I stopped wearing the platform styles for a long time (maybe 6 years) now. And currently (before covid when I was still going places ) have more sleeker heels (alot from Gianvito Rossi and Aquazzura). For myself I am a bit over the platform loubs because I find the sleeker styles to look more elegant and refined and they work better for my current wardrobe and overall style. BUT that is just MY opinion/taste. I do not want to offend anyone who still loves a bianca etc. I have seen a few ladies rocking the platform styles and looking great (depends on how you style the rest of your outfit) and I feel you should wear what feels best/more comfortable for you/what you really love.
Are Louboutins outdated?
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Agreed that certain styles, ie platforms, flatforms, peeptoe, dad sneakers, can be in or out of fashion. perhaps the question really is about the red sole. is the red sole overdone and are people sick of the recognizable red sole? this is a fair question -but is the red sole in line with logo-mania?
whatever makes you feel empowered as a woman I think is personal -whether that means sneakers or stilettos. I also think its important to support one-another because that makes us, womenkind, stronger as a unit.
whatever makes you feel empowered as a woman I think is personal -whether that means sneakers or stilettos. I also think its important to support one-another because that makes us, womenkind, stronger as a unit.
I think that platform always looks less elegant and more aggressive. But for some reason platforms look great on tall girls with larger feet size. If your goal is to get married, choose platform. If already married - no platform. Haha
Didn’t mean to offend platform lovers, just expressing my thoughts
Didn’t mean to offend platform lovers, just expressing my thoughts
So I have numerous CLs. Also bought many in 2010-2015. I have a few peeptoe, Bianca with spikes, plain pigalle and pigalle with spikes, so Kate etc. I work in a professional environment where I cannot wear sneakers. I am too short to wear flats and look professional. I always wear heels (except grocery’s or working out or super casual day). So the question is, should I not be wearing these Cls? Should I put them away or sell them? Should I only wear my Valentino , Gucci , Aquazurra? And regarding that Celine luggage, can I not use that bag anymore ? It’s a good work bag. I can’t be on the top of every trend constantly updating. I thought part of the point of buying designer brands was that “everything” stays in style, comes back or later is considered vintage. Like older Chanel bags (the Gst anyone, great tote in my opinion )?
Classic is classic. Wear, carry, enjoy. Don’t let the very few social media sjw dictate your life. Don’t feel guilty about what fringe people are jealous of.
I have always loved Louboutin for the design, the red sole is just a bonus for me (that I still love).
Almost all my pumps, sandals, boots, eveningshoes are Louboutin. I also love ballerina's and mostly have Chanel and Repetto for those. Louboutin hardly makes any or only pointy ones (that I don't like).
My outdoor shoes however are usually pretty cheap high street as they have a thin rubber sole and lower heels available.
After 10+ years Louboutin is still my favourite shoe designer
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I do have some other designer shoes that I adore: some crystal flat sandals and mules by Aquazzurra, boots by Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain, over the knee low heel boots by Chanel, Valentino bow lace flip flops and espadrilles,...
It does annoy me that mr. Louboutin constantly changes the models. I adore the Pigalle follies and now it seems like he's pushing the Kate (the 10cm version of So Kate) and before that we had the regular Pigalle under going all those changes...
Almost all my pumps, sandals, boots, eveningshoes are Louboutin. I also love ballerina's and mostly have Chanel and Repetto for those. Louboutin hardly makes any or only pointy ones (that I don't like).
My outdoor shoes however are usually pretty cheap high street as they have a thin rubber sole and lower heels available.
After 10+ years Louboutin is still my favourite shoe designer
.I do have some other designer shoes that I adore: some crystal flat sandals and mules by Aquazzurra, boots by Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain, over the knee low heel boots by Chanel, Valentino bow lace flip flops and espadrilles,...
It does annoy me that mr. Louboutin constantly changes the models. I adore the Pigalle follies and now it seems like he's pushing the Kate (the 10cm version of So Kate) and before that we had the regular Pigalle under going all those changes...
I have always loved Louboutin for the design, the red sole is just a bonus for me (that I still love).
Almost all my pumps, sandals, boots, eveningshoes are Louboutin. I also love ballerina's and mostly have Chanel and Repetto for those. Louboutin hardly makes any or only pointy ones (that I don't like).
My outdoor shoes however are usually pretty cheap high street as they have a thin rubber sole and lower heels available.
After 10+ years Louboutin is still my favourite shoe designer
I do have some other designer shoes that I adore: some crystal flat sandals and mules by Aquazzurra, boots by Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain, over the knee low heel boots by Chanel, Valentino bow lace flip flops and espadrilles,...
It does annoy me that mr. Louboutin constantly changes the models. I adore the Pigalle follies and now it seems like he's pushing the Kate (the 10cm version of So Kate) and before that we had the regular Pigalle under going all those changes...
I get the feeling, Monsieur Louboutin is getting away from 120/130 because women (in general) simply can't wear'em! He blasted his way onto the scene with really risque shoes -- ultra high heels (esp w/platforms), very daring cuts (low cut vamp w/toe cleavage), etc. It was a "shot over the bow" to the "designer shoe establishment"..Manolo Blahnik (playful artsy styles), etc. I believe the *steep* price-point was also his doing ($525, then $575, then $624, then $675, then $725..!!), since his marketing approach used celebrities at red-carpet events (Oscars, Emmys, various Music awards, etc)
"You want star-quality shoes, you pay the price!"
However, Emma Thompson's famous Golden Globe rebellion -- walking to podium barefoot, then slinging the 5" heels over her shoulder. I.e., the "with beauty comes pain" maxim was *trashed*. Even normal women were rebelling, the heels were TOO high! Along with the other niche features which were way over-the-top (exceptionally small toe-box, see pic). But, it was a boon to exceptionally sexy/high heel fanatics (Stilly, Christina2, myself, & others). See Stilly's thread where Christina2 has verbalized her WORSHIP of the 130 heels..PLEADING with Monsieur Louboutin for more 130s. She also "Photoshops" 120 heels into a 130 heel w/steeper pitch! Christina2, all you have to do is hit up Mosieur Louboutin with $4K to have an older shoe (e.g. 130) re-done to your specifications -- color, material, etc. A long-time PF member (now has her own Youtube channel "Teamyummymummy") had a CUSTOM Love Me 120 done in white-leather..cost $4K + $625.
Hey, if you have the bucks/$$..more power to ya!
However, drag queen Violet Chachki (friends with Monsieur Louboutin & famed Loub lingerie model Dita Van Teese) has leaked out..that no more 130s from Louboutin!
See 1:10 mark, where he describes his fave Loubs, So Kate 120, Senora 130, Hot Chick 130, Merci Allen 130. Stilly is still the reigning queen with Allenissima 130, Hot Wave 130, Senora 130, Hot Chick 130 (ALL the colors, leopard-patent, black-patent, shocking pink patent, Opaline, Titi).
OMG, if Violet has 1.6M Instagram followers..then Stilly could do 5M..easy! Stilly, you are WAY over-qualified to be messing around on PF. Get thee a Youtube channel, Instagram acct, Tiktok acct, etc !!
^^ fascinating, a couple of Loub fanatics doing a Louboutin "she cave"-- genetic girl and drag queen
I will say some of the interesting styles (to me):
Twistissima 100, Cross Blake 100, Jumping 100, Crissos 100 (see pics)
are ONLY 100..nothing in 120! I'm a 5" heel loyalist (sometimes I'll do a 4.5", or 4"..if it's particularly feminine/sexy), so I'm bummed.. However, I actually score a like-new Twistissima 100 (few Swarovski crystals missing) for $600, they retail for $1249 (!!). I couldn't buy them new at that price, simply outta my price range.
I assume the 120's don't sell well (to the masses), so Louboutin has *finally* succumbed to market reality..have to make profit/$$ by selling quantity (to the masses). The niche-market of exceptionally high heels (120, 130) can't support his business. Loub boutiques look very cozy/quaint/custom, like a custom shoe place. Goto a Jimmy Choo shoe store (recently acquired by the Michael Kors empire), it has a corporate/impersonal feel to it. Barneys/NY had the BEST Louboutin display here in Beverly Hills (amongst the Big 3 on Wilshire near Rodeo Dr..Neiman-Marcus, Saks NY, Barneys), but unfortunately Barneys declared bankruptcy last year..!? This certainly didn't help Louboutin distribution. I was recently at the Neiman-Marcus in Topanga Mall (Canoga Park/CA, near where many celebrities/athletes live), and the Loub display was sparse. Not impressed!
I wonder if Louboutin is having problems these days.. I know the Louboutin *hype* is OVER! At one time (2009'ish) there were SCALPERS buying Loubs at boutiques, then flipping them for few hundred $$ markup. It was insane
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Louboutin makes many men’s styles. Nevertheless, my husband apparently prefers So Kates in “certain situations “.
There are some Youtube videos of "adventurous" males donning Louboutin So Kate:
Good grief, these videos are AWFUL..very poor form (lousy technique)! Needs MORE Passion, Emotion, etc. Ala Christina2, Stilly, etc
Check his YT channel "amaninheels" (1.05K subscribers), it's a *stunning* parallel of "Stilly's Parade Plus" thread (3 MILLION views)! Seemingly endless modeling videos of various heels/brands, Louboutin, Stuart Weitzmann, Jimmy Choo, etc. He has a legion of followers, who pay into his "AManinHeels" Patreon account to fund his shoe obsession! OMG, Stilly should be doing this -- her potential YT fan base could EASILY hit 1 MILLION (or more), where they FUND her shoe budget. I think at ~500 pairs of heels (Stilly has lost count, LOL), that's $300K worth of shoes!! Need to figure out business model to help with budget -- fans PAYING into it. OMG, that's a helluva lot of dinero/$$! I always wondered if Stilly has insurance on them (in case of theft, fire, etc)
^^^ Christina2 also! Her emotive comments are like *gold* ("telling an erotic story"), it would attract likely even MORE fans than Stilly! Christina2, you likely could start your own brand (fueled by Instagram, YT, Tiktok, FB, Twitter, etc) with huge upside for monetization/$$ -- which support your Passion. Start a website (ShoeEmotion.com), start a forum, attract users, build traffic, sell advertising space, gain revenue. Leave your jewelry retail job (I *cringe* at the thought of wasting away your youth there!), move on to greener-pastures.
OPM = Other People's Money, key to investment ("leverage")
This gentleman (Jason Span, US Navy) is very into So Kates (black patent, nude, mini glitter, leopard pony hair, etc), Daffodiles (several pairs!), Lady Peep, Pigalle Follies 120, Senora 130 (!):
Pigalle Follies 120 Rose (beautiful color!)
Excellent technique, very confident/assertive gait! His passion for Louboutins shows..
He has similar taste as Stilly, LOVES the higher heels..120 and 130 styles. Pure sex!
Haha. Many So Kates appearing on Ebay/Poshmark/Tradesy/Mercari by women who simply can't wear the So Kate 120 (I know since I've bought them!), but some dude shows up and puts them to shame! LOL
Puts "Dude looks like a Lady" song by Stephen Tyler (whose daughter Liv Tyler is a Loub fan, see pic of her with Loub "J String") in perspective:
"Dude donning Lady shoes"..haha. What a gas!
Would LOVE to see how Stilly (and Christina2) walk in their 120/130 heels, must be delightfully unique/sexy! They need to get on YT, to demonstrate their expertise/passion to us mere mortals..
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I live in an area where people have money to spend. While I've seen a short line outside of Louboutin at a popular mall near where I live, not many people were walking out with Louboutin shopping bags. (Prior to the pandemic, a lot of women were notorious for going into Louboutin just to try a pair on and snap a selfie for bragging rights on social media, then they'd leave without spending money.)
Additionally, I've seen more women sporting flats, sneakers, and boots from brands like Tory Burch (flats and sandals mainly), Chanel (namely those New Balance copycat Dad sneakers - I say copycat because my dad bought the US made New Balance sneakers years ago and recently, Chanel has begun making pairs with a similar style and color options), and Gucci. (Ace sneakers and some Princetown slippers) 9/10 these women are sporting luxe bags from LV, Chanel, Dior, and a few Hermes on their shoulders and arms. I've not seen a single Louboutin worn by anyone at this mall in a very long time. (Even prior to the pandemic.)
I remember when Louboutin was at its peak and it was popular to pair the iconic red soles with a luxe bag like a classic Chanel flap or an LV Neverfull tote. Nowadays, that look seems out of touch and vogue, almost gimmicky to many.
At a consignment store in NC, I found there were usually a couple of pairs of CLs consigned there as of last year and this year. I bought my one and only pair of CLs from that store because it was the Simple 85 Leather rounded toe pump and the store sold them on clearance, due to a lack of interest. (The owner explained that it was not the popular style women wanted, which is why she priced them low, compared to the So Kate pairs she had at the same time.) Based on the store's IG, they seem to get a pair or two regularly in her shop, which tells me that those who buying them new then paring down their collection, are moving on from the shoes and possibly the brand. (I say this because the pairs the shop would receive are in pretty good condition with some minor wear and tear, but they're essentially still good to wear.)
Additionally, I've seen more women sporting flats, sneakers, and boots from brands like Tory Burch (flats and sandals mainly), Chanel (namely those New Balance copycat Dad sneakers - I say copycat because my dad bought the US made New Balance sneakers years ago and recently, Chanel has begun making pairs with a similar style and color options), and Gucci. (Ace sneakers and some Princetown slippers) 9/10 these women are sporting luxe bags from LV, Chanel, Dior, and a few Hermes on their shoulders and arms. I've not seen a single Louboutin worn by anyone at this mall in a very long time. (Even prior to the pandemic.)
I remember when Louboutin was at its peak and it was popular to pair the iconic red soles with a luxe bag like a classic Chanel flap or an LV Neverfull tote. Nowadays, that look seems out of touch and vogue, almost gimmicky to many.
At a consignment store in NC, I found there were usually a couple of pairs of CLs consigned there as of last year and this year. I bought my one and only pair of CLs from that store because it was the Simple 85 Leather rounded toe pump and the store sold them on clearance, due to a lack of interest. (The owner explained that it was not the popular style women wanted, which is why she priced them low, compared to the So Kate pairs she had at the same time.) Based on the store's IG, they seem to get a pair or two regularly in her shop, which tells me that those who buying them new then paring down their collection, are moving on from the shoes and possibly the brand. (I say this because the pairs the shop would receive are in pretty good condition with some minor wear and tear, but they're essentially still good to wear.)
I don't think that CLs are the over, per se. I just think that the designer shoe craze is largely done. But this is to be expected; Manolo is not as popular as during its SATC peak days, and now CL.
IMO, people are less interested in shoes and more into 'street' style thanks to all the Hadids, Hailey Biebers etc out there
I do think that there's a cult following for certain brands, like Amina Muaddi (and some other brands, I'm sure), but not to the same extent as there was for Manolo/CL during their time.
If you enjoy your shoes, don't worry about them being outdated. I feel that even when a piece is 'classic', it is truly timeless only in rare circumstances.
IMO, people are less interested in shoes and more into 'street' style thanks to all the Hadids, Hailey Biebers etc out there
I do think that there's a cult following for certain brands, like Amina Muaddi (and some other brands, I'm sure), but not to the same extent as there was for Manolo/CL during their time.
If you enjoy your shoes, don't worry about them being outdated. I feel that even when a piece is 'classic', it is truly timeless only in rare circumstances.
Not incredibly relevant to OPs original post, but here're the new men's boots :
CL has always been flamboyant, theatrical and glamorous, even the simple pumps and sneakers. It's easy to find more plain looking CLs now, but those three sum up the core DNA of the brand, whether metoo is on the top of the agenda or not.
CL has always been flamboyant, theatrical and glamorous, even the simple pumps and sneakers. It's easy to find more plain looking CLs now, but those three sum up the core DNA of the brand, whether metoo is on the top of the agenda or not.