October 4, 2025 |
Christian Louboutin doesn’t do low-key. Following on from last year’s Paris Fashion Week extravaganza, where the footwear maven staged a synchronised swimming show to debut his SS25 collection, the designer was back with another mammoth production. Turning to esteemed image-maker David LaChapelle and choreographer Blanca Li once again to orchestrate proceedings, the 2025 ‘Loubi’ show took us to an American Football game. It was a star-studded affair, with the likes of Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie and the brand’s newly appointed men’s creative director, Jaden Smith – fittingly painted Loubi red – all in the audience.
Truffle-flavoured popcorn at the ready (delicious), the show began with a well-dressed Parisian protagonist who proceeded to lawn the football field in six-inch pumps (casually) before a marching band broke into renditions of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes and Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. They were delightfully upstaged by a flag-twirling seahorse mascot – Mr Louboutin’s favourite animal – wearing a bedazzled heel, of course.
Throughout the performance, the gents – who also included high-flying gymnasts – donned ballet-inspired Oxfords as part of the Cassia line. Pompom-waving cheerleaders also wore the Cassia Annmac, a ballet pump reimagined as a heel with sparkly legwarmers in yellow, purple and red attached.
Turning into an brilliantly-choreographed boys vs girls football match (the girls winning, obvs), the show finished with a giant, tiered birthday cake which was rolled out onto the pitch, its candles shaped like Louboutin-wearing legs – genius. While French singer Milo Thoretton adopted the role of teen heartthrob, performing in linebacker shoulders, dancers gave serious leg-choreo wearing the Ballerina Ultima, a crystal-covered ballet pump with the thinnest of heels attached. It was originally conceived by Mr Louboutin as an art object back in 2007, making a comeback as part of the Cassia collection.
The cherry on the cake – aside from the massive inflatable cherry that popped out of the cake, that is – was the cameo from Christian himself, who took his bow dressed as a marching band drummer alongside LaChappelle and Li, also fittingly dressed in football attire. Why can’t all sports be like this?
Photography courtesy of Louboutin.
