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By Elma B.

Christian Louboutin is a French designer, who focuses on footwear and who has made his signature trademark the red-lacquered soles. The red-sole was inspired by the red carpet events. (In fact, Christian Louboutin's red-bottom color code is registered as Pantone 18-1663 TPX.) The prices range from $600 and up. There are 50 Christian Louboutin stores in the world.

He began sketching shoes in his early teens, and says his fascination with shoes began in 1976 when he visited Musee National des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanie in Paris. There, he saw an African sign that forbade women from wearing sharp stilettos due to the fear of damaging the wooden floors. He said in a YouTube video in 2011 that the sign inspired him "to create something that broke rules and made women feel confident and empowered."

Ulyana Sergeenko in-Christian Louboutin shoes

Afterwards he spent time in Egypt and India from which he gained further inspiration to assemble a portfolio of drawings of elaborate heels in 1981 in Paris. He brought the portfolio to some of the most respected couture houses and subsequently became an apprentice of Roger Vivier, who claims to have invented the spiked-heel shoe. Then he went on to design women's shoes for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Maud Frizon.

In 1991, with funds from two backers, he opened a Paris shoe salon; Princess Caroline of Monaco was his first customer. She praised the shoes to a fashion journalist, which helped greatly increase Louboutin's popularity. His subsequent customers like Diane von Furstenberg and Catherine Deneuve did the same.

Louboutin's other high profile fans include Lady Gaga, Joan Collins, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Gwenyth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian. The Fashionista and star Sarah Jessica Parker wore a pair of Louboutin shoes to her wedding! Louboutin shoes were declared the "Most Prestigious Women's Shoes" in 2007, 2008, and 2009 by the Luxury Institute.

Take a look at some of Louboutin's shoes, which I personally adored. Which is your favorite type of Louboutin shoe?