1991, Chez Loubi
After touring the most renowned ateliers in Paris, Christian Louboutin followed destiny to a new address at the Galerie Vérot-Dodat.
In 1991, this beautiful neoclassical arcade in the center of Paris became the home of the first Christian Louboutin boutique.
1992, Seeing Red
Not long after he opened his first boutique, did a stroke of legacy-defining genius came knocking at Christian Louboutin’s atelier door. And just like the sign outside the Museum of Oceanic and African Art, this flash of inspiration came from the most peculiar of places indeed.
As the designer was mulling over an unsatisfactory prototype for a new shoe, he noticed his assistant polishing her nails.
He grabbed the bottle of lacquer and painted the entire sole red. It was love
at first sight.
Et voilà, his signature red sole was born.
1993, If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere
When the New York boutique opened its doors, it heralded the dawn of a new, star-studded era for the House.
Christian Louboutin’s coveted red soles took American popular culture by storm, making less than discrete cameos in a number of television series, films, and songs. It wasn’t long before “Louboutins” became red carpet regulars, as the now world-renowned designer from Paris continued to amass a celebrity clientele.
2003, Arm candy
Christian Louboutin has always likened shoes and bags to twin sisters.
With the launch of his leather goods collection, the designer put a proverbial pep in every Loubi-lovers step with show-stopping handbags and accessories for above-the-knee dressing.
Infused with his signature flamboyance and unparalleled attention to detail, each of these precious creations, from the Farida and the Marie-Jeanne to the Paloma and the Elisa, is an eponymous ode to one of Christian Louboutin’s dearest friends or loved ones.
2009, Boys allowed
It may surprise some to learn that Christian Louboutin, the patron saint of the stiletto, had been designing men’s footwear long before the launch of his first men’s collection in 2009.
However, his formal foray into men’s shoes was cued by a call from international pop star Mika. Just like the designer, Mika was raised with three sisters, who seemed to fall under a joyful spell whenever they slipped on a pair of their favorite red-soled shoes.
Mika dreamed of feeling the same magical energy when he stepped foot on stage, so he decided to call the famed créateur and ask him if he would design the shoes for his upcoming tour.
The unforeseen request accidentally inspired a full-fledged collection, and a new chapter for his illustrious red soles was written.
2013, Au naturel
Since the beginning, la Maison Christian Louboutin has welcomed all those who dream in couture. So when the designer launched his legendary Nudes collection, an inclusive range of pumps realized in five shades to adapt to every skin tone, what seemed like an obvious creative choice for the brand ultimately revolutionized the fashion industry at large.
In the mind of Christian Louboutin, nude was never a color; it is a concept that undresses and celebrates the silhouette of the leg.
Over time, Christian Louboutin’s Nudes expanded to include 8 shades and multiple styles, having earned their place in fashion history as a pioneering act of inclusivity.
2014, Loubi-Beauty
Christian Louboutin’s venture into beauty was but a natural continuation of his ongoing desire to empower women to express their femininity to its fullest.
It should perhaps come as no surprise that the collection began with a single red nail polish. After all, it was a bottle of red lacquer that inspired his signature red soles.
Since launching in 2014, Christian Louboutin Beauté has blossomed into a veritable garden of fragrances and a flourishing array of makeup, from lipsticks and nail lacquers to liquid eyeshadows and liners.
2020, Homecoming
As fate would have it, Christian Louboutin’s illustrious career would bring him back to where his story began: the Palais de la Porte Dorée.
The aptly anointed l’Exhibitionn[iste] exhibition takes visitors on a veritable voyage inside the creative mind of the world-renowned designer via a selection of his most precious works and never-before-seen collaborations.
2021, Flirty 30
Three decades after his red-soled journey began, Christian Loubutin retraced his steps back to a very special address indeed.
In Galerie Vérot Dodat on rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, in the heart of Paris, Christian Louboutin re-opened the doors of his first boutique, where once upon a time in the early 90s, Princess Caroline of Monaco and an American editor for W Magazine happened upon the address at the same time and launched it into stardom.
2022, New kid on the block
It’s time for a new chapter: Christian Louboutin remains passionate about his
work, but he is incorrigibly curious.
Stay tuned for one of a myriad of new projects!