Meet the Nudes

Inspired by the knowledge that “all women want longer legs,” Christian Louboutin launched the first-of-its-kind Nudes Collection in the summer of 2013 to great acclaim. The capsule collection comes in a spectrum of skin colours from fair (Blush #1) to a rich chestnut (Blush #5), in four core styles. Previously available in classics including Pigalle and the Simple Pump, the Nudes will debut this month in seasonal silhouettes Deepik and Dorissima for the first time.

The transformation of the Nudes Collection exemplifies Christian Louboutin’s design process. “I’ve always done a Nude shoe but only using the colour beige,” he recalls. However, it was the blunt statement, “beige is not the colour of my skin” echoed by a team member that prompted him to transform the Nudes concept. Christian realized the range of shades needed to be expanded to suit different types of complexions, “I have clients from every continent and want to make them happy!” Using his studio team as guinea pigs, Christian created five different shoes inspired by their skin tones. A year later, the nudes they created became best sellers around the world.

“Nude is not a colour, it’s a concept,” Christian explains. By elongating the legs and complementing a woman’s silhouette, a nude pump conveys the fluidity, versatility, and allure of the female body, an ongoing inspiration for Louboutin. After all, early in his career, the designer lowered the vamp of a classic pump in order to visually lengthen the legs, and showcase the cleavage of a woman’s toes.

The transparency of the shoe also offers a certain “freedom” to the rest of the appearance. “Nude shoes go with everything and allow you to wear any handbag or accessory you want.” No doubt, the ease and second-skin nature of the shoes explains why stylists and clients alike adore them. “They understood the Nudes concept immediately,” Christian confirms. With their enthusiasm, the collection’s popularity sky rocketed.

For SS15 and FW15 Christian focuses on the wavy, mirage-like heel of the Dalida, “it reminds me of my favourite moment in film when Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia sees Omar Sharif (Ali) for the very first time. He’s not sure if it’s a mirage, caused by the sun, or really someone else and it’s sublime.” The Dorissima—expected to be a favorite, is a single-sole, timeless pump with a heart-shaped toe box and a thin sky-high heel, “it’s important to evolve the style and have fun with it,” he says of Dorissima. Christian views So Kate as having the ideal heel height and although “re-arranged in terms of toe cleavage,” it resembles our most popular shoe the Pigalle. As for the Iriza it boasts a very high arch and sexy attitude, “there’s something very naked and raw about the Iriza,” says Christian.

The collection crosses over to Beauté Louboutin with ten Nude nail colours that are designed to give the feel of an instant grooming. In celebration of the relaunch, “show us your nudes” on Instagram using hashtags #NudesForAll and #LouboutinWorld for a chance to be featured!