Team Credits:

Photography by Miu Kurashima
Styling by Keiichiro Hara
Model: Sava

Fashion Credits:

1) Turtleneck by Raf Simons. Cape vest by Anne Valerie Hash. Vintage skirt.
2) Vintage shirt. Jacket by Tomaso Stefanelli. One piece: COMME des GARÇONS.
3) Shirt by A.P.C.. Vest by Bikkembergs. Pants by Katharine Hamnett. Shoes by Dries Van Noten.
4) Turtleneck by Armani Exchange. Top by Marjan Pejoski. Scarf by Rene Gurskov. Shoes by Christian Louboutin.
5) Vintage raw-edge shirt. Gilet by Ann Hagen. Skirt by Yohji Yamamoto. Shoes by Riiika.
6) Top by RANDY. Vintage poncho vest. Tights by Poco a Poco Tokyo. Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell.

Team Credits:
Photography by ADIL SUNGUR
Styling by LUISA MARIE HENKEL
Hair by KELLY SIMOES SILVA
Makeup by TIPHAINE MALLET
Model: LAURA at HER MANAGEMENT

Fashion Credits:
1,9&10 Jacket by ESCADA, slipover by PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI, blouse by GUCCI, shorts, and tights by MAX MARA, shoes by CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN.
2&5 Dress by COPERNI, dress by DOLCE& GABANNA, skirt by PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI, tights by WOLFORD, shoes by CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, earrings VINTAGE.
3&7 Dress and hat by JACQUEMUS, shoes by DOLCE & GABANNA, earrings CHANEL.
4 Dress by MAX MARA, body by HOMMENA, blouse, tights, and shoes by GUCCI, earrings VINTAGE.
5 Dress by HOMMENA, hoodie by OFF-WHITE, pants by MARINE SERRE, shoes by MM6 MAISON MARGIELA, earrings VINTAGE.
8 Cape by MIU MIU, scarf by LES INCONNUS, shoes by MACH&MACH, earrings VINTAGE

Team Credits:
Photography b PASCALE LOURMAND @pascalelourmand
Fashion by COLINE PEYROT @coline-peyrot
Model: DIANA HELZINA @Titanium Management
Hair by ROMAIN DURAND
Make up by RUBY MAZUEL
Production by PAULINE VENIANT @Particuliere

Fashion Credits:
#2 Jumper by AMI, shirt by ROSAÉ, pants by MAZARINE, glasses by CUTLER AND GROSS
#3 jumper by BIMBA & LOLA SHORTS, shorts by & OTHER STORIES, shoes by TORY BURCH, glasses by CUTLER AND GROSS
#5 glasses by CUTLER AND GROSS, jumper by & OTHER STORIES, shirt by MAJE
#6 Hat by ROMUALDA
#7 Jumper & OTHER STORIES, shirt by MAJE, pants by CLAUDIE PIERLOT, shoes by NODALETO
#8 Jacket by MARNI, swimsuit by MARIANNA LADREYT
#10 Jacket by MARNI, swimsuit by MARIANNA LADREYT, Pants by MARNI, shoes by TORY BURCH
#11 Jumper by THE LABEL EDITION, panties by MIU MIU
#12 Jumper by THE LABEL EDITION, shoes by MIU MIU
#13 Sunglasses by BOTTEGA VENETA, dress by JW ANDERSON, gloves by MAISON FABRE
#14 Shirt MIU MIU, skirt by MIU MIU, shoes by MIU MIU
#15 Skirt by MIU MIU, shoes by MIU MIU
#16 + 17 Bodysuit by MIU MIU, dress by MIU MIU, pants by VICTORIA BECKHAM, shoes by TORY BURCH
#19 Dress by JW ANDERSON, shoes by CAREL
#20 Shirt by PABLO, Jacket by PACO RABANNE
#22 Shoes by CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Red is a warning colour. It means danger. Red is the colour of blood, meaning life. Red is the colour of fire, of flames. Red is a very powerful, flamboyant colour. And who knows this better than Christian Louboutin? The Parisian designer made the colour his signature. The soles of his world-famous high heels blaze in a striking red.

Red like love?

The French designer discovered his love for shoes at a very early age: the showgirls of Folies Bergère – a famous Parisian music hall – fascinated him, with their long legs, their attitude, their grace. They somehow burned into his memory and seem to inspire him to this day.

Some years later, Louboutin went to a museum, where a warning sign caught his attention. It said: “Stiletto Heels Forbidden!” The young designer could not understand why someone would ever forbid something that beautiful. He became obsessed. Obsessed with shoes, with their styles and patterns. A remarkable career was about to start.

But why the red soles? There might be a lot reasons, but Louboutin himself often tells of how he sat in front of his early sketches, dissatisfied with the results. There was something missing, a detail, a certain je ne sais quoi. Suddenly, he noticed the smell of nail polish in the air: his assistant was sitting at her desk, painting her fingernails. And at once he knew what was missing. He didn’t like the featureless, blank soles of his creations. So he took the nail polish and the world-famous red sole became the signature of his brand.

These days, everybody knows his creations. High society loves them. Is there a red-carpet event where Louboutins don’t make an appearance? They’re in all the fashion magazines, even in the yellow press. Some people call them the best therapy against depression, something every woman dreams about. But why?
Louboutins are more than articles of daily use. The designs are hard to define, they cannot be pigeonholed. They offer a great variety – you cannot pin them down to only one style.

Solely their red soles and the super-high heels mark Louboutins out from others. In addition, the shoes move from being classic, chic and kittenish to extravagant and dominant. Sometimes they’re colourful, with adventurous patterns, sometimes they’re monochrome and severe. Some might remind you of divine figures, with their wing-like elements, others appear dramatic and menacing, with their striking spikes.

For a lot of people, Louboutins are not normal shoes. They see them as unique and beautiful creations, they are obsessed with Louboutin’s work – that is to say, his artwork.

Louboutin’s designs have included some of the highest heels that have ever been made in the world of commercial and high-end shoe design. His talent for creating towering and unique beauties was nurtured during his time as a shoemaker for the cabaret and showgirls of the Pigalle area in Paris, which is known for its peepshows and sex shops. This could be one of the reasons for the versatility, the unconventionality of his designs. Louboutin seems to gather his inspiration from almost everything and everywhere.

Those heels are another unique feature of his work: they’re a woman’s dream and nightmare at the same time. More a deadly weapon than a shoe, maybe. Who is able to go through daily life in those super-high heels without twisting an ankle?

But maybe that’s the idea behind it: of course you can’t run through your life in high-heeled shoes. But do you have to? Is it really necessary to keep on running the whole time? The daily grind is enough: can’t we just slow down, pause for a while? Maybe that’s an inspiration, too. Which goes to show there is so much room for interpretation when it comes to shoes.

Louboutin has created a platform for shoe lovers – for those who think shoes are more than just two bits of fabric you put on your feet before you leave home in the morning. His shoes seem to offer the possibility of expression, of communication. He leads people into a creative world that is aimed at people who think shoes are more – an obsession, an emotion, an approach.

Credits:

Words by Ole Siebrecht
Photography by Alexander Gehring & Paula Winkler
Styling by Andrea Horn

Christian Louboutin

Credits:

Photography by Fredrik Etoall @ Adamsky

Styling by Christopher Insulander @ Linkdetails

Hair: Sainabou Chune & Jonna Rask @ Mikas Looks

Make-Up: Josefin Scherdin @ Mikas Looks

Talent: CAROLINE HJELT & AINO NENEH JAWO

(ICONA POP), TOVE LO,
ELIN BLOM/FELIN & MIRIAM BRYANT.

Fashion credits:

1: Swimsuit by Ganni, hat by Malinda Damgaard, fishnets by Capezio, boots by Acne Studios

2: Black coat by Hugo Boss, Leopard-print coat by Ganni, gloves by J Lindeberg

3: Jacket by L.A. Roxx, swimsuit by Weekday

4: Bag by Back, tights and knickers by Woolford, shoes by Christian Louboutin

5: Dungarees by Diesel, top by Acne Studios

6: Skirt by Dagmar, boots by Dr. Martens

7: Jacket by Louis Vuitton, swimsuit by Acne Studios, top by Nelly, gloves by J Lindeberg

8: Top by Giorgi Rostiashvili, Underwear by Spanx, Tights by Capezio and Shoes & Bag by Christian Louboutin

9: Jacket by BLK DNM, Bikini by Filippa K and Shoes by River Island.

10: Hat by Stutterheim and Top by Calvin Klein

11: Top by Woolford, skirt by Stylein and Boots by Balenciaga.

12: Top by Ida Klamborn, skirt and belt stylist’s own, hairpin by Maria Nilsdotter, Underwear by Spanx, fishnets by Capezio

13: Ankle boots and silver heels by Christian Louboutin, black heels by Tiger Of Sweden, tights stylist’s own