In the most recent issue of Harper’s Bizarre (October 2012), there is a short article about shoe designer Christian Louboutin that quickly and effortlessly caught my attention (perhaps because of the beautifully circular text layout). I’m only a recently regular reader and subscriber to Harper’s, so I’m not sure if they do this sort of story in every issue, but the premise of the story is so simple, yet so interesting. The “article,” which I am almost even hesitant to call it considering it is a transcription of a conversation, is essentially written by Louboutin himself as he describes his typical daily routine. For those unfamiliar with him, Louboutin is a renowned and respected French footwear (mainly heels) designer. He is most known for his signature red soles on his designs.
The short piece begins at 7:00 AM with a morning run and ends at 1:00 AM with an anticipated journey straight to his bed (“It’s a 17th-century Portuguese bed, quite high—a super-big, super-nice wooden bed.”) Louboutin elaborates on his steam room shower, his breakfast phone calls, the process of choosing his outfit for the day, his private studio work, and which of his houses he designs which collections at (winter collection at the 13th-century French castle, any transitional collection at the Portugal house, summer collection at the Egyptian abode, and really no particular collection at his “small” L.A. or Paris homes). This story instantly appealed to me so much because of, I think, how undeniably interested we all are in the lives of these elevated celebrity-type figures. Who cares what your next-door neighbor ate this evening, but Christian Louboutin had crab for dinner?!? Fascinating! Tell me more! It’s crazy to me that an individual gains so much recognition from a talent, and they reach a point that carries them into this upper-division of public interest.
Louboutin ends his interview with Harper’s Anamaria Wilson by telling her, “Well, the perfect day would be if I had, like—I wouldn’t be too, too demanding—four extra hours. Just think if we could stretch it to 28 hours. That would be perfect.”
City Whitty 512 
