A question we’re often ask by our clients is what is best way to protect your Christian Louboutin red lacquered soles.
Currently there are several options in the market that cater towards preserving and protecting Louboutin red soles. But which Louboutin sole protector is the best option for keeping your shoes the way you bought them?
The official Red Bottoms website simply states – “the red lacquer sole will wear off with use of the shoes”. The website also provides some general advice on taking care of your Louboutin shoes without providing any specific advice on red sole preservation or sole protection options. As with most luxury brands Louboutin are more interested in selling you another pair of shoes rather than providing you with options for preserving or protecting your items.
Sole preservation refers to applying temporary clear plastic films to your soles that can be done DIY and do not require any modification to the underlying leather. Leave naked refers to not applying any protective layer / covering over your soles. This leaves your red soles to wear naturally over time.
Sole protection is also described as getting your Louboutins “TOPYed” and needs to be done by a shoe repairer or cobbler. This is the most popular option for protecting your Louboutin soles. The general process involves sanding back the leather soles a few millimetres before sticking a layer of rubber over the top, smoothing and finishing the soles.
The main benefits of rubber as opposed to naked leather soles are its superior durability and anti-slip qualities. Having rubber sole protectors applied early to your Christian Louboutin is the most long term and cost-effective option. Applying half rubber soles arguably detracts from the aesthetics of your Louboutins. The red laquered stain needs to be shaved off and replaced with 1mm colour-matched rubber.
Clear sole protectors are transparent plastic films that are marketed as a military grade solution for preserving the red bottoms of Louboutins. Protect My Pumps, 3M, Sole Sticker and Zagg are some of the more popular invisible clear sole protector products marketed specifically for Louboutins.
The main criticism of clear sole protectors is there long-term value. It needs to be emphasised that clear sole protectors are not a permanent sole protection method and need to be replaced with each wear. The adhesion of the protector to the sole is only temporary and will peel away with prolonged exposure to the elements. In addition clear sole protectors provide no anti-slip protection and can actually increase the risk of an accident occurring. The non-grip surface is dangerous and poses a hazard particularly when worn in a social situation. Although clear sole protectors may appear the most aesthetic option, this is all outweighed by the impracticality of re-applying the material, the reoccurring costs for new protector films, the slip hazards posed and the possibility of damage to your Louboutins.
The final option is to wear your Louboutin soles as is and allow natural wear to take its course. Over time the soles should begin to scuff and parts of the red finish will wear away. When you decide to get the soles looked at your first preference might be to resole your Louboutins so they look exactly the same as the original. Unfortunately Louboutin does not offer a resoling service and you will need to utilise a reputable shoe repairer for restoring your Red Sole. Refinishing the the soles is another way of restoring Louboutins. This requires the soles to be built up with leather, smoothed and the colour-matched red finish reapplied. One thing to consider is that if you opt for repainting, this will need to be continuously reapplied as the red finish will eventually wear from the soles again.