Haute HEEL

From the theatricality of dance to Web3, Christian Louboutin is bridging its heritage with the exciting possibilities of the future.

- KELLY KHUA and MAYA MENON

Mention ‘red bottom heels’ to anyone and the moniker for a pair of exquisite Christian Louboutin shoes would be largely understood. Named after the brand’s signature soles, the French luxury house has a tenacious presence in pop culture; spotted on countless celebrities on red carpets and enshrined in hit singles by Ariana Grande, Cardi B and Iggy Azalea.

Unknown to most, however, is that the idea behind the bona fide status symbol came to designer Christian Louboutin unexpectedly. In 1992, Louboutin was contemplating a prototype of a stiletto from one of his sketches. While his assistant polished her nails, Louboutin thought on his feet and grabbed a bottle of nail varnish to paint the underside a luscious red. The result? A recognisable stiletto livened up with shine.

This spontaneous gesture reflects the spirit of Christian Louboutin, where everything evolves through chance and eccentricity. Watching Moulin Rouge as a child sparked Louboutin’s fascination with showgirls, leading to a career-defining apprenticeship at the cabaret Folies Bergères. From there, opportunities to cut his professional teeth with renowned designers came. Eventually, the maison’s first boutique at Galerie Vérot Dodat was born and the rest is history.