Christian Louboutin: In His Shoes
By Marianna Mairesse and Katie L. Connor
Photo Credit: Jérôme Bonnet
Why are women so obsessed with shoes?
When a woman buys shoes, she takes them out of the box and looks at herself in the mirror. But she isn't really looking at her shoes — she's looking at herself. If she likes herself, then she likes the shoes. A man is a fetishist: He polishes his shoes, appreciates the finish, wants to preserve them for a long time. A woman doesn't care about this. She isn't proud of having a shoe for 10 years. It's a natural feminine instinct to accessorize. A naked woman in heels is a beautiful thing. A naked man in shoes looks like a fool.
Your shoes inspired J.Lo to write a hit song. Who were some of your muses?
I've always adored women in heels. As a boy, I loved music halls, girls, feathers, and performers. I adored Tina Turner. I remember the arrival of Blondie — Debbie Harry was a bleached blonde who wore heels and was a real musician. Hallelujah!
Do you prefer heels or flats?
High heels, by far. I hate the idea of natural. For example, I prefer gardens to wild nature. I like to see the human touch. High heels are a complete invention — an extravagance. They're far from natural, but it's the impracticality that I adore. I prefer the useless to the useful, the sophisticated to the natural.
Why are high heels so sexy?
One moves more slowly in heels. Walking fast is neither sexy nor engaging. Nobody notices the people who race around. If you're walking in heels, you've got time. It's much more attractive.
How far will a woman go for her Louboutins?
As far as prison. I met a woman in Dallas who told me a memorable story about arriving late to Mass after everyone had already sat down so people would hear the clicking of her heels as she made her way to the front row. Two years later, I went back for an autograph signing, and I asked about this woman. I was told that she was in prison. She had been embezzling money from the company where she worked, which she then deposited directly into a Neiman Marcus account to buy shoes!
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