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Why do Louboutins have red soles?

1 Answer
Louboutins have red soles due to the brand's founder, Christian Louboutin. 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.

Louboutin's interest in the color red can be traced back to his youth. Growing up in the Paris neighborhood of the Musée national des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie, 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.

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1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024