September 2014|Harper’s BAZAAR| 233

HIS OBSESSION WITH EYES is likely to

fi nd its way into product form courtesy of

future releases under the Christian Louboutin

Beauté umbrella. For now, though, any plans

beyond nail polish remain a closely guarded

secret, although the smart money might be on

a Christian Louboutin lip colour popping up

soon. “If you’re thinking about empowering

women, lipstick is a strong thing. I have this

thing with lipstick because of the type of

sexuality and the gestures it gives,” he tells

Bazaar. But fi rst is the launch of the polish

collection, which is divided into colour

categories of Noirs, Nudes and Pops, with each

shade named after an iconic Louboutin shoe or

handbag. Prices are among the highest in the

market, with nail polishes retailing from

Dhs240 to Dhs260 and the Loubi Primer and

Gloss nail care kit costing Dhs265. Rather

than beauty halls, the collection will be sold on

the shoe fl oor of department stores and in

Christian Louboutin boutiques, emphasising

its point of difference in the beauty world.

“I consider nail colour as an accessory,

just as for shoes and handbags,” explains

Christian. To display the polishes, Christian

commissioned the architect Tarek Shamma to

create ‘Loubiville’, a miniature town in which

the distinctive form of Louboutin nail polish

bottles form turrets and lipstick bullets create

pillars. Such is the detail in Loubiville, it’s not

impossible to imagine a spin-off real estate

venture making an appearance at a future

edition of Cityscape. We can but dream.

“It had to be perfectly architectured,” smiles

Christian. “What is inside is dedicated to

women, but what is outside has to please

anyone who likes a form of art. I want the

woman to enjoy this experience of painting her

nails – the pleasure of the object as well as the

pleasure of colour. The application will be

“ M Y B E A U T Y

PRODUCTS WIL L

A M P L I F Y A

WOM A N’S BE AUTY

R ATHER TH A N

F I X I T ”

Christian Louboutin

N

i

r

■

Christian Louboutin nail

polish used for the Cushnie

et Ochs A/W14 catwalk

show in New York

a painterly and artistic

experience, both for

her and for anyone who

may be watching.”

As with everything in

the world of Christian

Louboutin, the pursuit

of beauty is a tireless

endeavour, attainable by all

without preying on women’s

insecurities or fallibility. “No

matter what the category, my beauty

products will amplify a woman’s beauty

rather than fi x it,” Christian confi rms.

Because, despite the occasional torture of

dancing all night in a pair of red-soled stilettos,

this designer is fi rmly on the side of his

customers. “Both my shoes and beauty serve to

reinforce the idea of femininity,” he smiles.

MIMI RITZEN CRAWFORD