A cut above the rest

The favourite shoes of Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Victoria Beckham recently walked into Bangkok with the opening of Christian Louboutin’s first boutique at Central Embassy.
    The brand tempts Thai ladies with such classic styles such as the So Kate and Pigalle stilettos to the more relaxed Rantus Orlato and Louis Woman high-top sneakers.
    For men, there’s a selection of traditional styles including the Bruno Orlato, Chorale and Dada flats, which will appeal to the more conventional customer, while the Roller-boat, Rantus and New Papiounet flat offer a bold yet casual approach to dressing.
    The bag collection offers an array of niche details, such as nautical inspired eyelets on the Pannettone, the gold scarab closures of the Khephira and the multi-coloured spikes on the Loubiposh clutch. New colour ways bring the classic Sweet Charity to life, while pastel spikes and glitter play up the whimsical nature of its miniature version, the Sweety Charity.
    For autumn and winter 2014, the centrepiece of every Sweet Charity handbag is its bow clasp. Jewel-like in its detailing, the bow offers a playful finish to the classic front-flap design. The functional embellishment continues in the delicate chain straps and its hand-tinted leather edges – a technique characteristic of heritage European craftsmanship.
    Since its launch in Autumn/Winter 2009, Sweet Charity has become the cornerstone of Louboutin’s handbag collection. Louboutin drew inspiration and the name from “Sweet Charity”, the 1969 movie-musical starring Shirley MacLaine, and captures the “jolie madame” spirit of MacLaine’s character in handbag form.
    These leather goods are displayed in an elegant store with its white marble facade and an interior that meshes Thai traditions with Paris chic and is divided into individual rooms showcasing the women’s, bags and men’s collections respectively.
The women’s space is understated with elegant white walls and a simple decor, allowing the product to take centre stage.
The centre space, or second room, features the bag collection; here, new materials and richer textures are introduced via traditional Thai accents, including highly glazed ceramic tiles resembling fishtails, hand-crafted stone carvings and fabric embroidered with copper sequins.
Housed in the third and final room is the men’s collection, featuring a masculine mix of grey stone and leather. Traditional Thai tattoos, or yantra, have been embroidered into leather tiles that canvas two of the walls within the space. Traditionally, yantra are believed to bestow mystical powers, protection, or good luck. As with many special elements in the boutique, this unique wall draws a natural connection to the custom tattoo service offered in select Christian Louboutin boutiques worldwide.
 Christian Louboutin was created in 1992 when Louboutin opened his first store in Paris. The brand currently has 91 stores worldwide including a number of dedicated Men’s boutiques. Recent collaborations with legendary Parisian Cabaret Crazy Horse and the Walt Disney Company, along with special projects with those from the worlds of music, art and film typify the creative dexterity of the designer. One in particular is the fairytale iconic shoe of Cinderella.