The Meaning Of The Red Shoes: A Brief Journey Through History
Louis XIV red heels. At the time, only aristocratic men were allowed to wear red heels.
In the XVII and XVIII centuries, under Louis XIV, only aristocratic men had the right to wear red heels. At the time, red ink came from grinding a red insect imported from Mexico, which made it extremely expensive. This clearly separated the haves and the have-nots. Naturally, red heels went out of fashion with the arrival of the French Revolution.Two hundred years later, Hans Christian Andersen wrote The Red Shoes. This story talked about Karen, a poor girl who, after her mothers death, is adopted by an elderly, blind woman. One day Karen discovers a pair of red shoes peaking from under the dress of a princess and shes overcome by the desire to own a pair. Unable to resist her vanity, she gets her adoptive mother to buy her red shoes. Against the orders of the clergy in her church, Karen wears them for her Confirmation and her Communion eliciting negative feelings in the community.
Red Shoes Hans Christian Andersen story
The magical red shoes of Wizard of Oz
For you, however, its likely that the meaning of the red shoes is closely associated with the Wizard of Oz. In the movie, the magical shoes that help Dorothy return home are red. Its safe to say that every girl who watched Judy Garland click her heels was left with the impression that red shoes are powerful and magical.
Why Are Christian Louboutin Shoes Called Red Bottoms
When someone calls shoes red bottoms they are simply referring to a pair of Christian Louboutin sneakers as they have an iconic red bottom. These iconic shoes are a point of serious media focus ranging from being in famous musicals like Mean Girls on Broadway to getting attention for their unique design and expensive nature.
The Christian Louboutin Shoe Bag
The red Christian Louboutin shoe bag should be high-quality felt with a crisp black logo and the word Paris on the bottom right. In this case, the logo doesnt necessarily have to be centred. Check the type is the correct shape compared to the logo. It will have a black drawstring at the top.
There are two different sizes of red Christian Louboutin shoe bags. The larger size is usually used for mens shoes, while the smaller is for ladies shoes.
Christian Louboutin also has white felt shoe bags. The first white shoe bag has a white silk lining, with red print and red drawstring. They are used for speciality or delicate shoes such as strappy or spiked heels. There is also a white shoe bag without silk lining, with red print and red drawstring. These are used for mens shoes.
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Top 10 Christian Louboutin Shoe Styles
Thanks to its signature and trademarked red lacquered sole, the Christian Louboutin brand is instantly recognisable. A huge industry favourite, Christian Louboutin has made some of the industrys most famous shoes. Here, we take a look through some of the most popular Christian Louboutin shoes, from the classic Pigalle to the new Red Runner trainers
Pigalle
Named after the Pigalle district in Paris, the Christian Louboutin Pigalle heel is one of the brands most famous models. Elegant and timeless, it has become an essential addition to every discerning shoe lovers collection.
Kate
The Kate is one of Christian Louboutins statement shoes. Available in nude and black, it offers a classic silhouette.
Clare
With an 80mm heel, the Clare shoe is a timeless model and a classic Christian Louboutin edition.
Pigalle Follies
Inspired by the women who live in the Pigalle district, the Pigalle Follies is another example of a classic pump from Christian Louboutin. The pointy-toe silhouette is a classic and one that has stood the test of time.
Iriza
A classic model, the Irizas low-cut upper and open sides make it easily identifiable. It is available in 70mm and 100mm heel heights.
Eloise
Those looking for a classic day-to-night heel should look at the Eloise heel from Christian Louboutin. Classic and elegant, it is available in velour and leather.
So Kate
Follies Strass
Jonatina
The transparent PVC Jonatina heel playfully shows off the skin for a minimal profile.
Designer Christian Louboutin Goes To Court To Protect His Precious Red Soles
French fashion designer Christian Louboutin is known worldwide for shoes with an eye-catching, red lacquer sole shoes that typically sell for $500 and up. When a well-heeled celebrity or socialite reveals that quick flash of red from the bottom of her sexy stilettos, its powerful publicity for the respected fashion house. You might remember when Khloé Kardashian recently showed off her baby bump while wearing a pair of Louboutin pumps.
But the latest news involving the fashion designer has far less to do with who is wearing his shoes and more to do with what makes his brand stand out namely, those crimson soles. Louboutin once said, The shiny red color of the soles has no function other than to identify to the public that they are mine. I selected the color because it is engaging, flirtatious, memorable, and the color of passion.
It seems that other fashion retailers are trying to capitalize on Louboutins red signature, which is why he asked the European Court of Justice to stop Dutch chain Van Haren from selling shoes with a similar red sole, arguing that he had trademark protection registered in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for that particular shade of red. But the court in February disagreed, saying a trademark combining color and shape may be refused or declared invalid on the grounds set out under EU trademark law. In other words, the color alone was not enough to protect Louboutin from knockoffs.
Surprise Ruling
Counterfeiting and Profit Loss
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The Evolution Of Shoes
People have been using materials to protect their feet for over 50,000 years. However, one of the earliest types of footwear with a sole was found in California dating back about 9,000 years.
Early shoes were made from leather, wrapped around the foot and secured with lacings. Sandals were also worn by Greeks and Romans. Shoes in the Middle Ages tended to be a simple style of moccasin, later developing with buckles or ties around the ankle.
The addition of shoe sizing and parts of a shoe, such as heels, is thought to have started in England in the 1300s. Styles progressed, with pointed shoes being the norm in the 14th century and then rounded toes in the 15th century. The 16th century saw mens shoes become very wide at the toes.
The materials used were also changing, with leather or cork being used for the soles, and silk, velvet or leather for the uppers. Europe in the 17th century saw the addition of adornments like lace, ribbons, and rosettes. That being said, shoes in the US had a moderate heel and were made of sturdy leather.
The 18th century saw shoes become fancier, using brocades, real gemstones, and silver or gold buckles. Massachusetts was the site of the first shoe factory in 1760, which produced shoes in larger quantities.
With the invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century, shoes could be made quicker and at less expense. Throughout the 20th century, shoes became a part of fashion, with varying styles, colors, and materials.
Not Just About A Red Sole
Reflecting on the case years later, Lewin describes it as one of the most interesting cases in my career because it crossed over from the law and business side to the consumer side. Not only did lawyers follow it, or business leaders and CEOs, but it caught the eye of the consumers. It was all over digital media, as well as the print media and television and radio around the world, whether it was because it was a dispute between two French designers, whether it was because it was a legal dispute, or because it involved high fashion with some salacious content like people calling each other names.
The press was relentless on this case and they followed it closely. Most of the talking heads on television routinely got it wrong, he recalls. So, we had to manage the message from the point of the client because either side could easily have won the legal fight but lost the public opinion fight, and, in doing so, especially from Louboutins point of view, it would have dramatically affected the business. So, we took extraordinary pains to both manage the message as well fight the case in court.
And the element of consumer attention was significant. It meant that the case was about more than just a red shoe sole. It was about consumer perception.
With the high-stakes nature of rights at play, and given that the world was watching closely for almost two years, according to Lewin, we and the case, itself became a game changer.
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The Secret Behind The Red Soles Of Christian Louboutin
How often do you look at the sole of a shoe? Yet, everybody recognises the infamous red soled shoe of a Christian Louboutin pair of heels. Louboutin successfully managed to turn the once-overlooked part of a shoe into a global iconic symbol, making his heels some of the most sought after shoes in the business. Everybody recognises the red sole of a Christian Louboutin heel, yet not many people know how or why the idea came about. Read on to find out the truth behind the Louboutin sole.
The Early Years
Growing up in Paris, one of the most fashion-conscious cities on the planet, Christian Louboutin was always surrounded by glamour and fashion. At only sixteen years old, one of his first jobs was sewing sequins onto costumes at the world famous cabaret, Folies Bergère. However, it was actually a trip to a museum that sparked his love for womens shoes. During the visit, Louboutin was shocked by a sign that was forbidding women from wearing heels, so as not to mark the floor. It was this idea of the forbidden shoe that inspired Louboutin to create the heels today that we know and love. He wanted to create a shoe that inspired and empowered women, which is what makes the fiery red sole all the more appealing.
Christian Louboutin founder of the red sole shoe
The Red Sole
Classic black Christian Louboutin heels with the famous red sole
Red Sole Aftermath
Christian Louboutin ‘Bianca’ high heels
Why Louboutin Shoes Are So Expensive
- Christian Louboutin’s trademark red-bottomed shoes have become iconic. Beyoncé wore a custom pair of boots for her Coachella performance, and Cardi B slipped on a pair of “bloody shoes” for her “Bodak Yellow” music video.
- But why do these heels cost hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars?
- Besides production costs and the use of pricey materials, Louboutins are the ultimate status symbol.
Following is a transcript of the video.
Narrator: What makes these shoes worth almost $800? Christian Louboutin is the mastermind behind these iconic red-bottomed shoes. It’s safe to say his footwear has stepped into the mainstream. Celebrities all over the world wear them.
“You know the ones with the high heels and the red bottoms?”
Song lyrics:“These expensive. / These is red bottoms. / These is bloody shoes.”
Narrator: Louboutin even had the red bottoms trademarked. The signature Louboutin pumps start at $695, the most expensive pair nearly $6,000. So how did this craze start?
Christian Louboutin had the idea for red soles in 1993. An employee was painting her nails red. Louboutin snagged the bottle and painted the soles of a prototype shoe. Just like that, the red soles were born.
So, what makes these shoes worth the cost?
In 2013, when The New York Times asked Louboutin why his shoes were so expensive, he blamed production costs. Louboutin said, “It’s expensive to make shoes in Europe.”
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Are Louis Vuitton And Louboutin Pronounced The Same
It was way after the death of Louis Vuitton that the designer Marc Jacobs introduced the brands first clothing line. Louboutin is pronounced loo-boh-tawn. Again, the company gets its name from its founder Christian Louboutin. The trademark of this iconic luxury footwear company is the lipstick-red soles.
The Most Closely Watched Case In Fashion
Within a matter of days, the media was abuzz. Christian Louboutins legal team had filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in a New York federal court, giving rise to what would swiftly become one of the most infamous footwear lawsuits in fashion history. After all, on the receiving end of that complaint was not a fast fashion retailer or a frequently-sued footwear company like Steve Madden. It was a fellow luxury goods brand, and at the heart of the closely-watched lawsuit was Louboutins trademark-protected red sole and its allegations that by selling $800-plus red high heeled shoes that also bore a red sole, YSL was infringing its coveted federal trademark registration that Louboutin had maintained since January 2008.
After attempting to handle the matter out of court, thereby avoiding litigation, Louboutin filed suit the complaint was signed by Harley Lewin, the renowned intellectual property attorney who heads up the intellectual property group at McCarter & English, one of the oldest and largest law firms in the U.S.
Louboutin stated that it repeatedly sought to have remove the infringing footwear from the marketplace, only to have YSL advise Louboutin that it was going to continue to sell the infringing footwear. After attempting to handle the matter out of court, and thereby avoid litigation, Louboutin filed suit in a New York federal court.
A Christian Louboutin shoe & an Yves Saint Laurent shoe
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Louboutin Wins Legal Battle Over Red Soles
Europes highest court has backed Christian Louboutin in its battle to protect its distinctive red soles.
In 2012, Louboutin sued rival firm Van Haren for selling high heeled shoes with scarlet soles.
Under EU law companies cannot trademark common shapes of products such as the soles of shoes.
Van Haren argued that applying red to a shoe sole came under that law and, as a result, Louboutin did not have trademark protection.
However, the European Court of Justice said that shape trademarks do not apply to Louboutins red sole.
Christian Louboutin first designed his trademark shoe in 1993, using an assistants red nail polish.
The luxury brand said it warmly welcomes the judgement.
For 26 years, the red sole has enabled the public to attribute the origin of the shoe to its creator, Christian Louboutin, the brand said in a statement.
This case will now be referred back to The Hague Court which is expected to confirm the validity of the red sole trademark.
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Internal Parts Of The Shoe
There are also many terms used to describe the components that help to make up or support the structure of the shoe internally. Not all shoes will have all or any of these components, but it is interesting and useful to know which components can be used to help create a shoe.
Collar padding: The soft filling used between the lining and upper of the shoe to add comfort around the ankle during wear.
Filler: Elastic material such as cork or felt is used to fill the hollow between the insole and the midsole during construction. More commonly used on dress shoes of a more traditional construction.
Insole: A layer of material that sits inside the shoe that creates a comfortable layer between the sole and the wearers foot.
Lining: Most shoes include a lining on the inside of the shoe. These linings improve comfort, breathability and can help increase the lifespan of the shoe.
Counter lining: The material used to line and protect the back part of the shoe also known as the Counter. This may be a different material to the material used to line the vamp
Tongue lining: The material used to line the tongue section of a shoe. This may be the same material as the vamp lining.
Vamp Lining: The material used to line and protect the front part of the shoe also known as the vamp. This may be a different material to the material used to line the counter.
Seat: Where the heel of the foot sits in the shoe. It normally matches the shape of the heel for comfort and support.
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Why Do I Need To Know The Parts Of A Shoe Or Sneaker
Knowing how a shoe or sneaker is put together and what the different parts do can help you make an informed decision when buying. We are often tempted by what a shoe looks like rather than how it will function. This is especially the case with sneakers, where you need to consider comfort rather than style.
Similarly People Ask: Why Are Red Shoes Expensive
Signature Louboutin Pumps start at $ 695 and the most expensive pair is nearly $ 6,000. Louboutin came up with the idea of red soles in 1993. He said that shoes are so expensive because it is expensive to make shoes in Europe. The high production costs and craftsmanship add to the high price of the shoes.
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What Is The Bottom Of A Shoe Called
Long story short, it is the SOLE. This part of the shoe is immediately beneath the ball of you foot and the toe region. It then joins the heel over the waist . Together, these two parts are in direct contact with the ground.
The bottom of the shoes is âarguablyâ the most important part of the shoes. There is a reason for that. You see, the bottom of your foot, which is also the sole, is the part of your foot that is in contact with the ground. Therefore, if there are sharp nails waiting, pebbles, rocks and any other hurtful thing, it first gets in contact with the sole of your foot before it gets to any other part of the foot.
Because of their important work of protecting your feet, the soles are made of hardy materials. These are materials such as rubber, synthetic material and even leather. The latter is not very popular today, perhaps because of the cost.
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