Christian Louboutin

When Christian Louboutin was a teenager in the 1970s, he would often sneak out of school to view the elaborately costumed showgirls of the Parisian nightclubs. He was fascinated by their ornate costumes and sky-high heels. Louboutin began to sketch shoes, and sketched so much that he dropped out of school to pursue design. In 1981, he landed a job with legendary shoe designer Charles Jourdan, followed by an apprenticeship with Roger Vivier. Here, he learned about the structural importance of a shoe's heel. By 1991, Louboutin was ready to launch his own label, and opened a Parisian shoe boutique under his own name. Louboutin quickly became recognized for his arching stilettos. Still, he felt that there was energy lacking from his shoes. His design breakthrough came in 1992, when he saw an employee applying bright red nail polish. He added the lipstick-red shade to the soles of his shoes, and it has been the designer's signature ever since. Christian Louboutin's shoes are the ultimate in femininity and a status symbol around the world. Louboutin has been known to create a few low-heeled options, but the majority of his styles are sky-high stilettos with the trademark red lacquer sole. Patent leather, suede, satin, snakeskin, and chiffon care all used to construct Louboutin's renowned shoes. A handbag line was also launched in 2003, featuring bright red interiors once the bag has been unzipped. Louboutin's shoes have been a favorite among celebrities from the beginning. Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Blake Lively, and Jennifer Lopez are all devotees of the stilettos, among many others.