Christian Louboutin Apostrophy 100mm product Review | Fit, Price & More
We’ve all heard the rumors about Christian Louboutin (FYI not to be confused with Louis Vuitton) shoes & how uncomfortable they are. Most rumors are true. Yes, the infamous 'So Kate' red bottom heels can absolutely make your feet bleed a little. But, among the collection über-high heels, the Apostrophy 100mm soft leather pump may make you consider purchasing your own pair of red bottoms.
THE DESIGNER
So, your question is, why do people make such a big deal about iconic Christian Louboutin heels? Well, there’s your answer right there… they’re truly iconic. Christian Louboutin was born on January 7th, 1963, and is now one of the world’s most well-known shoe designers. Both the designer & hIs quintessential Red Bottom shoe design have become celebrities in the fashion world. Since Louboutin opened his first store in Paris in 1992, the brand now sells over one million pairs of shoes each year in over 150 department stores & self-branded boutiques in over 35 countries.
Christian Louboutin grew up in Paris & having run away as a teenager to Eqypt & India, the young student apparently spent most of his time sketching shoes rather than studying. Before attending Académie d'Art Roederer to study drawing and decorative arts, the designer was reported to have been expelled from three schools. Carrying a portfolio filled with sketches of high heels, Louboutin approached all of the major couture houses before starting his career at Charles Jourdan in Paris. His career suddenly flourished as he then made his way to work as a freelance designer, working for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent & Roger Vivier.
Louboutin opened his first store in Paris in 1992 - his handcrafted red-soled shoes were considered just as much a work of art as they were to be worn. The designer believes that his shoes have the ability to "make a woman look sexy, beautiful, to make her legs look as long as [he] can." Since then the designer has collaborated with the likes of Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Victor & Rolf, Roland Mouret & Jean Paul Gaultier.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
From shaping to polishing, the journey of a Christian Louboutin shoe is one of pure craftsmanship.
Naples, Italy, home of one of Christian Louboutin’s family-owned and operated factories. The factory specializes in Men’s shoes, or in French chaussures pour hommes. Each shoe receives specialized care, therefore the journey for each shoe differs depending on the style, size and materials it is made from. You can follow along here if you’d like to see the step by step process.
First, a prototype is made. This determines the shape of the shoe. Once the prototype is approved, it is then replicated in more technical materials and put in line for production. A process called Tagliere a Mano is used to cut each shoe’s pattern from the leather. The artisans are trained for years in their specific fields in order to detect any flaws in the skin & cut around them. Only leather that is deemed perfect is used on the final product.
In men’s shoes, the bottom is lined with a thick cork composite to ensure wear and comfort followed by the infamous red sole. The iconic red sole is attached by Blake Stitching - an artisan technique which properly adheres the sole to the upper & allows the shoe to move naturally with your foot providing durability with wear.
After welding & the excess leather is trimmed away, the raw leather is then painted. Each batch of Patina is mixed from scratch without a recipe (just expert eyes). This is why shoes may differ in color - not one pair is exactly the same. This process is repeated several times until the desired color is reached. The process varies depending on types of leather, treatment, patina, etc. For example, alligator leather (shown) requires a small hand-held iron to press the skin bringing out natural shine and opening up pores in the leather.
Creating a Louboutin shoe is truly a unique & sophisticated process. See more here.
FIT/SIZING
I am generally a true 38 in heels. The Apostrophy fits snug at first, but the leather is soft & stretches comfortably around the toe box. I own a 37.5 and they fit quite well. Generally, in heels I recommend sizing up 1/2. So, I would wear a 38, but my left foot is slightly smaller so I felt like the 37.5 fit more comfortably. Also, the leather is a smooth Nappa leather so it will tend to stretch to your foot with wear.
I love the word bunion, and if you’ve worn heels at all in your lifetime you may have developed one (or two). My joint is absolutely inflamed from wearing heels during my retail days. The leather of the Apostrophy may press or rub along the bunion knuckle. If its sung, the leather will most likely stretch comfortably. If it’s tight, I am sad to admit that the leather WILL NOT stretch enough for comfort. See below for my snug fit tips.
TIP: If a shoe is snug, I advise clients to put on a thick sock and use a blowdryer to form the shoe around their foot. Using a blow dryer for 3 minutes at a time will loosen leather and release most (if not all) tension the leather is causing. This trick can also be used on patent leather. Focus on bending and releasing your toes to aid in stretching.
Comfort
Are heels really ever super comfortable? Most likely no. It’s an adventure finding a high heel that is comfortable for more than 3 hours at a time. I wore these on the brick streets of New York City for 5 hours at a work event & wasn’t in pain. Now, if I had stayed in them any longer I would have probably started feeling pressure in the ball of my foot…
Otherwise, the leather felt comfortable, breathable and my legs looked great! (just saying)
Price, $$$$
I would give the Christian Louboutin Apostrophy 4 out of 5 dollar signs. The pump is not by any means cheap, but it is not the most expensive heel on the market. At $745, the black Nappa leather is soft and timeless.
Overall
Full transparency, I recently snapped the heel & you can’t even tell in the photos - this shows how strong the leather is. I am super bummed, but I am searching for a decent cobbler to help me repair them. If not, well, my husband knows what shoe is next on my list.
Really though, I will only purchase shoes at this price if I really LOVE them & encourage my clients to do the same. Shoes are never an investment, but taking care of your feet is. Ensure your shoes are comfortable and don’t be susceptible to this “fashion is pain” crap. Wear what makes you feel good.
Not only are the Christian Louboutin Apostrophy Pump’s reasonably comfortable for a 100mm, I love the sexy silhouette, signature red sole & history of the brand.
