By Jackie Caradonio
Christian Louboutin views every day as an opportunity to claim the spotlight, whether you’re wearing a thigh-high, four-inch, block-heel boot—or a shearling-lined boat shoe. “Performance has always fascinated me—not just the spectacle, but the emotion and the freedom behind it,” says the legendary shoe designer. “For this season, I wanted to capture the freedom of being onstage.”
Louboutin’s flair for the dramatic—and his belief that a shoe has the power to transform not just an outfit, but the person who wears it—has made him arguably the most famous name in below-the-knee fashion for decades. His red-soled creations, handcrafted in Italy, are perhaps the most identifiable shoes in the world.
That’s especially true this winter as Louboutin debuts his newest collection with a pop-up boutique at Montage Deer Valley. From February 11 through 26, the shop, located in the Vista Library, will offer a curated selection of men’s and women’s shoes, as well as handbags and winter accessories such as hats and ski goggles.
Louboutin tapped into dual inspirations for the collection. “I wanted to work with the classics, but wrap them into more warm textures,” he says. “I really like to play with contrast, and, among the more theatrical pieces, there are also styles that feel like a winter escape, more minimalist and timeless.”
Included in the resort’s Christian Louboutin pop-up collection is the Dianouchette 100MM Lug, a high-fashion interpretation of the classic combat boot in black calfskin with a four-inch heel, and the showstopping Yangzee, a knee-high stiletto boot with a shaft wrapped in fluffy faux fur for an après look that will turn heads.
Though Louboutin has famously insisted that “if a shoe looks comfortable, it does not excite me,” he has included several casual and cozy options too. In fact, the Chambeliboat, made for both men and women, is one of his new favorites, “because of the boat shape with a supple leather and shearling lining—it’s like a winter coat for the feet.” Equally appropriate for an après outing or a casual night in, whatever the occasion, in typical Louboutin fashion, it feels like curtain-up every time you step into it.
