Seeing Red

Being a lover of fashion has currently left me in a predicament; I have an undying desire of wanting a pair of the most coveted high heels known to any fashionista. I have succumbed to the bandwagon behind Christian Louboutin. The red sole is such a trademark in a fashion world where distinction is key. I will plead my case though; the design behind each of his shoes is purely magnificent. The sex appeal and classic look are untouchable and have not been matched by any other shoe designer in my personal opinion. Even his flats ooze a certain attitude that only a select group of fashionistas could pull off (also only a certain group, with wallets deep enough to support the habit). But my desire to have these shoes makes me wonder, is it the popularity that has me drooling over them, or is something else? In October, I had the honor of assisting with the Christian Louboutin shoe signing at Neiman Marcus in Tyson’s Corner. Christian Louboutin, himself came to Neiman’s and sat down with a long line of his customers, who had newly purchased shoes. He personalized the bottoms of one of the shoes for each of his customers with a range of colored markers. Even his designs on the bottoms of these shoes, were just as mesmerizing as the shoe itself. Louboutin’s generosity and patience throughout the over three hour process was commendable. He spoke about the history of the design of each shoe, took pictures, and had friendly conversation with each of his customers. His modest and caring nature was evident as he made the experience personal for everyone. While assisting with the event, I got to handle more Louboutin’s than I could ever imagine. I, naturally, did shopping in my head picking the pair that I would want, if I had the funds to purchase such beauties. While organizing the shoes and preparing them for the signing, I marveled at all the intricate details that went into the creation of the shoes. The materials and construction were flawless. Every element was top of the line and finished without any errors or faults. These shoes are a piece of artwork due to all the hard work that goes into their magnificent construction. So after the event my desire for the coveted shoes is even more, but my understanding and appreciation of them has soared. No longer do I feel I am a follower of a trend, more of an admirer of such exclusive and marvelous craftsmanship.

A Group of Workers and the Honorable, Mr. Louboutin: