great heights in heels, comes great pain but also great style. This was proven when Victoria Beckham squeezed her feet into a pair of black suede Louboutins, even when she had bunion problems in 2010 and yes, she looked spectacular.
Shoes have so much more to offer than just a walk
When wearing a pair of killer heels, it is not just for the sole purpose of walking. Rather, it is more about the appearance and the personality we want to emulate when parading in those red lacquered soles - be it the Follies, Pigalle or Iriza.
As the man himself said once, "There is an element of seduction in shoes that doesn't exist for men. A woman can be sexy, charming, witty or shy with her shoes."
Shoes transform your body language and attitude
While some might disagree, we feel the same as Louboutin because we find that our posture changes and we walk in bigger strides with our chest and head held high when wearing high heels. They will literally lift you up physically and emotionally. Therefore, we say the higher, the better!
He says, "A shoe is not only a design, but it's a part of your body language, the way you walk. The way you're going to move is quite dictated by your shoes."
The perfect theory of high heels
According to Louboutin, we can all wear towering high heels like Lady Gaga, but there is a certain rules you need to remember. First, the arch of the shoe should never be over 8cm as it affects mobility when wearing the shoes.
Second, you need to be truthful about your shoe size. Like in the fairytale Cinderella, nothing good will ever come when you squeeze your feet into smaller shoes. Louboutin confessed that many women take half a size smaller than their real fit because they are embarassed of their big feet.
But did you know that the most sold size in Christian Louboutin boutiques is size 9? So ladies, let's embrace it!
If you love how you look in those shoes, buy it
It's about how the shoes make you look and feel when you stand in front of the mirror. This is one of the truest lessons we learned from him.
Think back to all those times when you went shoe shopping. You picked a beautiful pair of heels and put them on. You walked to the mirror and you looked at yourself from front, back to side and centre. If you love how you look standing in them, you would buy the shoes.
See what we mean? The design of it is almost secondary compared to the self image projected through wearing the heels. Unless, you are buying it for the sake of aesthetics and use it as a home decor.
(Photos: Christian Louboutin)
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