It was Sunday evening and a new episode of Sex and the City was airing. I, like nearly every girl in their 20’s, was glued to my television watching Carrie shoe shop with Samantha in preparation for a date with Mr. Big. Carrie proceeded to spot nothing short of a pink piece of utopic shoe art in a Christian Louboutin store window and famously exhailing “Hello Lover”.
Now in my 30’s, I’m lucky to have amassed a sizeable collection of Louboutin’s, ranging in various styles and colors. My go Louboutin shoes are the “Pigalle” and “Pigalle Follies”, styles the designer brings back every year due to its classic shapes. My preferred height for Pigalles is the 100mm, which translates to a 4” heel, but the shoes also comes in a 120mm (4.8”) and 85mm (3.3”) option. The toe box of the Pigalle is smaller than the cult classic “So Kate”, giving your toes more flexibility in my opinion. The Pigalle heel is also slightly thicker, and hence more stable, than the “So Kate”.
I’m often asked how I wear my Pigalle’s for hours on end; in fact a few summers ago, I attended a wedding and danced for four hours straight in them without so much as an ouch.
Per the request of some girlfriend’s, I’ve put together a few industry secrets to make Louboutin heels actually wearable.
Sizing
I’m generally a 9.5 US/39.5 IT in women’s shoes; however with Louboutin’s, I size up to either a 40.5 (US 10.5) or a 41 (US 11). The line is known for its EXTREMELY small cuts and I can’t even imagine the pain of squeezing my 9.5 US feet into a size 39.5 Louboutin.
Warm/Hot Shower and Lotion Prep
Prior to wearing a new pair of Louboutin’s, I take a rather hot shower so my feet swell slightly from the water temperature. After my shower, I apply lotion and put my feet above me head as I’m laying down so the swelling just slightly decreases and I instantly put on a new pair of Louboutin’s.
As your feet go down to normal size, the Louboutin’s will conform to your feet. I generally keep them on for about 10 minutes and then walk for a few more after that to ensure comfort.
Maintenance
As time goes on and the leather goes back somewhat to it’s original shape, you can repeat the steps above prior to wearing them. Over time, the shoe will maintain it’s new “molded” shape.
With the average price hovering around $675 US for a pair of Louboutin heels, I prefer to wear these beauties versus just longing at them in my closet. The above noted tips helps me do just that!
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10 comments
This is what most of women want, heels! I remember I used to wear a pair like this before, just for fun. And yeap, I nailed it.
These tips are really helpful. Sometimes, I heard from other women that it’s not comfortable to wear some of these heels.
I dislike uncomfortable shoes. I love heels though, I never paid attention to foot prep before slipping into heels. Thanks for the tip! I’d love to own a pair one day!
The price we pay as women. The shoes are so important and so much so that we are willing to suffer to complete the outfit. I may have to get hubby to get me a pair.
Oh, dear… I don’t know if I’d drop that much money on shoes that weren’t comfortable. I’m not a heel person to begin with, but the shoes are designed nicely.
Great tips on the showering idea. I love wearing heels for work but I’m usually sitting down all day! Working to and fro work I’m normally on flats and change when I get there!
Some really great tips here, as I have got older my strength to wear heels gets worse. And I want all those shoes!
It always amazes me that people pay all that money for shoes that they find too uncomfortable to walk in.
EXACTLY why I wrote this! When I spend a large sum of money on something, I want to use it!
I like so much comfort that I wear flat shoes most of the time ! I don’t wear high heels very often because I don’t know how to walk with it. I’m also afraid to be ridiculous and I just don’t feel comfortable 🙂 After reading your post… now I dream of a pair of Louboutins !!
I love the look of Louboutins but stories about how uncomfortable they are have prevented me from purchasing. Your tips have me rethinking things though because I really would love to own a pair!