Let’s face it – Christian Louboutin shoes are the ruby red slippers of the fashion world.
Move over Dorothy, Christian Louboutin’s iconic red soles and impeccable eye for detail are some real-life magic.
After all, what woman wouldn’t want a pair of Louboutins taking pride of place in her wardrobe?
The shoe envy from friends and family would be unreal.
So why can’t you have it all?
All you have to do is follow the style tips listed below to find an pair of Christian Louboutin heels without being tricked by counterfeit vendors.
1 – Check the price
Genuine Christian Louboutin heels retail between $600 and $1600.
So if someone is selling a pair for $50 then the odds are they’re fake.
Even if you want to buy a pair of pre-owned Christian Louboutins, you should be prepared to pay a few hundred dollars for a genuine pair.
Don’t worry though, the high quality of genuine Louboutins and the constant shoe envy from everyone you meet means they practically pay for themselves.
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2 – Look at the sole
A red sole is the calling card of Christian Louboutin shoes. However, there are several small factors that separate these signature soles from fakes.
First things first, Louboutins will always have a bright ‘lipstick red’ sole with a shiny, glossy finish. This is because Christian Louboutin soles are made from painted red leather not plastic.
Top tip : Being made from red painted leather means that the soles will scuff quicker than plastic. So if you intend to buy a preowned pair then scuff marks are actually an indicator that the shoes are legit!
Authentic Christian Louboutin heels will also clearly have ‘Christian Louboutin’, ‘Made in Italy’ and the European shoe size deep embossed on the sole, never printed.
Half sizes will always be written as ‘1/2’ never ‘.5’.
An easy way to spot a fake pair of Christian Louboutins is if any of this information is missing or if ‘Made in Italy’ is printed as ‘MADEINITALY’ without spacing. Also the ‘L’ in Louboutin must almost touch the rest of the word whereas many fakes will have a clear space in between.
Another top tip : Some older models of Christian Louboutins made before 2007 will have a ‘Vero Cuoio’ stamp on the sole. If you see a current model of heels with this stamp then they are fake.
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3 – Look inside the shoe
As well as the sole, the inside of every Christian Louboutin show has a calling card – the words ‘Christian Louboutin’ on the heel and ‘Paris’ in the centre of the insole.
Unless you are looking at a pair of special edition shoes (such as their bridal collection) the insole of Christian Louboutin shoes will always be beige and the writing will always be in gold ink.
Go on the official Christian Louboutin website and scrutinise the font, size, color and placement of these words. By doing so you will easily be able to spot any fakes.
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4 – Check the box
All Christian Louboutin shoes are sold in a strong brown box. These boxes always have the ‘Christian Louboutin’ branding in the centre and the word ‘Paris’ in the bottom right hand corner. All of this branding is written in white lettering.
Scrutinise the placement of these words because many fake vendors place the word ‘Paris’ right next to the ‘Christian Louboutin’ branding or in a completely different corner.
An authentic Christian Louboutin box will also have an item description sticker on the side of the box that lists the European size (remember ‘1/2’ for half sizes, never ‘.5’!) as well as the name of the shoe.
This sticker will also have a SKU bar and number so you should double check all of these little details before handing over your hard-earned cash.
5 – Pay attention to the small details
There’s a reason Christian Louboutin heels are so expensive – an incredible level of craftsmanship has gone into making each shoe. As such, the stitching and all minor embellishments on these shoes will be impeccable.
The stitching on your heels should be perfect and consistent. No loose threads, wide or double stitching in sight!
Look for tightly placed, straight stitching that is evenly spaced across the entire shoe.
A great way to spot shoddy stitching is to find the specific model of shoes you intend to buy on the official Christian Louboutin website and then compare their images with the listing you have found. Check both the interior and exterior stitching of the shoes for any errors.
As well as the stitching, the leather of your Christian Louboutin heels should be shaped perfectly and look seamless. The insole of the heels should be aligned with the side of the heels and sealed properly. If you can spot any rippling or bunched up fabric near the seams then you are looking at a fake pair.
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6 – Watch out for authentication cards
Many designer brands include authentication cards with their products.
Christian Louboutin have NEVER done this.
On the other hand, fake Christian Louboutin vendors love to provide a little red plastic card stating their ‘high quality’ and ‘authenticity’. The shoes should speak for themselves and if you spot an authentication card then leave that listing immediately!
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7 – Don’t forget the dust bag
Unboxing a pair of genuine Christian Louboutin shoes is always a delight. Upon opening the brown box you are treated to glamorous dust bag and a smaller dust bag containing heel taps.
As well as looking amazing, this dust bag provides another ideal opportunity to spot a fake pair of Louboutins.
First of all, the dust bag should be made from a soft cotton fabric with overlocked stitches and a drawstring closure. This high quality cotton bag should be a vibrant red color so if you spot any silk fabrics, faded reds or pink tones then you are dealing with a fake.
In terms of branding, your dust bag should have the Christian Louboutin logo written in black ink straight across the bag, never diagonally. The word ‘Paris’ should also be printed in black in the bottom right hand corner.
If you have ordered a pair of heels with spikes or stud detailing then spares will be provided in a similar little dust bag, never plastic. What’s more, the flat sides of the studs should have a ‘CL’ engraving. It’s these little finishing touches that make all the difference!
Follow all of these style tips and you’re one step closer to owning your very own pair of genuine Christian Louboutin shoes!
