Gisele Versace Spring 2008 Ad Campaign: Versace or Louboutins?

[Shomore]

When I first saw these photos of Gisele for Versace's Spring 2008 ad campaign, my first thought as not the shoes but the LEGS! Wow!

After staring at Gisele's long legs for a while, my second thought was that the shoes were by Christian Louboutin due to the red sole. But, after a bit more research on Style.com: the online home of Vogue; Fashion, Fashion Shows, Shopping & More and according to a caption on page 77 of Allure's Feb 2008 issue, they are actually Versaces.

So now I ask you shoe lovers to ring in with your thoughts. These shoes are lovely and stunning by themselves so I see no need for Versace to copy Louboutins designs. Is this just a case of art as its best, do we have flagrant copying going on, or should the red sole be available to anyone that wishes to paint them on their soles?

Personally, since Louboutin is synonymous with the red soles, I think it's deceiving for any company - be it Steve Madden or Versace - to use the look.

[VANmiracle]

Originally Posted by Shomore

.. So now I ask you shoe lovers to ring in with your thoughts. These shoes are lovely and stunning by themselves so I see no need for Versace to copy Louboutins designs. Is this just a case of art as its best, do we have flagrant copying going on, or should the red sole be available to anyone that wishes to paint them on their soles?

Personally, since Louboutin is synonymous with the red soles, I think it's deceiving for any company - be it Steve Madden or Versace - to use the look.

I am so with you Shomore. The red sole should not be copied by any serious brand. I had the same thought when I saw the Diesel shoes lately:

[jitterbugbaby]

I'm in agreement here, too. I don't think the red sole should necessarily have been Louboutin's sole (no pun intended) property in the first place, but since no one else picked up on it for quite some time, it's now become synonymous with Louboutins.

For another designer (especially a high-end one like Versace) to take up the red sole call seems slightly tacky. Like style poaching. Like a company other than Hermes making a bag that looks like the Birkin or the Kelly.

[Shomore]

Seriously, we could probably have a long thread on the number of designers (including very reputable and original ones) that are doing the red sole.

Here's another one: Kenneth Cole High Style