Shoe Candy

As 2009 comes to an end, I thought I would leave you with wishes of Louboutin's dancing in your head. The below Louboutin's are by far the most drool-worthy pair I've found to date. These beauties are the perfect shoe to go with my New Years dress. . .but with a near $3000 price tag will most likely never find a spot in my closet. :(

Christian Louboutin Jeweled Platform

Check back in 2010 for my top 10 Trend for 2010, and more to come!

{not so} Secret Indulgences

It is well known that my all time favorite designer is Christian Louboutin, with his perfectly sculpted heels finished with a signature red sole. My love affair began five years ago, on a trip to Paris, where I spent several weeks canvassing the city for Louboutin's allusive flagship store. Located on a tiny side street in the 7th arrondissement, the modestly sized store offers a large selection of Louboutin's finest creations. 

Christian Louboutin Flagship Store: 19 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 Paris 

Several years earlier I had already developed a love affair with another Parisian native, Ladurée. Since it's beginning in 1862, Ladurée has grown from a small bakery, to a tea salon, and finally into the prestigious restaurant and tea salon that it is today. In addition to a bustling location on the Champs-Elysées, Ladurée has 7 other locations across Paris, London, Switzerland and Tokyo. Most know Ladurée for their delectible pastries, most notably, the macaroon. 

Now, these two Parisian powerhouses have joined forces to create a limited addition box collection of macaroons, designed by Christian Louboutin. Inside the boxes, pastry chef Philippe Andrieu offers up a macaroon with Mediterranean flavors of fig and date. The macaroon top is black, and the bottom is, of course, red. . .just like Louboutin's coveted high heels. 

Available from September 11, collect all three designs and sizes. Starting at £9.80 for a box of six. Oh, and don't forget to pick one up for me!

SEEING RED. . . .SOLES

Shoes Pictured from Saks, Neiman Marcus or Net-a-Porter

There is nothing like fabulous shoes to get me motivated and cure my writers block. . .especially when those fabulous shoes happen to from Christian Louboutin!

Since opening his first boutique in Paris in 1992, Christian Louboutin has flown to the top as one of the most coveted shoe designers of the century! His signature red soles are the epitome of style and wealth. The red sole itself came about as a "happy accident", Louboutin explains.

"I did not really choose the red sole. It’s more like the red sole came to me and had to stay with me. It started as a happy accident, which I kept. I was very inspired by pop art so all my drawings were really full of colors. So the first prototype arrives. It’s very very very very similar to my designs so I was very happy. But something was missing. Thank God I had this girl with me who was painting her nails. Grabbed her nailpolish… thank you to Chanel for that! (laughs)… I grabbed the nailpolish and I painted the sole. I started immediately in my shop to have the red sole the same season."

Thank goodness for that "accident", it is the red sole that has helped sky rocket the Louboutin brand and make his shoes so easily recognizable. Unfortunately. . .the red sole comes with quite the lofty price tag of $500 to more than $1000 a pair!

Guess what? TOMORROW Gilt Groupe is having a Christian Louboutin sale!!! This is nearly unheard of. . .I have scoured ebay as well as clearance sales at Saks, and it is nearly impossible to find a decent Louboutin for less than $250! Based off the wonderful pricing on past Gilt sales, I fully expect most shoes at the sale to be priced at less than the $250 mark!

Follow the below link to sign up with Gilt Groupe!

http://www.gilt.com/invite/lprattes

TIP: Louboutin's tend to run atleast a half size to full size small. . .so if you are typically a 7, order a 37.5 or 38!

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Louboutin myself when he came to Atlanta for an event at Jeffrey's this past October. He signed the bottom of my coveted Louboutin's that I bought in Paris 4 years ago at his flagship store! On my shoe he wrote: "Pour Lauryn, Devine. Louboutin"

I spoke with him in French for a few minutes, and just by that brief meeting I can tell what a kind and friendly man he is. I, along with my shoes, was featured in The Atlantan as well as Atlanta Peach Magazines. It was an experience that I will never forget!

Rants, Raves and Red Soles

I'll start with the Raves from my day. . .which would be that Saks Fifth Avenue is currently having a FANTASTIC sale! Currently almost all reduced items are an additional 50% off! This is a perfect time to score a DVF Wrap Dress for less that $100. . .just make sure that the item is something you can hold on to for a while! Check out some of my favorite finds for under $100 below!

Saks Fifth Avenue

Now on to my Rants. . .although I was thoroughly impressed with the sales at Saks today, I will say that I was UNIMPRESSED with their customer service skills! This is the second time I have visited the Saks store at Tysons Galleria in McLean, Virginia and not received any help from a sales person! I was in the store for 25 minutes, weighted down by clothes across 3 different departments, and not ONE salesperson approached me! When I'm paying Saks Fifth Avenue prices, I expect a little respect and help from the sales department!

And now. . .the Red Soles! This was the single best moment of my shopping experience (followed by sadness as they were the wrong size!) I stumbled across the most glorious pair of Christian Louboutin Yoyospina shoes (size 37) on sale for $150!!!! Yes, you read that right, Louboutin's for under $200!!! If they hadn't been peep toe, I seriously might have cut off my toes to fit them in the shoes! The sales lady searched the Saks system and no other Saks in country had these shoes in my size! (38.5 or 39) :(  

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I managed to find this pair on EBAY. . .but they aren't quite my size. . .and are still $375! Anyone that knows me knows  that Louboutins are my FAVORITE! Look for a post later this week about me getting to MEET Mr. Louboutin and having him sign a pair of my shoes!!!!! (all time best day ever!)