Christian Louboutin is a man after every woman's heart. Divia Harilela speaks to the footwear designer about what women want.
Christian Louboutin is a man of extremes. Most of the time he is a free spirit who is happy to roam the world at leisure. But one look at his work, which he says is inspired by Gustave Flaubert and Jean Cocteau, reveals a daring, unorthodox side to the designer. This is to be expected from a man who made his name creating shoes that can be described as chic and trashy in one breath.
'I like contrast, I like extremes, although I am not a really extreme guy,' he says. 'I have a pretty balanced life, but in terms of my interests, I like extremes.'
Anyone who owns a pair of Louboutin shoes will agree his fantastical designs elicit extreme reactions, and many of his fans display a loyalty approaching obsessiveness. Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez revealed in a 2002 interview with fashion bible Harper's Bazaar that she couldn't live without them, favouring his designs over Manolo Blahnik's. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker was so enamoured with them she donned a pair while shooting a GAP advertising campaign, refusing to wear the chain's own designs. Mira Yeh, Catherine Deneuve and countless other high-profile women are often spotted wearing his creations on the red carpet.
Aside from their signature skyscraper heels and slick red soles, the allure of Louboutin's shoes
lies in their design, which some would say borders on experimental art. One pair he made had heels fashioned from beer cans. Another style ended up with two heels after the client couldn't decide