LOUBOUTIN LOVE

ONE WOMAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER LOUBOUTINS

WORDS | GRACE MOLAN

PHOTOGRAPHER | MARTHA DOMINGUEZ

LOCATION | MIAMI, USA

Just as a raging Spanish bull is drawn to the flash of a Matador’s red cape, so men are drawn to women in Louboutins. It is the same principle. The devilish flash of red that makes the blood pulse through the body and the heart race. Red is a powerful colour. It has

connotations of blood, danger, sacrifice and love. According to Christian Louboutin himself, a woman wearing his shoes is signalling to the world “ Suivez-moi, jeune homme” or in English, “Follow me young man”.

These striking red soles have also captivated the hearts of women across the globe. Superstars like Jennifer Lopez have even named songs after the iconic high heels. There is something about these beautifully hand crafted shoes, with their buttery leather and surprisingly comfortable stiletto heel, that makes a women feel like a princess as soon as her foot slides into the shoe. It is not just the towering heel that makes a woman stand a little taller in a pair of Louboutins. These shoes empower women, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, they make women feel that anything is possible when they are wearing Louboutin shoes.

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“Women feel that anything

is possible when they

are wearing Louboutin

shoes”

In Miami, with its remarkable beaches and contrasting neighbourhoods like the bohemian Wynwood district, and the charming old world neighbourhood of Coral Gables, Martha Dominguez, the ‘voice’ behind the blog PrincessMartha.com, is the proud owner of 17 pairs of

Louboutin shoes. It is safe to say that she loves Louboutins and in fact, in her own words, she is a Louboutin worshiper. Martha’s light hearted attitude and her killer sense of humour has allowed her blog, which details life in Miami (what she eats, wears and finds inspiring in her day to day life), to gain international recognition. It has become a go to for women in search of some uplifting advice be it on how to style a certain garment, what the latest must see exhibition is or more recently, advice on how to stay healthy whilst pregnant. “I wanted to have a ‘home’ for my thoughts, my fashion loves and my creativity and I feel that having a blog really offered that outlet for me” muses Martha. “I think that anyone that is thinking about starting a blog should do it.”

“I like to describe myself as a strong and fearless girly girl.” Says Martha. “I am not into dressing for the trends, but rather dressing for myself.” There are limitations to this however. Being based in Miami, it is essential to have a wardrobe that reflects the sultry climate of the city. This means dresses and lots of them. Any desire to wear snugly cashmere jumpers or fabulous leather boots has to be banished. It does mean however, that Martha gets to showcase her extensive Louboutin collection on a regular basis. “My two favourite pairs of Louboutins are my very first pair (Palace Strass Velvet) and my ‘disco ball’ (simple multi glitter) shoes. These shoes have super powers” says Martha. “They are very comfortable for me to wear and I think that has been the key to my obsession. In my Louboutins I can walk for miles.”

Life has not always been a luxury, Louboutin-filled walk in the park. “I can remember saving for months back in 2005 to purchase my very first pair of Christian Louboutins. I would eat cereal at home instead of eating dinners out, iron my own clothes instead of using the dry cleaner and do my own manicures and pedicures to save money.” recalls Martha. “When I had finally saved enough money ($995.00 or £654 in British money), I went straight to the Saks Fifth Avenue store and purchased my first pair of Christian Louboutins. I felt like a princess. I still own the heels and to this day I feel like a princess when I wear them.” Like in any fairytale, the princess always finds a prince and where better to celebrate a wedding than in the city that brought the world Louboutin shoes. “When I got married, I got married in Paris. It was 2007 and Louboutin was already a big deal here

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in the United States but he had not really reached the full mainstream in France yet” recalls Martha. “I remember my wedding photographer taking pictures of my shoes and saying ‘Who makes these shoes with the red sole?’ I told him that the designer was French and in fact started in Paris and my photographer was shocked. He had never heard of him! Nowadays I am sure that every wedding photographer knows a red sole when they see it.”

Another item of clothing that is close to Martha’s heart also originates from the city of Paris. “There is nothing more chic and elegant than a fabulous, fitted little black dress” says Martha. “Depending on your accessories, a little black dress can take you to a work dinner or a formal event and everything in between. Spend some time (and some money) on this wardrobe piece...trust me. You will get so much use out of it” Despite this, as the saying goes, you can take a girl out of America but you cannot take America out of the girl. “There is something so effortless and chic about a great pair of jeans, stiletto heels and a white t-shirt” muses Martha. “It is simple, classic and definitely Americana chic.”

However, although the little black dress and true American denim jeans hold their appeal, there is nothing that will replace the sex appeal a pair of Louboutins has. It is just physically impossible. When asked what a world without Louboutins would be like, Martha nearly broke down. “I love those heels, I love the way they look, the way they fit and that red sole is simply too fabulous to do without.” It is a good job that Christian Louboutin’s shoe empire is forever expanding. Nobody wants to deal with a world of shoe deprived women, that is guaranteed not be a pretty

sight.

“I feel like a Princess when I wear Louboutins”

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