Counterfeit Christian Louboutins

Lately, all over the internet, on sites that strive for a good, honest reputation (Luxist and ShoeBlog included) banner ads for shoe sites such as LouboutinMall, LouboutinBox, and other Louboutin url derivatives have been popping up advertising “genuine Christian Louboutin pumps for only $150″. There has been a fair amount of discussion about these sites, including why the advertisements are showing up (for ShoeBlog, we rely on an advertisement network to serve up ads to pay for our costs and have little control on that gets added. We try to take down spammy ads but sometimes, to our chagrin, they pop up faster than we can remove them). The main question all of us have wondered is, are these sites selling authentic Louboutins?

Christian Louboutin as a company is not a publicly traded. So, Mr. Louboutin has full control over the product, marketing, and quality.He graciously turns down investors on a regular basis instead, focusing on sustainable profit, design, craftsmanship and his customer of which he has many loyal. He does not want to answer to investors; he has the luxury of serving his loyal customers, employees and complete design control.

Now, if he has turned investors down regularly because he wants quality control, WHY in the world would he flood the market, charging wholesalers $75, or even $100 for handcrafted high quality shoes? (Remember, wholesalers typically double their cost). We all know these are fakes. Pure and simple. I am not going to go into the moral aspects of the conditions in which these fakes are manufactured.  My issue is quality of your purchase.

Twenty four years ago my husband purchased a Louis Vuitton handbag after the birth of one of my boys.

It cost about $600. It seemed like a fortune to a young mother.  I have used the hell out of that bag.  It was a diaper bag for 3 children, it was a weekender bag, it is now a carry-on bag when I travel.  It has aged reasonably well.  Why?  It was made with real leather and superior craftmanship and it still looks wonderful.    Ten years ago I bought a Louis Vuitton fake for $40.  It looked good for about 2 weeks.  My granddaughter now plays with it in her dress-up box. When I buy something I always figure, “It takes me X days to pay for this, is it worth it?” So, is it worth 3 or 4 days worth of work to pay for something that will last six months at best? Will you have this fake 20 years later?  You will have the real deal 40 years later

Do you want a platform pump for about $150?

Dolce Vida Madison Steve Madden Slique

A maryjane?

Carlos Infinity Harajuku Lovers Infinity

Triple platform?

Steve Madden Triplet Enzo Angiolini

Are these exactly like Louboutin shoes.  Of course not.  Are they quality shoes?  I think so.  Are they counterfeit?  No.  I think the most touching posts I have read is by Islingback in ShoeBlog’s forums.  After hard financial times, she was able to buy a pair of desinger shoes.  Would she be as thrilled with a fake?  I don’t think so.

We want Louboutins because he has spent time, energy and money to make a shoe and a reputation as the best.  With a fake you will get neither, except pictures which have clearly been stolen from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Ebay of authentic Louboutins.  As consumers, let’s be responsible with whom and how our money is spent.  I learned my lesson ten years ago.  It cost me $40.

Update:  From NYMag, here’s more confirmation from a Louboutin spokeswoman that the shoes are fake and also responses from the counterfeit sites confirming as well.

Cannes 2009

Don’t you love Cannes?  Eleven days of style and red carpet fashion.  Oh Yeah, and films.  Here are just a few of the shoes seen on the red carpet.   

These shoes have been a hit with those who don’t want to be seen as playing it safe. The trouble is that they have been seen everywhere.  Variations of this shoe have been seen on Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Kerry Washington (twice)  and Isabelle Huppert.  

One of the reasons I love Cannes is because it truly has an international attitude.  The women don’t have that odd wax lip thing going on.  The mature women don’t look like they have a Kabuki mask on.  They have allowed themselves to age gracefully. Right now, Isabelle and Robin Wright Penn are my heros.

 I Love, Love, Love the way Isabelle made an odball dress work with these shoes.  Isabelle Huppert in Louis Vuitton Fall Collection 2009.

Kerry Washington at the Amend Charity Luncheon, Cannes 2009.  Kerry wore a gold version of this shoe.

Asia Argento in Armani Prive

Charlotte Gainsbourg wore some amazing Balenciaga Heels.  I have tried to get a large photo, but I am a techno dork, for which I appologize.

Sarah Marshall wore Sergio Rossi’s coil heel.  Do you love these or what??  I didn’t think they were available yet. 

Bae Doo-na from Air Dolls wore Steve Madden Gladiator Flats at a daytime press conference. She wore a gorgeous Doir dress later that night.  (I will include the dress just because she looks so great in it. )  I love a girl who goes from Steve Madden to Dior.

Ya gotta include Phoebe.

Most photos fom Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Steve Madden Ltd is Everywhere

Steve Madden is creating quite a buzz on Wall Street.  Several years after starting his company in New York City, Steve Madden pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering in 2001, was in prison until 2005.  Investors forgave him and he returned to Steve Madden Ltd in 2006 as the creative and design chief. He has been the driving force behind it’s designs and has been helping recreate their business model. They made it quick on its feet. The ingenious way it introduces new designs puts them way ahead of the marketing curve.

They call it “test and release.” The company makes models at its Queens, N.Y., headquarters, where it has a mini-factory that can turn a concept into a shoe in less than a day. They then sell and monitor shoe models in a select number of its New York stores and on its Web site to determine fashion and inventory risks. After several weeks of observation, they decide whether a model can go to China for mass production and be distributed in retail stores. This “test and release” method allows them to put shoes in mass production on about 12 weeks, where typically it takes a footwear company about 5 months to release shoes.

Steven Madden Ltd has license agreements with Fabulosity, Elizabeth and James, l.e.i. for shoes, and for handbags and belts with Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes. With this licensing, Steve Madden Ltd is in stores that cover the entire spectrum from Walmart (l.e.i.) to Bergdorf Goodman (Elizabeth and James) and it’s paying off. Steve Madden raised its 2009 per-share profit target in late April from $1.85 to $1.95, well above the $1.47 analysts had been expecting.Revenue grew 7%, also topping estimates.  It’s stock is regarded as a good buy. I am watching to see how it does the next few quarters.  Maybe I will put more than Monopoly money on it.

l.e.i. shoes from Walmart.

The Nessa $20

The Monical $17

The Whitley $20

Steve Madden Shoes

Coraline $70

Lonndon $50

Hanaa $70

Pandita $170

Elisabeth and James should be in stores this fall.  Nordstroms is pre-selling items, but none of the other websites have any shoes listed yet.

Luella $325 at Nordstroms  Presale

OK, this wedge is part of the Elizabeth and James line that Nordstroms was pre-selling for about $325.  By the time I could get things posted they had sold out.  No wonder. It is adorable.  It will show up later on in the season, so I will have to wait.

So, shoes offered by Steve Madden LTD range from $17 to 325.  These designs are what we are seeing virtually everywhere else. They are meeting the demands of the general public, which is the name of the business game.  I am disappointed there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual or outstanding.  I am going to have to go somewhere else for that.

And They Called Her … Leader of the Pack

Biker chic has rocked the streets for ages, on kids from punk to prom queen flirting with the wrong side of the tracks. A few seasons ago, grommets, studs, zippers and buckles started making major comebacks. Last season, leather jackets were huge, coinciding with a revival of industrial culture and rise of steampunk couture. Now, you need the shoes to match not jackets, but tiered lace and ruffle dresses, those sexy/scary bondage tape-dresses, and zipper dresses for spring. Good news is, leather biker shoes are available in spades. They’re especially cute, of course, in boots and booties, but make a hot transition into sandals for spring as well.

One warning though, is to be careful with just how much industriality and bikerism you blend into one outfit. You don’t want to look like you’ve been dressed from head to toe by Project Runway’s Stella… or maybe you do. But a little goes a long way, and shoes are the perfect place to concentrate this trend.

Here are my biker faves, starting with Steve Madden’s Ginn, on sale for $169.95:

Gucci’s Babouska shoe comes in variations of boot, sandal and flat. You can purchase the boot here for $448.

Louboutin’s Ariella has been making a humongous splash, and for good reason. Chanel Iman and Rihanna have been seen sporting the higher over-the-knee version, which seems to be difficult to procure for mere mortals.

And for not just looking tough but also being tough, who can forget the original Harleys and Fryes?

Harley’s Simone is $124 on Zappos.

Frye’s Harness Two Rings, meanwhile, is $235.80 on Zappos.

Report from the Trenches: Shoe Mania Sale

It may be a madhouse, but Shoe Mania in Union Square in New York was a goldmine when I visited it last week. To be found were Via Spiga, Steve Madden, Frye, Michael Kors and others galore. All sales final. 50 percent crazy sale, indeed!