Ask the Shoeblogger: Christian Louboutin Zipette
posted by: brianka in Christian Louboutin Shoes, General, High heels, Platforms, Sandals, Spring 2009 Shoes on March 14th, 2010
A recent email request to Shoeblog had me searching my memory this weekend:
I’ve searched high and low for the attached shoes and I’ve come up empty handed. I don’t know what else to try…so I’m trying you all! I joined your forum and love your blog…it’s given me several ideas to date.
Do you happen to know what makes these shoes and where I might find them?
Any help or guidance, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Jenn
Luckily for Jenn, this shoe was tickling my memory. It is definitely similar to styles that we saw being produced by many designers last spring; blending cage and gladiator sandal styles with a zip-front and high heel. After a little bit more investigation to jog my memory, these are eerily similar to the (now out of stock) Christian Louboutin ‘Zipette’ that was available for sale last spring and the prior fall (2008-2009). That double platform has been favored by Christian Louboutin for several seasons now.
Unfortunately, these are past-season shoes which will make purchasing an original Louboutin style a challenge and test of personal patience (which can pay off, if time is not an issue for you).
On a positive note, there are several designers producing similar, zip-front, caged gladiator sandals for the upcoming spring 2010 season.
The original Louboutin Zipette has long since sold out of luxury retailers such as Saks and Neiman Marcus. So, now it’s up to Jenn. Does she wants to pursue a Louboutin aftermarket shoe-quest? Or would she prefer a to look at similar, but not identical, offerings that are currently available from several other brands?
I have rounded up several alternatives if she is looking for a style to wear this spring, since a Louboutin quest can take months or years.
Velvet Angels ‘Mondrian’ platform sandal $189.66 $294.95 at Endless.com
Jessica Simpson ‘Stelana’ $75 $87.95 at Zappos.com & Endless.com
Steve Madden ‘Hitower’ $99.95 at Zappos.com, Stevemadden.com & Endless.com
Promiscuous ‘Social’ $76.23 $100 at Zappos.com
BCBG Max Azria ‘Aceline’ $ 140.0 $250 at Endless.com & $147 at Zappos.com
Promiscuous ‘Enraptured’ $106.60 $139 at Zappos.com
We hope that his helps Jenn out in her quest for her perfect high-heeled cage gladiator.
- One word of caution for Jenn if she decides to go the auction/aftermarket route: There are numerous Louboutin counterfeiters out there these days. If you find something in your size claiming to be the Louboutin Zipette at auction online, please be sure to have them authenticated, so that you can be confident in your purchase.
3 Comments
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March 15, 2010 at 11:38 am, galligator said:
Caroline, these and other replica/counterfeit sites may have copies, some will claim they are selling actual Louboutins, and some inexperienced people will even believe their items purchased there are real.
But I really try to avoid recommending sites that are primarily pushing counterfeits of actual products, often down to trademark imprints. Plus, that site is using photos that may be nothing like the product shipped, if anything is shipped at all. Replica & counterfeit sites often do not feel they have to perform on their contract once they receive a customer’s money (ie. money received, nothing shipped, or something not worth the $$$), and that is without getting into any of the other ethical issues that often exist in the supply chain of these businesses.
I draw the line at legal inspired versions that are not claiming any affiliation with the original product for the purposes of the blog & my own comfort level (or lack thereof) with actual fakes.
March 15, 2010 at 2:50 am, Caroline said:
They have a similar version here: http://shop.textalk.se/se/article.php?id=5802&…
March 15, 2010 at 2:48 am, galligator said:
Willblog4shoes added this Michael Kors option to the list via twitter, thx!
http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/Results.aspx?N=0&Nt…