From the lively spirit of Carnival to the seductive sounds of samba, the warm and colourful atmosphere of Brasil inspires Christian Louboutin’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection for women. A favorite destination of the designer, he visits often to design summer collections, immersing himself in the heat during the European winter months.
This season’s glittering fabrics, audacious exotics and colours bold and neutral take inspiration from the natural beauty of Brasil’s flora and fauna. Brightly-coloured Python KAA and watersnake Ayers Moreila in Blue, Rougissime and Sunshine, as well as screen-printed Canevas Jungle summon the mysterious creatures lurking in the overgrown forests of the Amazon. Otherworldly flora and fauna on Python Flowers and ridged, cut leather motifs equipped with prickly thorns allure with striking vivacity, as brilliant beaches are evoked through a vibrant palette of Egyptian Blue, Electro, turquoise Bora Bora and metalised patents that gleam like the surface of the ocean in the sun. Rich neutrals DouDou and Galet conjure sandy shores, whilst smooth accents of Latte transport us to white sand beaches. With the heat of the summer sun, in yellow sunshine and Full Moon caress the skin with warm golden rays.
A collection of breadth and depth, a few key themes emerge for Spring/Summer 2017. First, a colourful adventure in spirited styles that mix hand-painted animal prints applied to jungle-ready exotics. Watersnakes Ayers Khan, Ayers Zebra and Leopard are fastened together with Pony Leopard and earthy nappas on cage sandal Zebriana 120 while a vivid mix of splashy watersnakes Ayers Moreila Blue, Rougissime and Sunshine on Zefir 100 don leather strap detailing that recalls artisanal weaving techniques. Flaunting the same multicoloured scheme as Zefir, Madame Menodo 100 and 120 wear a delicate, hand-crafted python bow while Loris 150 on a sky-high Lady Peep platform, a corset-inspired ankle strap. On handbags, traditional artisanship is displayed with handwoven, patchworked ribbons on Tissu Afridiam in the Eloise collection, and on Paloma Clutch and Paloma Medium in a vivid Tissu Africube. A new, bite-sized Paloma Nano is adorned in faceted beads that glint in the light, mimicking sunlight on sand.
Venturing deeper into the mysterious depths of the jungle, we find the rarest vegetation.Carnivorous plants with a poisonous bite seduce with voluminous silhouettes and lush colours that simply won’t be tamed. Venecage 100, Venenana 100 and pump Douanati 100 wear striking, cut-out floral motifs that are more Venus Fly Trap than Bird of Paradise. Featuring glittering tissue fabrics in trippy acidic colours and a version in deceivingly coy powder pink Poudre, the shoes are cloaked with sharp thorns and a mirage heel that may just be a hallucination induced by the plant’s toxicnectar.
From the rainforests of the Amazon to the concrete jungles of Sao Paolo, city style boots Who Runs 70 and Who Dances 70 are equipped with tread-ready lug soles and military-inspired button details to make a style statement in flashy, multi-coloured material collages of Safari pony, metalised leather and Glitter Tissé. Pumps and peep toe sister styles Estradouche 100 and Aribak 100 channel fashion gurus in a delightful mix of pony and Glitter. The addition of Rosa pink and purple Cassis suede draped into couture turban knots adds an elegant evening detail to the foot on Marchavekel 100 and 150 on a curved Fetish heel. Meanwhile, multicoloured jewels and bauble embellishments ornament the gloriously eccentric material combinations of Riveraluna 100, Oaxacana 85 and Rivieraluna Flat.
Jewelry applied on sandals this season tells the tale of free-spirited women dancing well into the wee hours of hot Rio nights. An artisanal element with a distinctly ethnic twist, multi-coloured Gysandal Flat, Gypsandal 100 and Gypsandal 70 add shimmy to your Samba with dangling rings adorning ankle straps. Continuing with the theme of native jewelry, Aztekanana 100, Azteka 85, and Azteclou 25 are informed by both geometric patterns and nature, with studs and spikes that conjure the richness of ethnic jewelry adapted on strappy sandals with a nod to Mesoamerian design.
Jeweled Dvinapaik spreads its wings with a metallic butterfly hardware motif that opens its wings to form the shoe’s décolleté. Veering towards antiquity, loafer style Octavian Flat and low pump Oaxacana wear large gold jewelry reminiscent of precious vintage brooches. Aztec-inspired sandals fit for temple offerings bring glamourous embellishments to the streets with bold, sun dial motifs and jewelry details woven into Kaleitop Flat and 85, Kaleikita 100, Kaleidal 70. Each pays tribute to the sun gods with gold specchio heels and gold Glitter Tisse strap accents that harness the energy of solar light.
Sun bursts through shady palms to sizzle and ignite the season. A pop star explosion of candycoloured leathers and touches of fishnet soften the jagged geometric lines of Explotek 70 and 100, Explozina 70 and 100 and in the leather goods collection on Paloma Large. Echoing the serpentine ways of water, strappy styles high – Antigua Bay 100 – and low – Antigua Bay Flat – add colour and shine to any pool party in a summer palette of Poudre, Sunshine and Rosa integrating oversized buckles and touches of silver metal patent and patent Mosaique Flower. Buckle sandals, M.I.F. Flat and M.I.D 85 go for a stroll along the Ipanema Boardwalk on a comfortable new rubber sole in soft bubble gum pastels.
Christian Louboutin’s Spring/Summer 2017 Collection debuts in boutiques and luxury department
stores beginning in November. Shop the collection 24/7 at ChristianLouboutin.com.
Christian Louboutin is exclusively available in Rustan’s Makati.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Christian Louboutin was created in 1992 when Louboutin opened his first boutique at 19 Jean Jacques Rousseau in Paris. An artist and a craftsman with a true passion for shoes, his designs are unique and instantly recognizable, thanks in part to their signature and now trademarked red lacquered soles. Louboutin’s collections for both women and men combine wit, glamour, elegance and technical proficiency like none other.
Since the brand’s launch, his creations have been immortalized in museums, on fashion week runways, red carpets, and in pop culture around the world. A woman’s beauty has always been at the centre of Louboutin’s inspiration, and 2014 welcomed the launch of Christian Louboutin Beauté with its first nail colour, Rouge Louboutin. The brand’s highly anticipated ‘second chapter’ of beauty, lip colour, launched in September 2015. The brand entered the world of fragrance with the launch of three signature Christian Louboutin fragrances in September
2016.
With a prolific collection of women’s and men’s shoes, day and evening handbags and small leather goods, Christian Louboutin now counts more than one hundred boutiques around the world, including several locations dedicated to men’s and a one-of-a-kind beauty boutique located in the heart of Paris’ 1st Arrondissement, just two doors away from 19 Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
