Christian Louboutin poses with a pair of stilettos called "Siamese" that he produced in collaboration with David Lynch.
Most designers learn their craft in the ateliers of more seasoned masters, but shoe designer Christian Louboutin found his calling as a 17-year-old apprentice in the dressing rooms of Paris' famous cabaret the Folies Bergère. "I would watch the girls going up and down the stairs with these very heavy headdresses on, and they never looked at their shoes," he says. "That's where I learned that shoes are all about posture and proportion."
Showgirls of all kinds--from Tina Turner to Nicole Kidman--are still an inspiration for Louboutin, 44, whose instantly recognizable red-soled stilettos have become de rigueur on the red carpet...
