Christian Louboutin Grey Suede & Leather Wedges
View Similar Items
Christian Louboutin Grey Suede & Leather Wedges
About the Item
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 41 Italian sizing (EU)
- Place of Origin:Italy
- Period:
- Condition:Excellent: never worn.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: LOUB0031stDibs: LU13122850433
Christian Louboutin
The iconic red-soled shoes by Christian Louboutin (b. 1963) have made it onto almost every red carpet since the French designer opened his first boutique in Paris in 1992. His fantastical heels have gained attention and praise for their provocative heights and arching shapes, leading the designer to be nicknamed the “King of Stilettos.”
Since childhood, Louboutin was artistic; he began sketching shoes at the age of 10 and later studied drawing at the Académie d’Art Roederer. However, it was the regular visits to the Musée national des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, then in the Palais de la Porte Dorée, that inspired his interest in women’s shoes. Growing up in the Paris neighborhood of the museum, he regularly spent weekends there and became fascinated by a sign asking women not to wear heels on account of the antique wooden floors. The severe arch of the heel on the sign and the violent red slash through it inspired him to think about shoes as something that could be dangerous and powerful in their allure. As he has said, “I wanted to create something that broke rules and made women feel confident and empowered.”
Breaking rules came naturally to Louboutin, who dropped out of school at the age of 16 and traveled to Egypt and India. When he returned to Paris in 1981, he had his mind set on shoe design and was hired by French fashion designer Charles Jourdan whose women’s shoe designs had been popular amongst the Paris elite since 1919. Louboutin later worked as a freelancer for such fashion houses as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Roger Vivier.
When he went out on his own and opened his first boutique in the Galerie Véro-Dodat covered passage, Princess Caroline of Monaco became his first famous client. The now-revered red sole emerged with his third collection, when Louboutin noticed an assistant painting her nails bright red. He tried applying the polish to a sole and was enamored with the results. Soon, his glossy, red-bottomed heels were all the rage in the fashion world.
Today, Louboutin sells his wares in department stores and over 50 Louboutin boutiques across the world. Beyond shoes, he has also expanded into accessories, beauty lines and handbags, launching the Passage collection of bags in 2014, inspired by the location of his first boutique. Conceptual pieces like his 2007 “Pumps,” now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have taken his stilettos to the extreme with a ballet-like en pointe silhouette balanced on a spiked heel. Louboutin is a go-to designer for celebrities, including Blake Lively, Mariah Carey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez (who has a song about the famed shoes), among hundreds of others. In February 2020, a retrospective of his career opened in the Palais de la Porte Dorée where it all began.
Find vintage Christian Louboutin shoes, sneakers, handbags and other items on 1stDibs.
- Doucal’s Sequin Turquouise Degrade Slip On (42 EU) MensLocated in Montreal, QuebecCOLOR: Turquouise MATERIAL: Sequin SIZE: Men’s 42 EU / 9 US CONDITION: Good - uppers are in decent condition and the bottoms are scratched up with marks, stains and scuffs. Made in...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Dior Vintage Reptile Skin Black Bucked Pump (EU 36)By Christian DiorLocated in Montreal, QuebecCOLOR: Black MATERIAL: Reptile skin SIZE: 36 EU / 5 US HEEL HEIGHT: 75 mm / 3” COMES WITH: Dust bag and box CONDITION: Excellent - like new. Never used. Made in ItalyCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Christian Dior 2000s Neoprene Lucite Etoile PumpsBy Christian DiorLocated in Scottsdale, AZWe know you're wishing for these Dior pumps! Circa recent 2000s, these pumps are crafted from black neoprene and feature "Dior" at the heel, a pointed toe and a 4" asymmetrical lucite wedge heel with silver...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Missoni Size 36 / 6 Green + Yellow Zig Zag Platforms Peep Toe High Heels ShoesBy MissoniLocated in San Diego, CAAdd a bit of jazz to any outfit in these early 2000s vintage MISSONI peep toe platform high heels ! Features the signature chevron zig zag patterns in kelly green, yellow, white and ...Category
Early 2000s Italian High Heels
$628 Sale Price20% Off - Valentino Suede and Fox BootBy ValentinoLocated in Water Mill, NYValentino Suede, Fox and Silk Ribbon Black 4.5" Heel BootsCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Delman Brown Suede Open-Toe Shoes, c.1950By DelmanLocated in Alford, MASophisticated and elegant late 1940s-early 1950s brown suede pumps featuring an open toe, chunky heel, and large grosgrain bow centering a tortoise ornament. Made by Delman for Bergdorf Goodman. From an estate of European royalty...Category
Mid-20th Century American Shoes