Christian Louboutin insists wearing high heels shouldn’t be ‘politicised’

Luxury fashion designer Christian Louboutin – known for his red-soled footwear – has criticised the way high heels have become ‘politicised’ in the wake of #MeToo. 

The 56-year-old Frenchman made his comments following reports that sales of stilettos are dropping in favour of trainers and other flat shoes, amid criticism that women should not be expected to wear heels in the workplace.

‘I always find it a bit gauche when it’s politicised,’ he said, speaking to The Sunday Telegraph’s Stella magazine.  

‘When I was at school in the ’70s, there were no high heels. They were considered [to be] for either hookers or stupid women, “kept women” or women dependent on their husbands, like an object of desire.’ 

‘I was always thinking, “Why are they considered bad? I just don’t understand.” The entire idea of femininity in the ’70s was really diminutive and badly considered.’

In 2018, US reports claimed that sales of stilettos had dropped by 12 per cent while women’s trainers increased by 37 per cent, according to NPD Group’s retail tracking service.

The designer went on to reveal his favourite heel height is 11cm as it helps to make ‘a beautiful leg.’ 

’11cm is very, very nice. Only really special people known how to walk in 11cm, 12cm, 13cm,’ he explained. ‘You have to have deep love for it, and a certain type of leg.’ 

Earlier this year, in the wake of #MeToo, the #KuToo movement was born in Japan, which protests against the cultural expectation that women should wear heels at work. 

The 56-year-old Frenchman (pictured in 2005) made his comments following suggestions of a cultural backlash against high heels occurring recently

In 2018, US reports claimed that sales of stilettos had dropped by 12 per cent while women’s trainers increased by 37 per cent, according to NPD Group’s retail tracking service. Pictured: Shoes are seen during the Christian Louboutin Collins Boutique

And in 2016, Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp was banned from working at a top City firm because she was wearing flat shoes instead of high heels.

The actress, who signed up with a temping agency, was told she could not work as a receptionist at PricewaterhouseCoopers without donning ‘more feminine’ attire. 

When she protested, agency bosses told her it was the ‘female grooming policy’ that all women should wear heels measuring at least 2in.

She launched a petition in a bid to make it illegal for companies to force female employees to wear high heels and over six months, which gathered more than 152,000 signatures.  

However, at the time, accountancy giant PwC insisted its staff are free to wear what they wish.