Christian Louboutin’s Never Tried On His Own Shoes

In honor of Christian Louboutin’s 20th anniversary—a birthday he’s celebrated with book parties at Barneys and a masked ball at Bergdorf Goodman—the master cobbler, make that artist, has whipped up a capsule collection of twenty spectacular heels.
Though Monsieur Louboutin tells us the craziest shoes he’s ever made are the ones created for the fetish exhibition he did with David Lynch in 2008, these revamped silhouettes don’t exactly pale in comparison.   The staggering heels are adorned with feathers and sequins and bows and straps—all inspired by his usual muses: showgirls, exotic travel, architecture and the finest craftsmanship.
Given Louboutin’s eclectic well of inspiration, we wondered if there’s anything he’d refuse to make for a particularly kooky customer.  “There are many things I would say no to,” he said.  “However, the charm and imagination of the client inspire me.”  So should you find yourself in his atelier, with the funds for a custom pair of stilettos, turn the charm way up.
And finally, after twenty years, we had to ask if the designer had ever slipped on a pair of Pigalles.  “I never have,” he said.  How on earth does he resist temptation?