Christian Louboutin Suede Mary Jane Platform Cork Wedge
View Similar Items
Christian Louboutin Suede Mary Jane Platform Cork Wedge
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (EU)
- Place of Origin:Italy
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5881185212
Christian Louboutin
The iconic red-soled shoes by Christian Louboutin (b. 1963) have made it onto almost every red carpet since the French designer opened his first boutique in Paris in 1992. His fantastical heels have gained attention and praise for their provocative heights and arching shapes, leading the designer to be nicknamed the “King of Stilettos.”
Since childhood, Louboutin was artistic; he began sketching shoes at the age of 10 and later studied drawing at the Académie d’Art Roederer. However, it was the regular visits to the Musée national des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, then in the Palais de la Porte Dorée, that inspired his interest in women’s shoes. Growing up in the Paris neighborhood of the museum, 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. As he has said, “I wanted to create something that broke rules and made women feel confident and empowered.”
Breaking rules came naturally to Louboutin, who dropped out of school at the age of 16 and traveled to Egypt and India. When he returned to Paris in 1981, he had his mind set on shoe design and was hired by French fashion designer Charles Jourdan whose women’s shoe designs had been popular amongst the Paris elite since 1919. Louboutin later worked as a freelancer for such fashion houses as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Roger Vivier.
When he went out on his own and opened his first boutique in the Galerie Véro-Dodat covered passage, Princess Caroline of Monaco became his first famous client. 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.
Today, Louboutin sells his wares in department stores and over 50 Louboutin boutiques across the world. Beyond shoes, he has also expanded into accessories, beauty lines and handbags, launching the Passage collection of bags in 2014, inspired by the location of his first boutique. Conceptual pieces like his 2007 “Pumps,” now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, have taken his stilettos to the extreme with a ballet-like en pointe silhouette balanced on a spiked heel. Louboutin is a go-to designer for celebrities, including Blake Lively, Mariah Carey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez (who has a song about the famed shoes), among hundreds of others. In February 2020, a retrospective of his career opened in the Palais de la Porte Dorée where it all began.
Find vintage Christian Louboutin shoes, sneakers, handbags and other items on 1stDibs.
- Miu Miu Shoe High Heel Sandal Bold Turquoise Stones 37 / 7By Miu MiuLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Miu Miu shoe in rich brown Buffalo leather. The top of the foot has fabulous leather work accentuated with turquoise stones and bras...Category
2010s Italian Heels
- Hermes Oran Sandal Rose de Venise Suede Brides de Gala Toile 37.5By HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers a guaranteed authentic Hermes Oran exquisite Rose de Venise slide. The iconic top stitched H cutout over the top of the foot in sublime goatskin suede. Brides de Ga...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Sandals
- Christian Dior Shoe Pump Quilt Stitch Open Toe 39 / 9By Christian DiorLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Christian Dior open toe distressed leather pump. Open toe pump in distressed brown leather with top stitch detail that gives quilted effect. Antiqued brass gro...Category
2010s French Heels
- Sergio Rossi Shoe Khaki Peeptoe Platform Slingback 37 / 7By Sergio RossiLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Sergio Rossi high heel peep toe platform slingback. Fabulous khaki colour leather with beautiful brown wood stacked heel. Uniq...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
- Chloe Cognac Brown and Black Block Heel Shoe Chic Sandal 39 / 9By ChloéLocated in Miami, FLChloe brown and black block heel sandal. Bold brown straps across toes and top of foot. Black ankle strap. Block heel is covered in brown leather and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Block Heel
- Lanvin Shoe Wedge Bronze Metallic Pump 38.5 / 8.5 NewBy Lanvin ParisLocated in Miami, FLGuranteed authentic Lanvin ballet style pump with a full wedge. The colour is a totally neutral golden bronze with subtle metallic wash. The leather on ...Category
2010s French Shoes
- Vintage 1890's Cammeyer Couture Gold & Purple Leather Lace-Up Victorian BootsLocated in Beverly Hills, CABreathtaking and incredibly hard-to-find pair of Alfred J. Cammeyer antique couture made boots dating back to the 1890's era of fashion. The shoes can ...Category
1890s American Boots
- New 2000s Costume National Size 36 / 6 Brown Suede Leather Knee High Heel BootsBy Costume NationalLocated in San Diego, CAChic and timeless early 2000s never worn COSTUME NATIONAL Size 36 / US 6 brown suede high heel boots ! The perfect brown color that goes with anything. Great with jeans, a skirt, a d...Category
Early 2000s Italian Boots
- Louboutin Madmonica Madcarina 120 Spiked Raffia GoldBy Christian LouboutinLocated in Paris, FRAmazing heels ! Those Louboutin are crafted from soft taupe suede and raffia. The vertiginous 120mm wedge heel is balanced by a 30 mm platform front. In very good condition. Go for i...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Shoes
- New Valentino Garavani Embellished Nude Suede Shoe Sandals It 38 - US 8By Valentino GaravaniLocated in Montgomery, TXNew Valentino Garavani Embellished Nude Suede Sandals Designer size 38 - US 8 Nude-tone Suede, Gold-tone Embellishment, Double Buckle at Ankle, Leather Sole and Lining. Heel Height -...Category
2010s Italian Sandals
- Tod’s Desert BootLocated in Los Angeles, CATod's Desert Boot Made in Italy Brown Suede Black textured rubber sole Black leather laces Padded heel collar Black grommets or laces Excellent like new condition; Preloved wi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Boots
- SAINT LAURENT brown suede LEOPARD LACE UP Boots Shoes 40By Saint LaurentLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Saint Laurent lace-up knee-high boots in camel and espresso brown leopard print suede. Lined in espresso brown calfskin. Open with a zipper on the inside. Brand new. R...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Boots
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
This Iconic Hermès Bag Is Made from an Unexpected Material: Wood
From a house that specializes in covetable objects, this version of the Kelly is the rarest of finds.