The Secret Behind Louboutin Red Sole Shoes
Why all shoes from the iconic footwear label must have their signature red soles. And why women are so obsessed by them
Back when in 1993, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin was rather displeased with the sample of his newest product: the Pensée shoe. Its design inspired by Andy Warhols Flowers was as fun and flirty as the pop legend would have liked it, with a sweet pansy sitting atop the buckle, forcing the extreme silhouette of the high-stiletto Pensée pump to live and laugh a little.
Butsomething still was missing. Louboutin couldnt explain to himself why this beautiful prototype wasnt sparking an instant love affair in his creative mindscape.
At that fateful moment in time, Sarah, a member of Louboutins staff, was sitting nearby, quite out of context, painting her nails with red lacquer.
In spontaneous action the sort that elevates quicksilver talent to marketable genius Louboutin grabbed Sarahs bottle of nail polish and proceeded to paint the sole of the Pensée shoe with red. The impact waswell, we all know what the impact was, because a pair of Louboutins would be unrecognizable today without its signature red soles.
Just imagine the variety of subliminal messages a pair of Louboutin red sole shoes has the power to convey:
Best Christian Louboutin Quotes
A shoe is not only a design, but its a part of your body language, the way you walk. The way youre going to move is quite dictated by your shoes.
You need to believe in yourself and what you do. Be tenacious and genuine.
The higher the better. Its more about an attitude. High heels empower women in a way.
A shoe has so much more to offer than just to walk.
Christian Louboutin and Maye Musk, the mother of Elon Musk, attend The Daily Front Rows 7th Annual Fashion Media Awards at The Rainbow Room on September 05, 2019, in New York City
I would say that a good shoe is exactly like a good wine. These shoes are going to stay and last for a long time.
I wouldnt take it as a compliment if someone looked at one of my shoes and said, Oh, that looks like a comfortable shoe. There is a heel that is too high to walk in, certainly. But who cares? You dont have to walk in high heels.
There is an element of seduction in shoes that doesnt exist for men. A woman can be sexy, charming, witty or shy with her shoes.
Youre abandoning a lot of ideas when youre too into comfort.
When a woman buys shoes, she takes them out of the box and looks at herself in the mirror. But she isnt really looking at her shoes shes looking at herself. If she likes herself, then she likes the shoes.
Cinderella is not only an iconic character when it comes to beauty, grace, and fairytale love, but also shoes.
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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What Designer Shoes Have A Red Bottom
Louboutins or Louboutin shoes are also known to have red soles or red bottoms and this color-based design has become a trademark of Christian Louboutin, the shoe designer. The red soles of Louboutin shoes have become so famous and synonymous with the brand that Christian Louboutin has actually obtained an official trademark for the design in the US.
Christian Louboutin: The Man With The Red Sole
With his iconic red sole, Christian Louboutin revolutionized the art of the high heel forever.
“Frustrated after having tried different things to liven up the design, I spontaneously grabbed my assistant’s red nail polish and painted the sole. I instantly knew that this would be a success!”
Christian Louboutin discovered his love of high heels in 1976, when he visited a museum in his hometown of Paris. Women with stiletto heels were prohibited from entering certain areas of the exhibition so as not to damage the floor. The then-12-year-old Christian Louboutin wanted women to be able to choose exactly what they wanted to wear, and so he began to draw shoe designs.
Louboutin landed his first job at the famous Parisian performance hall Folie Bergère as an assistant to the hall’s show girls. After a few years working there, Louboutin longed for adventure. He began exploring Egypt and India, absorbing all that he saw into his designs. When he returned to Paris in 1981, Louboutin began working as a freelance show designer for for prestigious fashion houses, including Charles Jourdan, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Roger Vivier.
In 1991, Louboutin finally opened his own boutique in Paris with one of his first prominent clients, Princess Caroline of Monaco. Her adoration for Louboutin paved the way for him to build a clientele of the world’s most well-heeled.
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What Is Christian Louboutin Famous For
Red bottoms are a legend within the world of luxury fashion. Every woman set their sights on buying a pair of infamous red bottoms.
Christian Louboutin and a guest attend the The French Dispatch screening during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 12, 2021, in Cannes, France
Christian Louboutins are amongst the most recognizable shoes in the world. Theyve become a status symbol with a celebrity following.
Christian Louboutin shoes have become a part of pop culture, featuring in everything from rap songs to TV shows.
No designer shoe collection is complete without at least one pair of Christian Louboutins.
French-Egyptian fashion designer Christian Louboutin is famous for his shiny, red-lacquered soles
Whether youre loyal to red bottoms or buying your first pair, were rounding up everything you need to know about the brand. Were also sharing the most popular Christian Louboutin shoes of all time.
Make sure to bookmark this guide on Christian Louboutin shoes to help write your dream shoe list.
Christian Louboutin Heels Are Handmade In Italy
Did you know Christian Louboutin heels are made in Italy?
Every pair begins with a sketch. Louboutin likes to conceive summer collections in warm locations, and winter collections in cold ones. Once the sketches are complete, they are sent to the Louboutin factory outside Milan. A team of artisans works many hours to translate Louboutins pen-and-paper fantasies into three dimensions.
Three weeks later, a set of prototypes will arrive at Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseaua sort of Santas workshop he opens for his private clients.
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Are Red Bottoms Copyrighted
Christian Louboutin has claimed victory in a legal battle over its signature red-soled shoes. The European Unions top court backed the fashion brand in a decision on Tuesday, ruling that its use of the iconic red color means that its shoes can be trademarked. Decisions from the high court are rarely overturned.
Christian Louboutin: Red Soles High Heels And A Global Quest For Trademark Rights
On the tree-lined Avenue George V in Paris 8th Arrondissement, mere steps from the Seine and just across the street from where Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his own maison in 1937, Yves Saint Laurents team was in the midst of working on the brands Resort offerings in early April 2011 when a package arrived. The stack of documents was hand-delivered to the fashion house in Paris, as well as to its American headquarters on the heavily foot-trafficked 57th Street, nestled between Louis Vuitton and Chanels midtown outposts, and addressed to Yves Saint Laurent America, Inc. and its Paris-based entity, Yves Saint Laurent SAS.
Fifteen years prior, Christian Louboutin was on the receiving end of a delivery of its own. A carefully packaged prototype of a high heel shoe arrived from Italy to the workshop of the budding Parisian brand. The concept shoe, with its stacked heel and floral applique, was missing something. As the story goes, the designer, Mr. Christian Louboutin, reached for a bottle of red nail polish Thank God, there was this girl painting her nails at the time, he told the New Yorker and with that, the shoes sole went from a dull black to a striking red. Then it popped, and the foundation of a footwear revolution was born.
Inside that package addressed to Yves Saint Laurent was not a shoe it was a complaint. Christian Louboutin was suing the company for more than $1 million.
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Our Favorite Red Sole Shoe For Men
Our pick is the Chopben Mens Running Shoes. Let’s begin by saying that these are just a gorgeous pair of shoes. The red sole goes excellently with the blacktop. These colors decently complement each other. But looks are not the only reason why we chose this one as our top pick. It has tons of features as well.
The upper mesh allows adequate airflow as you walk. This keeps your feet dry as it lets evaporated sweat to pass through. Also, the inflowing cool air keeps the temperature inside your shoes in check. This not only provides comfort but also prevents fungal infections as well.
The outsole is made of flexible rubber that absorbs most of the impact while you jump, run or walk. This decreases fatigue and allows you to walk or run faster and longer. The blade sole design enhances flexibility and provides better support to the foot.
Features
If you are interested to know more about this red sole shoe, .
Why Louboutins Are So Expensive
Production Costs of High-end Shoes Its no surprise that designer clothing items are sold at exclusive rates. Even in the elite fashion industry, Louboutins are known to be on the pricier end of the spectrum. The reason behind the steep expenditure is simple: producing premium merchandise is costly.
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What Are The Heels With Red Soles Called
When French fashion designer Christian Louboutin launched his namesake label in the 1990s, his eye-gripping high heels with red soles became an instant sensation. Many Christian Louboutin shoes are accented with studded straps, feathers, bows, and the signature red soles popularly known as sammy-red bottoms .
When Did Red Bottom Shoes Come Out
Christian Louboutin opened his first store in Paris in 1992 his red-soled shoes, handcrafted in Italy, were soon taken up by Hollywood actresses and Paris fashion establishment. The designer believes that his shoes have the ability to make a woman look sexy, beautiful, to make her legs look as long as can..
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How Do You Store Louboutins
Storing your Christian Louboutins
Dont throw it away! Material damage can easily occur with these shoes, so its important they arent exposed to moisture or direct sunlight. Some people keep them in their original box to ensure they are protected, and you should absolutely make use of those dust bags they came with!
Beyond A Trend: Red Bottoms & Social Proof
Clearly red bottom shoes are a fashion statement, but it turns out there is a scientific reason that they are so popular.
Best-selling author and Wharton School Professor, Jonah Berger, talks about this at length in his book called Contagious: Why Things Catch On. The book does an incredible job explaining what makes things go viral and why certain products or ideas become popular. He dissects the science of social influence and shares something he calls the STEPPS framework. Each letter in the acronym breaks down a social influencer: Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Practical Value, Public, and Stories.
While I wish I had some time go over every element of the framework, lets discuss the one that applies to Christian Louboutin shoes: Public
Jonah Berger describes Public as follows: If something is built to show, its built to grow. The more public something is, the more likely people will imitate it. He says, Design products and initiatives that advertise themselves and create some visible behavioral residue.
He uses the popularity of red bottom shoes as the perfect example to convey Public. Christian Louboutin found a way to make his shoes more visible by adding his signature red color to the soles. This not only makes the shoes look more fashionable, but it makes them more memorable. And as Jonah Berger says, because of this feature, they end up advertising themselves.
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Are Louboutins The Only Shoes With Red Soles
In September 2012, the court finally ruled that Louboutin retains the exclusive right to use the color red on the bottom of its shoes whenever the outer portion of the shoe is any color besides red, while Yves Saint Laurent can continue to sell its shoes with red soles as long as the whole shoe is red.
Louboutin Wins Legal Battle Over Red Soles
Europe’s 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 Louboutin’s red sole.
Christian Louboutin first designed his trademark shoe in 1993, using an assistant’s 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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Why Are Christian Louboutin Shoes Red On The Bottom
What Christian Louboutin is most famous for is his iconic red soles, which first appeared in 1993.
Louboutin came up with the idea after using an assistants red nail polish to paint the soles of a sample to give the shoes extra energy.
Kelly Brook carries an authentic Christian Louboutin shopping bag
The signature red of Christian Louboutin soles has its own Pantone number, 1801663 TPX. Louboutin has taken on everyone from Zara to Yves Saint Laurent for using red soles on their shoes.
Christian Louboutins have been a hallmark in the world of designer shoes since the 1990s. Everyone from the Kardashians to Sarah Jessica Parker and Blake Lively is famous for their Louboutin collections.
Anytime we get a peek into a celebrity closet, they have rows upon rows of Louboutin shoes.
Everyone from Hollywood Royalty to Monegasque Royalty is famous for wearing Louboutin heels.
Christian Louboutin high heel pumps and sneakers displayed in his boutique located at Selfridges Exchange Square Store Manchester
Christian Louboutins most loyal client is the novelist Danielle Steel, who owned over 6,000 pairs of Louboutins in 2010. We can only imagine how many she has now.
The brand has now expanded to include everything from handbags to makeup and fragrances. Louboutin previously said he wanted to avoid his name being widely licensed, although its clear that the fashion house is expanding with various licenses.
Why Are Red Bottom Shoes So Expensive
Red bottom shoes material is not typically the same as that of usual shoes. As fashion is taken into consideration, the cost of these red bottom shoes generally becomes high. There are shoes which cost you a thousand dollars even more because of its quality and versatile design.
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Reasons Why Christian Louboutin Heels Are Worth The Splurge
