Shoes: Those Red Soles

"Christian Louboutin has to be the kitschiest shoe designer since Mukuluks became a trend for the original hipsters in the early '90s. Luxurious, extravagant, yet a shoe wardrobe necessity. Those red soles, who can resist a design detail that actually emotes?

Most lift up their shoe, and we see a tag from an outlet store, or a pricetag of some embarrassing sort. With Louboutins we see the red, and we think "Oh, I love." Even if you aren't crazy about the style, you know who designed them and you agree it is a status symbol. Bergdorf's, Barneys NY, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and select Nordstroms carry the coveted soles. And if you search online, there are many-a-boutique that have hard-to-find styles in stock.

Summer 2006 I went to visit one of my closest friends in Tucson, Arizona, aka spa country if you didn't know. Did I take with me my Louboutins? Yes. Did I care if I had a chance to wear them? No. The mere fact I owned a pair (Hung Up $560 below, right) I thought sure to impress my long-time bestie. But no, I am absolutely sure she was not aware of how important my shoes were to the cult of my fashion personality. I was, I will admit, slightly hurt and disappointed that I didn't impress as planned, but then I realized: this is Tucson. The highlight of the downtown shops is Urban Outfitters, and in the hills, St. John. There's not a whole lot going on there in the way of couture.

Lesson learned, one that will ever strike me when I look at my red-soled shoes: there is a time and a place for them. It never crossed my mind when I made the purchase. So word to the wise: plan your use of your luxury shoes wisely, or you may fail to notice you've become "another one of those girls". Oh yes, it's true, you are not exempt. You can be "that girl". That girl who wears her Louboutins to the aquarium. Don't do it."

Be Gorgeous --Lux