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Christian Louboutin

In 1991, Christian Louboutin opened his first boutique in the Galerie Verot-Dodat, a neoclassic covered arcade in the center of Paris.

A self-taught shoemaker, Louboutin got his start in fashion at the age of 16 as an intern at the Folies Bergère, where he created footwear for the dancers. It was a fundamental experience, establishing Louboutin’s signature aesthetic, blending old-fashioned Hollywood glamour with the sultry camp of cabaret and highbrow art and artistry. And according to Louboutin, his trademark red sole came about early on, when he used an assistant’s nail lacquer to cover the marred sole on a shoe sample.

In the early 2000s, Sarah Jessica Parker and costume designer Patricia Field helped boost the brand’s status in the U.S. on the HBO series “Sex and the City” (recall her now-famous “Hello lover” line). Now, Louboutin’s red-soled heels are one of the most coveted fashion items in the world. His popular Kate and So Kate pumps have been worn by many A-list stars. Cardi B famously rapped about Louboutins in her 2017 hit “Bodak Yellow.” And Taylor Swift wore his custom heels and boots throughout her record-breaking “Eras Tour.”

The Christian Louboutin brand encompasses women’s, men’s and kids’ footwear, as well as bags, accessories, beauty and fragrances.