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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 31 May 2019
Couture Council to honor Louboutin and his red-soled shoes

By JOCELYN NOVECK “When adults asked what I
Associated Press wanted to do when I grew
NEW YORK (AP) — From a up, I said I wanted to draw
tiny bottle of nail polish, a shoes,” he says. “But I didn’t
luxury fashion empire was think it was a real job.”
born. He’d been designing for
Designer Christian Loubou- several years when he dis-
tin says he was experiment- covered the red-sole idea
ing in his factory one day in the early ‘90s. A few
when he suddenly seized weeks after the nail pol-
his assistant’s bottle of red ish experiment, he says,
polish to blot out the usual he was in his Paris shop,
black soles and try some watching a couple consid-
bright color. er a pair of shoes with typi-
The experiment stuck, obvi- cal black soles. His female
ously. And now Louboutin’s co-worker felt the man was
red-soled stilettos, featuring “very handsome,” Loubou-
sky-high heels and fetching tin says, and watched as
sky-high prices, are “utterly he turned over a pair of
iconic as a symbol of erot- shoes to find nothing inter-
ic femininity,” says Valerie esting on the soles. When
Steele, director of The Mu- the couple left, the co-
seum at FIT — explaining worker remarked that she
why Louboutin has been should have put her phone
chosen as this year’s hon- number on the soles.
oree of the museum’s Cou- Louboutin took that as a
ture Council. This May 28, 2017 file photo shows Christian Louboutin at the award ceremony at the 70th sign, he says, “that the sole
The prestigious honor, international Cannes Film festival in Cannes, France. should have its own iden-
awarded each year at Associated Press tity.”
the beginning of New he said, “is a pedestal. But shoes have always been an men’s shoes, but it’s wom- He considered changing
York Fashion Week in Sep- this little thing on your feet is important part of the mu- en’s footwear he’s famous the color every season,
tember, usually goes to also making you a different seum’s voluminous collec- for, especially the heels but then realized that red
a clothes designer. But, person, in a lot of ways. It’s tion, which includes some (though he designs flats, — the color of blood, he
Louboutin told The Associ- affecting the entire silhou- 4,000 pairs “and counting.” too). They range from hun- points out — was unique. “I
ated Press this week, fash- ette and the way you’re “People really obsess over dreds of dollars per pair had many customers who
ion lovers have a special going to walk and move.” their shoes,” she says. She well into the thousands, would only wear black, but
relationship with shoes — There’s another advan- calls Louboutin’s red soles depending on the adorn- they wore red on their lips
more than with clothes, or tage, he adds, to footwear: “a stroke of genius — what ment. They’re loved by ce- or on their nails,” he says.
at least different. The wearer can see it. “If a simple and yet effec- lebrities; “I’m throwing on Louboutin’s shoes are worn
“The woman carries the you have a dress, you can’t tive thing, because red is my Louboutins,” goes the by fashionistas around the
clothes. But the shoes? They see it unless you have a mir- coded for us as the color chorus of a 2009 Jennifer world — first lady Melania
carry the woman,” the Par- ror. But if you have a pair of of passion and seduction Lopez song. Trump seems to be a fan,
is-based designer said Tues- shoes, you can still look at and love ... but who would Louboutin, 56, says his ca- often photographed in
day in a telephone inter- your feet. All the time.” have thought to have put it reer began with a child- Louboutins like a towering
view. “So it’s a very differ- Steele, at FIT (Fashion Insti- on the sole of a shoe?” hood hobby of sketching yellow pair she wore re-
ent interaction.” The shoe, tute of Technology), says Louboutin also designs shoes. cently in Japan.q

Mavis Staples and Ben Harper combine for great music

By MARK KENNEDY others that make you move, with Mind” — sound like the band was
Associated Press some funk and folk and soul and another room down the hall.
Mavis Staples, “We Get By” (Anti- blues, the guitars often shimmer- In between calls for change,
Records) ing. He joins her in singing the dy- Staples sings about love. On
Time has certainly not dampened namic, soulful “We Get By.” “Chance on Me,” she is needy:
the urgency in Mavis Staples’ The Staples-Harper collaboration “I don’t need a symphony/I just
voice. Now 80, the Grammy- dates back to when he wrote the need one violin.” On the tender,
winning legend and social activ- terrific song “Love and Trust” for bluesy “Hard to Leave,” she’s
ist has one clear enemy on her her 2016 album, “Livin’ On a High longing: “Softly reaching over/For
new album: the status quo. She Note.” She thanks him for all his your touch upon my sleeve.”
sings the word “change” some 20 new work in the liner notes: “I love Then there’s the standout “Stron-
times. you, Baby Bruh.” He has three ger,” an irresistible rocking track
The terrific “We Get By” opens Grammys, but Harper might put where Staples’ voice stretches
with the song “Change” and This cover image released by Anti- that career achievement first. and soars and the guitar keeps
ends 10 tracks later with “One Records shows “We Get By,” a release Harper has written and produced up with her. “Don’t need a house
More Change to Make.” Along by Mavis Staples. an unrushed and quietly brooding on the hill/Don’t need my face on
the way, she urges action: “Can’t Associated Press album for Staples, one that puts a dollar bill,” she sings.
stay the same,” ‘’Something’s got by Ben Harper and their union is her expressive voice at the center Hey, George Washington has
to give” and “Grab hold of the both fruitful and moving. Harper and the instruments turned down. had a long run. Who’s down with
days.” All the songs on this, her has given Staples some tunes that Two songs — “Never Needed Staples on the $1? Change can
12th studio album, were written show off her vulnerable side and Anyone” and “Heavy On My be good.q