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Christian Louboutin is the famous designer behind the "red sole shoes". Accredited to Wikipedia:

Christian Louboutin (born 7 January 1963) is a French fashion designer whose high-end stiletto footwear incorporates shiny, red-lacquered soles that have become his signature. Initially a freelance designer for fashion houses, he started his own shoe salon in Paris, with his shoes finding favor with celebrity clientele.

This review covers "Kate" pumps (heels), in 85mm configuration, Reference 3191417BK01.

Link to product:   https://us.christianlouboutin.com/ca_en/kate-black-3191417bk01.html




1. Brand & Aesthetics
Christian Louboutin certainly ranks among the top, if not the very top, when it comes to designer footwear. Their "red sole bottoms" are known worldwide, and they definitely strike an imposing boldness when they're seen in public. While the brand might not be a "household name" in the same way, for example, Rolex is (you know Rolex, even if you aren't a wristwatch aficionado), it certainly is easily recognized for anyone who knows a thing or two about modern fashion.

The aesthetics of the Kate Pumps are unmistakable. The red sole bottoms unquestionably stick out, and they are a timeless look. These Pumps are both elegant and classy enough to wear to a formal event, as well as being bold, loud and head-turning at a cocktail reception.


2. Construction
This particular Reference features black Veau velours outer material, which is something very similar to suede, and leather soles.

The Veau velous has a very soft, smooth, quality feel to it. The soles feel good and consistent, as one would expect from a high end manufacturer. The shoe is tightly constructed, with no slack or overhang of any material anywhere.

These shoes are listed as "Made in Italy". Now, it's worth noting that it doesn't specifically state if they are hand made or machine made. Even a quick internet search (including a quick search of Louboutin's own website) doesn't clarify this question. Regardless, it is obvious that plenty of care and attention has been taken during manufacturing. So whether they are made by hand or by machine, it can reasonably be said that the quality and finishing are of high standards.




3. Ordering Experience
Ordering directly from Christian Louboutin's website is quick and simple. There is an easy to reference sizing guide online - however, do take some time to consider sizing. Louboutin's are known to often fit a bit smaller than their size, so many other review sites recommend ordering slightly larger than usual.

One thing of specific note - At time of writing, Louboutin allows you to "direct exchange" merchandise for a different size. This means that if you order a pair of shoes and they don't fit properly, you can return them and get a different size without much hassle. They even provide you with a pre-paid return shipping label. In my opinion, this is customer service at its finest, and gives one some serious peace of mind when ordering online and unsure of perfect sizing.

Shipping times were more than acceptable. From day of ordering, it took 8 days to arrive.

The package arrived in a plain brown cardboard box, with no identifying information on it as to what was inside. This is very standard in the luxury goods industry, since identifying the parcel as a luxury good would increase the probably of theft.



Directly inside the shipping parcel were numerous pieces of paper, a cardboard card, and an envelope. Among these were the receipt and return instructions.



Directly underneath all the paperwork was tissue paper (I'm assuming it's the same shade as the signature red sole bottoms), accompanied by a Christian Louboutin sticker.



Once the tissue paper is opened, a very nice cardboard gift box is presented, complete with a tied bow (which, again, I'm assuming is in the same shade as the signature red sole bottoms).



Inside that box, and directly on top, is the dust bag and a small pouch containing the spare heel tap replacements. This is a nice touch, as right at time of purchase, you have some spare parts for your shoes. And since the heel taps are likely one of the first things to wear out, it's great to have a new set ready to go.





It's important to take note of all these "inclusions", especially the packaging, right down to the tissue paper. There are countless "fake", "knock off", "rip off" and otherwise non-genuine Christian Louboutins out there. This type of problem is something that all premier brands (fashion and otherwise) unfortunately have to contend with. The last thing you want to do is to spend your hard earned money on a non-genuine item, so make sure you pay attention to everything - right down to the packaging itself, when you receive your new shoes.


4. Comfort
One would expect high end shoes, among the most recognizable and coveted in the world, to be extremely comfortable. Unfortunately, that's not how fashion works. While these shoes aren't going to give you pancake-size blisters within a half hour of wearing them, they definitely aren't the most comfortable either. They are therefore recommended for specific events, not all-day work attire.

For what it's worth, most people also find that Louboutins end up fitting a bit smaller than "true". So, for example, if you're a size 8, then you could consider purchasing an 8.5 or 9. I can confirm that this specific model shoe does indeed fit smaller than "true", at least for me, and I went with half a size up from my standard.


5. Cost
These shoes came in at $945.00 CDN. For the price, honestly, they're a really great value. One would expect that exclusive shoes, of which only ~1 million are sold per year worldwide (this includes men's and women's shoes in all design types, from pumps to sandals to boots to sneakers), to be significantly more expensive.

This price point is really great, for a few reasons. Once you get into shoes that are multiples of thousands of dollars (or more), you really end up not wanting to wear them for fear of damaging them or wearing them out. Certainly this sentiment still exists with "cheaper" shoes, but none the less, it's more palatable to actually wear them as intended. Also, these are shoes that are still obtainable to a great swath of people. You don't need to be an elitist, or a 1%'er, to own Christian Louboutins. Yes, you may need to save up for a while and have some patience, but it's achievable.




6. Final Thoughts
There's really not much that can be said other than these iconic shoes are among the most recognizable in the world. If you're looking to make a strong, bold statement, these shoes are for you. While we all know that attire itself doesn't make confidence, a pair of Louboutin Pumps certainly doesn't hurt either. These are "boss shoes" and they show that you mean business. And while one probably isn't going to wear them daily in a work setting, they are absolutely a ton of fun to wear for special events and occasions.

Overall, LuxuryReview.ca highly RECOMMENDS Christian Louboutin as a brand that should find its way into every lady's (dedicated) shoe closet.