Christian Louboutin
2522643
225654740
2008-07-14T19:24:50Z
Epicadam
6917939
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225654639 by [[Special:Contributions/79.74.47.248|79.74.47.248]] ([[User talk:79.74.47.248|talk]])
{{Advert|date=April 2008}}
{{Primarysources|date=April 2008}}
'''Christian Louboutin''' (born 1963) is a [[France|French]] [[shoe]] [[Fashion designer|designer]].
==Biography==
In 1979, as he was walking alongside the streets of [[Paris, France|Paris]], he noticed a billboard that instructed women [[tourist]]s not to scratch the [[wood]]en floor in front of the [[Museum of Oceanic Art]].
[[Image:Christian Louboutinshoe.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A photo of a Christian Louboutin shoe]]
Louboutin felt bothered by this sign and, as a consequence, he would draw shoes with compressed buckles and with soles. He admits to having spent a lot of time as a [[teenage]]r drawing these types of shoes in his [[school]] [[notebook]]s. These shoes would become the base of Louboutin's sales as a designer.
Louboutin began attending [[party|parties]] and [[dance hall]]s in Paris, offering his shoes to the women. Most rejected his shoes, claiming to have no [[money]].
==Education==
Louboutin then attended designing schools, such as [[Chanel]]'s and [[Yves Saint-Laurent (designer)|Saint Laurent]]'s.
==Stores==
Louboutin later opened a boutique shop in Paris; his store became distinguished not only because of his clientele, but also because he offered free [[coffee]] to shoppers.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Such other sellers as [[United States|American]] company [[Neiman Marcus]] began to sell Louboutin's designs. Louboutin shoes also have a trademark red leather sole, making them more recognizable. He got the idea from one of his employees. During a runway show Louboutin felt the shoe was missing something and saw that one of his employees had red Chanel nail polish on, and instantly, he felt that it would complete the shoe if he painted it on the sole of his shoe. Since then it became the signature of his shoes.
Louboutin, who has been interviewed by fashion reporters such as [[Jacques Brunel]], has seen his celebrity status expand{{Fact|date=April 2008}} to such places like [[Monte Carlo]], and the United States, among others. He includes Princess [[Caroline, Princess of Hanover|Caroline of Monaco]] and [[Catherine Deneuve]] among his friends.
==Celebrities==
Celebrities ranging from [[Angelina Jolie]]<ref name="AZ_Republic_16FEB2008">{{cite web | title=Shoe god inspires sole-searching
| date=Feb. 16, 2008 | publisher=The Arizona Republic (online print edition) | author=Erica Sagon | url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0216louboutin0216.html | accessdate=2008-06-03}}</ref> to [[Mariah Carey]] are also fans of Christian Louboutin shoes and many celebrities are now choosing his shoes as their red carpet accessories. Angelina Jolie has favoured his designs on almost all red carpet appearances. In her new movie 'Wanted' Angelina Jolie dons a pair as the assassin 'fox', these beige round-toed louboutins are from her personal collection. [[Kylie Minogue]] wore Christian Louboutin shoes in her "2 Hearts" video, the distinctive soles are plainly visible when she dances on the piano. [[Britney Spears]] has been spotted wearing Louboutin shoes while clubbing in Los Angeles and at various court dates for her custody battle. [[Christina Aguilera]] is also a fan of Louboutin's creations, often to be seen wearing them to events, and during her recent [[Back To Basics]] tour. [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] wore Christian's black patent leather studded mary-janes in her [[Live Earth]] performance. Japanese pop star [[Ayumi Hamasaki]] is also a fan of the brand, seen wearing platform peep-toe Louboutins in basic colors such as nude and black, as well as rhinestone pumps in a photo shoot for Sweet magazine, also japanese jazz singer [[Shiina Ringo]] was noticed to wear a significant number of Louboutins during the promotion of her band´s cd Variety.
==Stores==
Christian Louboutin currently has four boutiques in the United States; two in [[New York]]; one downtown on [[Horatio Street]], and the other is on [[Madison Avenue]]. The third is in [[Beverly Hills, California]]. The fourth, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christian Louboutin is also leasing {{convert|5900|sqft|m2}} of retail space on [[Newbury Street]] in [[Boston]],{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. There has also been a boutique in London, England for many years.
In Asia, the first Christian Louboutin boutique was opened in October 2007 at On Lan Street in Central, Hong Kong.
==Media==
The Oprah Winfrey show featured Christian Louboutin and a collection of his shoes in a show dedicated to 'the face behind the name', Louboutins were on display around the set, with [[Oprah Winfrey]] describing the shoes as 'pieces of art'.
Christian has recently collaborated with famous photographer [[David Lynch]] and they have created an exhibition featuring rare shoes by Louboutin, they are on show at the Pierre Passebon Gallery. The exhibition is named 'Fetish'.
==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite news |first=Aislinn |last=Simpson |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Christian Louboutin shoes top sexiness poll
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2221378/Christian-Louboutin-shoes-top-sexiness-poll.html |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher= |date= June 30, 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-08 }}
*{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Armstrong |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=How to get dressed: Christian Louboutin, the most wanted shoe brand |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article4241482.ece |work=The Times |publisher= |date=July 5, 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-08 }}
==External links==
*[http://www.christianlouboutin.fr Christian Louboutin Official Site]
*[http://www.christianlouboutin.com Christian Louboutin Official Site]
*[http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/label_france/ENGLISH/DOSSIER/MODE/lou.html france.diplomatie.fr]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Louboutin, Christian}}
[[Category:Shoe designers]]
[[Category:French fashion designers]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[de:Christian Louboutin]]
[[es:Christian Louboutin]]
[[fr:Christian Louboutin]]
[[ka:კრისტიან ლუბუტენი]]
[[ja:クリスチャン・ルブタン]]