Christian Louboutin Sandals – Mariska Hargitay

Shoebunny spotted Mariska Hargitay in black strappy Christian Louboutin sandals, aka the luxury red sole shoes.

Christian Louboutin was born in a working-class neighbourhood of Paris. While still a mere child, he discovered the city nightlife at The Palace, the legendary nightclub that opened in 1978, and was baptized into a world of high fashion and glamour. His passion for dancing and showgirls increasingly disrupted his schoolwork. He was just sixteen when he tried to sell his first designs to music hall dancers. In fact, Christian Louboutin’s apprenticeship really began at the Follies Bergeres and progressed when he went to work with Charles Jourdan in Romans and shortly afterwards started working free-lance for houses including Maud Frison, Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurent and Sidonie Larizzi, both in France and in Italy. In 1988, he joined Roger Vivier, an associate of Christian Dior’s and a living legend in designer footwear; while preparing a retrospective of Vivier’s work, Christian came across such immortal shoes as those worn at the coronation of the Shah of Iran, and Marlene Dietrich’s diamond pumps.

In 1992, he opened his flagship boutique in Paris and the Christian Louboutin brand was born. His first styles (Love, Trash, etc.) displayed an impossibly feminine shoe. Combining wit with glamour, they were immediately spotted by the fashion industry and the cognoscenti. And the hand crafting in Italy went on to guarantee an incomparable finish. His inspiration? A love of gardens and a passion for the Orient: after traveling from Uzbekistan to Jordan, he decided to build a castle, of sand, on the Left Bank of the Nile at Luxor, Egypt.

Since then, Christian Louboutin’s be-jewelled heels have embodied the perfect blend of beauty and sex appeal for elegant women and celebrities around the world. These delicate shoes, recognisable for their immaculately lacquered red soles, are admired on the most beautiful actresses including: Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst, Angelina Jolie … and singers: Gwen Stefanie, Destiny’s Child, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson … along wit assorted royals.