Christian Louboutin's red-soled shoes are red-hot - USATODAY.com Christian Louboutin's red-soled shoes are red-hot Updated E-mail | Print | By Cindy Clark, USA TODAY LOS ANGELES  When asked what she wanted for Christmas, High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale didn't hesitate: "Christian Louboutin heels." Hollywood's leading ladies can't seem to get enough of the red-soled shoes that are a fixture on red carpets and at fashion photo shoots. And increasingly, Louboutin's designs are popular among everyday women who are willing to spend $500-$1,500 a pair. Though many people can't pronounce his name (Lu-bu-TAHn), his signature red sole is instantly recognizable. "I definitely think Christian is, for lack of a better word, the hottest shoe designer that there is out there," says Filipa Fino, senior accessories editor at Vogue magazine. "He has captivated not only the socialite market but also Hollywood, and it is really the 'it' shoe to own right now." The red sole "has given him an edge, because it's a visible touch that brands him.

Women tend to feel others notice, and it's a way of saying you've got the shoe." Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted in a pair on the set of the Sex and the City movie, a pair showed up in an episode of Dirty Sexy Money, and BMW featured the shoe in a commercial. In October, Oprah Winfrey revealed a very pricey thank-you gift from Jessica Seinfeld, who had been on the show pitching her cookbook. The gift? Twenty-one pairs of shoes, many of which media outlets identified as Louboutins. "It's always a surprise for me when I see my shoes on someone or in a picture. I feel great about that," says Louboutin, 44, whose first boutique opened 15 years ago in Paris. "I've always loved shoes and always wanted to do shoes." His collections now include espadrilles, sandals, boots, pumps and evening shoes in heels ranging from flat to skyscraper high. A handbag line (priced $700 and up) was launched this year. "I'm inspired by many things," he says. "And I love women, love watching women try on my shoes." But not so much that he'd give them away.

Louboutin doesn't play favorites. Unlike designers who send stars courtesy pieces to wear, Louboutin makes everyone pay. "If things are given for free to you, it has no value in it, and you don't really worship it." So when you see red soles on Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve, Cameron Diaz, Ashley Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow or Angelina Jolie, you know they're not freebies. "He has so much passion and so much heart," says Olsen, who refers to Louboutin as a best friend. "He's so talented and has really done it by himself and learned the hard way." Like other luxury brands, Louboutin's trademark red sole has inspired imitations. "It's in the hand of lawyers now," he says. "It's one thing to be inspired by people, but just to knock off people is not nice." Louboutin began painting the soles red because "it is the color of love. It's the color of passion. Even if a woman is wearing all black, she might choose a red lip or red nails." And what could possibly be more festive this time of year?

Posted Two luxury shoe designers can keep their red soles - CNN.com Two luxury shoe designers can keep their red soles By Julie Cannold, CNN Updated 8:47 PM ET, Thu September 6, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED Louboutin's red sole story 02:05 Story highlights An appeals court says Christian Louboutin can enforce its red-lacquered sole trademark But the trademark applies only if the sole color contrasts with the color of the rest of the shoe The trademark does not apply to monochromatic shoes, such as designs by Yves St. Laurent A lawsuit that Louboutin filed in June 2011 took issue with four specific YSL shoes After digging their heels into a legal battle, two high-end French shoe designers can now lay claim to iconic red-soled shoes. A federal appeals court has ruled that shoe designer Christian Louboutin can enforce a U.S. trademark of the red-lacquered sole that adorns the designer's footwear when it contrasts with the color of the rest of the shoe.

The court also said Wednesday that the trademark does not apply when the shoe is monochromatic, such as Yves St. Laurent's designs that were entirely red. A lawsuit filed in June 2011 by Louboutin took issue with four specific shoes from YSL's Cruise 2011 Collection: the Tribute, Tribtoo, Palais and Woodstock models, saying they violated Louboutin's trademarked "lacquered red sole." Louboutin appealed after a federal court judge denied an injunction in August of last year that would have kept YSL from selling shoes with red soles. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Inside Christian Louboutin's 'shoe lab' 05:12 In his decision last year, Judge Victor Marrero said that "Louboutin's claim to the 'the color red' is, without some limitation, overly broad and inconsistent with the scene of trademark registration." In the appellate decision, Circuit Judge Jose Cabranes upheld trademark protection of Louboutin's red-lacquered outsole but said that YSL's use of the red sole in its monochromatic shoe does not infringe on the trademark.

According to the decision, Christian Louboutin introduced his signature red sole in 1992 and registered the red-lacquered outsole as a trademark in 2008. In a news release, YSL says that its shoe collections have included styles with red (and other colored) outsoles since the 1970s. Both sides appeared to be satisfied with the appellate court decision. Harley Lewin, the attorney for Louboutin, said his client is "very, very pleased" with the decision, adding that nontraditional trademarks such as colors have to be developed over time. "Color doesn't start as something unique, it becomes unique," he said. "More and more I think you'll see this coming because of the need to differentiate your product from others on the shelf," he said.

"It will have influence on a far broader sense than just the fashion industry." David Bernstein, legal counsel to YSL, said in a Wednesday statement, "We are happy to have achieved a victory in defending against Louboutin's lawsuit." Bernstein reemphasized that YSL had not infringed on Louboutin's trademark and "will continue to produce monochromatic shoes with red outsoles." Red Sole Man: Christian Louboutin's Signature Shoe Has Made Him an Icon - ABC News ABC News Red Sole Man: Christian Louboutin's Signature Shoe Has Made Him an Icon By SHARYN ALFONSI WATCH Louboutin's Hot High Heels 0 Shares Email While few people might recognize his face, his sole is one of the most recognized in the world. Famous French shoe-designer Christian Louboutin is the man behind the sexy, sky-high, signature red-soled shoes, which have been seen on the feet of superstars including Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johannson and Jennifer Lopez (who has a song about the shoes called "Louboutins"). Even Barbie dolls have their own custom mini-sized Louboutins.

This month, Louboutin celebrates his 20th anniversary with a new self-titled book, published by Rizzoli. It's an ode to his outrageous shoes. His next project -- a line of red-soled shoes for men, is due out next spring. Christian Louboutin at his atelier. Credit: ABC News This 47-year-old sole man, who practices the trapeze and rides around Paris on a bright red Vespa scooter, can often be found at his atelier, where his famed shoes are designed and handmade. He makes no apologies for those sky-high prices either -- Louboutins can sell from $495 and up, with crystal-encrusted pair costing $6,000. "I would say that a good shoe is exactly like a good wine," Louboutin said. "These shoes are going to stay and last for a long time." While fashion overrides comfort for Louboutin -- many of his shoes are seven-inch high heels -- the designer says he has a very specific customer in mind when he sketches a shoe. "It's sort of you know it's a sort of expression. I like my customer to be fierce," he said.

This fashion icon said that his obsession with high-heeled shoes started on a visit to a Paris museum in 1976. While inside, Louboutin said he saw a sign that had a picture of a high-heeled shoe with an X over it, indicating women were not allowed to wear them in the museum. "It was crossed...like, forbidden, in red," he said. "It was a forbidden sketch." From then on, the young designer started sketching shoes any chance he got, including during his studies. He was expelled from school at age 16. "I was always shouted at by my teacher because I would draw straight on the table in the school," he said. He left home, studying design by day and spending his nights as a freelance shoe designer in Paris, making shoes for burlesque show girls and working with shoe designer Charles Jourdan before starting his own company in 1989. Then, three years later, the prototype of a shoe he created came in, but seemed to be lacking something. "I had a girl working with me, trying on the shoes," Louboutin said.

"So when she was not trying on shoes, she sort of had nothing to do, so she was sort of waiting, and, so she was doing her nails, at that time... and I thought, why, this black has to be the red! So I grabbed her nail polish, and painted the soles." It was then that his signature red sole was born. Today, he sells more than 650,000 pairs a year. For some, money is no object. Louboutin said one customer commissioned him to make a shoe for his wife with rubies all over the sole. "I said, 'well, but, you know, once you have the weight of the person, you realize that it's going to pop off,' the designer explained. "'He said, there won't be any weight, and it will not be worn, I tell you, it will not be worn in that, um, kind of, it will only be worn in a horizontal way.'" Sex, Louboutin admits, is a major influence in his designs. He said his red soles attract men, the way a bull is attracted to a red cape. But those famous sole have also attracted copycats.

The designer was embroiled with a lawsuit, suing design company Yves Saint Laurent America S.A. for trademark infringement for using a fire engine red sole on their most recent line of pumps. "Well, you know, it's, to be copied can be sort of taken as a compliment, but when it's to be really attacked, in a way... then I do not see it as a compliment," Louboutin said. YSL's lawyers have argued that using the red sole for their shoes isn't trademark infringement because "no designer should monopolize a color," an assertion Louboutin rejects. "I do not monopolize a color, I have put a color at a place where nobody has put it, and became, becoming iconic, as a trademark," he said. "I do not monopolize more colors, and Hermes is monopolizing the orange of their bag, or Tiffany has a blue. It's just the way it is. At one point, it makes part of your identity. It is my trademark." Much more inclined to watch women try on his shoes than talk about lawsuits, Louboutin said wearing shoes is a study in psychology.

For women who may not feel comfortable with their bodies, in his shoes, he said, they will at least like their feet. "It's a part of the body with his sweet, also skinny, round and puffy," he said. "It still is nice." 0 Shares Red Sole Shoes | eBay Red Sole Shoes They work the best on new unworn Louboutin but I put them also on my one time gently worn ROSE PINK PIVICHIC and they stay intact and fabulous, I'm trying to preserve what's left of red sole(see pic12... Condition: | 125 sold Hello Ladies! Let's be honest we spend so much money on those fabulous shoes we would like the new look to last a lifetime right?. What's the point of even buying the new ones and then sand them down?... $45.00 0 bids Beautiful red leather heels with unique crepe tractor sole. Ankle buckle. Marc by Marc Jacobs. Size 38. Embroidered stitching. | 25 sold Clear heel sole protector to protect your expensive Louboutin. This is a great product to protect from discoloring and scratches. Trace your heel. Stick the protector.

Two 4x4 clear rubber nonslip sol... | 120 sold The Sole Glo Crimson Kiss Kit is a Great way to transform your high heels from boring to beautiful! It works on nearly any size high heel shoe and with it's dual layer technology will allow for length... $599.91 Buy It Now "Altareva" is made in Italy. Christian Louboutin glitter fabric pump. Signature red leather outsole. 6.3" covered heel with front platform. Peep toe with metallic plate. size 39 runs 1 size smaller. Free Shipping 11+ watching ALBA YANG 2 RED. zebra print, scoop vamp, smooth lining. Give any outfit that extra edge. Featuring patent faux leather. $16.99 Buy It Now Clear heel sole protector to protect your expensive Louboutin. This is a great product to protect from discoloring and scratches. Stick the protector. Trace your heel. Four 4x4 clear rubber nonslip so... Buy It Now 8 watching Just paint the shoe soles with at least two coats of red sole paint included in the kit. Paint for red bottom shoes & protector kit.

Once your paint is dried place shoe on tho the sole protectors incl... | 6 sold Red bottoms designer sticker alternative for stiletto heels make your soles have that sough after sexy red! this kit includes two strips of red bottoms sole material for a pair of stiletto heels. Clea... $22.93 Buy It Now Red Touch Up Paint Kit & Clear Sole Protector Kit for Christian Louboutin Shoes -- Odorless. You will get 1 jar paint, 1 new brush and 1 pair clear sole protector (2 pieces). $12.99 0 bids Stunning leather shoes with famous red sole by Oh…Deer! Made of genuine leather in black color. Padded foot bed, wood imitating trim and heels, red soles, 3” heels. I won’t bet my life on their stuff ... Buy It Now or Best Offer Up for sale I have a beautiful pair of Christian Louboutin "Very Prive" gold cork pumps. These are a size 39 cork peep toe shoes. They are pre-owned with very little wear. Shoes are in excellent condi...

$499.91 Buy It Now Christian Louboutin's iconic red sole—born from a brush with red nail lacquer—flashes with every step. By Christian Louboutin;. Calfskin leather upper, lining and sole. Slender goldtone straps grace a... $119.00 Buy It Now Soles are worn as is typical. Small spot in front of left shoe as seen in photo is a rubbing, not a stain. $551.99 Buy It Now Famous Christian Louboutin Collection! Classic Almond Toe Nude/Beige Leather Bright Red Signature Leather Soles! Signature RED Bottom Soles. Heels approx. Sexy Most Sought For Beige/Nude Leather Pump... $349.00 Buy It Now Christian Louboutin patent leather pump. Louboutin signature red outsole. 3 3/4" heel; 100mm pitch. Leather upper, lining and sole. Buy It Now 10 watching Louboutin printed cork pump with allover golden spike-studding. • "Follies" is made in Italy. Gorgeous spikes pumps! No missing spikes 100% Authentic.

• Pointed toe with low-dipped vamp. • 4" covered ... Buy It Now or Best Offer Women-you need these amazing Christian Louboutins in your wardrobe. Major brownie points for getting your lady Louboutins for Christmas! These are nearly perfect. Full disclosure, there is a tiny scuf... | 69 sold No grind needed on the red sole. If worn out, it can be take off by using a hair dryer with hot-air-blow to remove, and apply with a new one. Buy It Now Free Shipping Christian LouboutinDecollete Snake-Print Cork Red Sole Pump, BeigeDetailsSnake-embossed cork upper. Pointed toe; single sole. Low-cut vamp visually lengthens legs. Padded leather footbed. Signature re... $295.00 0 bids • Christian Louboutin patent leather pump. • Low-cut vamp. • "So Kate" is made in Italy. • 4.8" covered stiletto heel. $299.00 0 bids Very Prive" is made in Italy.

French designer Christian Louboutin introduced his namesake collection in 1991, and his powerfully feminine shoes soon became must-haves for stylish women everywhere. In ... $550.00 Buy It Now "Doracora" is made in Italy. Christian Louboutin patent leather pump. Low-dipped vamp visually lengthens legs. Signature red leather outsole. 4" covered heel. Almond toe with heart detail. Auctiva Fre... $599.99 0 bids French designer Christian Louboutin introduced his namesake collection in 1991, and his powerfully feminine shoes soon became must-haves for stylish women everywhere. In addition to a distinctively se... | 1+ sold Delicious EE40 Women Patent Pointy Toe Single Sole Classic Stiletto Pump. Designed with patent leatherette upper, pointy toe, lightly padded insole, single sole and covered stiletto heel. Sole / Paddi... $14.99 Buy It Now The shoe is bright red very high heel cork heels. Gold soles and gold clasp. Women siz 10 I believe they are new without the box.

Published by How to Keep Your Christian Louboutin Soles Red When it takes a few months to save up for that perfect pair of designer shoes, you want to protect them like they are your own children. Christian Louboutin shoes are more than just footwear; they are... Published by jcoulter2011 JCo.Customs by Kitty Paws Shoes The Fiesta Red Sequence Pumps The Fiesta Red Sequence Pumps JCo.Customs Introducing these EXCLUSIVE The Fiesta Red Sequence Pumps from JCo.Customs by Kitty Paws Shoes. These bright red, round-toed high pumps are covered with bright... Published by thatkatsimpson How Does A Onesole InterChangeable Shoe Work ? How Does A Onesole InterChangeable Shoe Work ? Well in fact it is fairly easy and is a simple as ABC - honest !!! The first thing that you will need to do is to choose your Sole, or while you are... Jimmy Choo Shoes About Red Sole Shoes In 1992, French designer Christian Louboutin came up with the inspired idea of producing shoes with signature red soles, a move that permanently changed the fashion landscape. Since then, red sole shoes have been associated with avant-garde fashion.

Wearing shoes with red soles brings a sexy allure to almost any outfit, while hinting at power and wealth. On eBay, sellers offer a wide range of options for buyers in the market for shoes with a touch of red. Red sparkle shoes add a glittering finish to outfits and come in a range of designs. This includes flats, pumps, and sandals. Red and black shoes are just as popular. They draw less attention but offer no shortage of style. Their muted colors make them an ideal choice for office wear or important business meetings. In the end, regardless of if you simply buy a pair of red shoes, or you choose a pair of red sole shoes by Christian Louboutin, one thing is certain: adding red to your wardrobe brings a royal finish to whatever you wear. Red Soled Shoes: Christian Louboutin Signature Look Christian Louboutin Signature Look References: usatoday The hottest shoe designer today is Christian Louboutin, recognized best for his signature red sole that serves as his brand.

Everyone from Vogue editors to big time celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie, Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Paris and Nicky Hilton, and Oprah Winfrey belong to the wide variety of women who have been captivated by his shoes. He has reached across celebrity lines to the rave of everyone. A closet of these will set you back a few thousand dollars. A pair of ordinary pump with the red soles will put you back about Since 1992 Louboutin made shoes with a very specific signature : "Chinese red" soles. The designer thought it gave his footwear a specific "energy." Louboutin sold 240,000 pairs of shoes priced at $1,000 a pop since then. That's why the company was none-too-pleased when YSL made shoes with the same signature sole. They trampled on Louboutin's toes, if you will. Louboutin sued, claiming it registered the color with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office . District Court Judge Victor Marrero denied the label's request for a preliminary injunction. Louboutin appealed the decision, and a hearing was held this week.

And now the legal battle may be "stepping up" a notch. The Los Angeles Times was right when its columnist noted the YSL/Louboutin battle would result in a wide use of shoe-related puns in the news media . But beyond this blogger's egregious stab at puns lies an interesting legal issue. Should Louboutin really hold exclusive claim to produce red-bottomed shoes? Judge Marrero pointed out that Louboutin would be "unlikely to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection, even if it has gained enough public recognition in the market to have acquired secondary meaning." After all, color is important in fashion. And Judge Marrero pointed out it is necessary in order for "robust competition." Would it be fair if some other fashion designer trademarked a shade of blue? As in house counsel, you may want to take note of the Louboutin/YSL red shoe lawsuit. There will be interesting IP implications if Louboutin prevails -- or loses. Related Resources: Christian Louboutin sues Yves Saint Laurent for red sole shoes | British Vogue able to use trademark protection for his label's red-soled shoes, except when the shoe itself is red.

YSL's shoes in question were entirely red, from soles to uppers. "The District Court's conclusion that a single colour can never serve as a trademark in the fashion industry was based on an incorrect understanding of the doctrine of aesthetic functionality and was therefore in error," the appeals judges wrote, Business Week reports. READ NEXT YSL Settles Ain't Laurent Lawsuit By Lauren Milligan In August last year, a New York court judge denied Louboutin the right to stop YSL from selling all red-sole pumps. He appealed against the ruling that same month. <p class="Default"> "We welcome the decision of the Court of Appeals and will study today's ruling at great length," a statement from Louboutin read today. "We are extremely pleased and gratified READ NEXT 25 items result was not a clear Louboutin victory. "Contrary to some reports that have appeared, the New York appeal court ruling is a full victory for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent," a statement from YSL read.

"The Appeal Court has confirmed all arguments made by YSL in this case and YSL is extremely satisfied with this outcome." "Louboutin had attacked Yves Saint Laurent in 2011 demanding an injunction against the sale of YSL monochromatic red shoes in the United States. In August 2011, the judge of first instance denied this demand. Louboutin decided to appeal the ruling. Yesterday, the court of appeal decided to go even further in ruling definitively that YSL is fully entitled to sell monochromatic red shoes. All Louboutin claims have therefore been dismissed for a second time. YSL has been selling single-colour shoes (red, purple, blue etc), since the beginning of the Seventies. This legal victory gives YSL full liberty to sell its red shoes." Updated Thursday February 16, 12.08pm: PPR ceo François-Henri Pinault has responded to Louboutin's passionate allegations that Yves Saint Laurent copied his signature red soles. READ NEXT type-gallery 47 items "We won the first proceedings in quite precise, clear terms," Pinault told WWD.

"I am therefore very confident with regard to this case, even if I regret it, because these are two great houses and I think we have better things to do than to fight in court over a question of colour." Updated Wednesday February 8, 10.55am: Christian Louboutin has spoken out once again on his on-going court battle with YSL over claims the label copied his famous red soles. "I find it most incredible that a group like PPR would take the risk of defending itself as a plagiarist," he said. "They claim to fight against counterfeiting and plagiarism of which they are victims and yet behave like this." What About Yves? By Jessica Bumpus The footwear designer added that PPR, who owns YSL, had made "many proposals" to buy his company in the past - all of which he turned down. He expressed his disappointment at having to take the brand to court, considering that he knew the head of PPR - ceo François-Henri Pinault - very well and that Yves Saint Laurent himself was someone he had worked with and had "great admiration for". Louboutin also asserted that he wasn't trying to copyright a colour, but the issue was more complicated.

"I understand that, but it is a red in a specific context [in the way that], there is Ferrari red [and] Hermès orange," he told French newspaper Libération. "Even in the food industry, Cadbury recently won a lawsuit against Nestlé for using purple packaging. All this proves that the colours play a part in a brand's identity. I'm not saying that red usually belongs to me - I repeat that this is about a precise red, used in a precise location." SEE LOUBOUTIN'S CELEBRATORY BIRTHDAY COLLECTION Updated Wednesday January 25, 8.46am: Christian Louboutin was in court in Manhattan yesterday to hear his lawyers mount an impassioned final plea to protect his red-sole trademark. A stylishly dressed Diane von Furstenberg - who arrived in gold-rimmed aviators and a long black sparkly jumper - sat next to him to lend her support. "For YSL and PPR Group, this might just be a legal matter, but that's not the case for me," Louboutin said.

"On the contrary, to me it is very personal: after all, this is an intrinsic part of my life and my company, which bears my name - and which I have built over the past 20 years and still independently own. This is why I had to be there in person." SEE THE SEASON'S 100 BEST SHOES The panel of three Appeals Court judges hearing the case are currently preparing to decide whether the original judgement - allowing Yves Saint Laurent to continue selling its red, monochromatic pump from the 2011 resort collection, and calling into question the validity of Louboutin's trademark, which he obtained in 2008 - was correct. If the judgement is reversed, YSL and Louboutin will head back to court for a trial to resolve the lawsuit. "I was impressed by the way the judges ran the hearing," Louboutin told WWD.

"The company remains confident that the appeals court will adhere to its conviction that the red sole, this integral and long-held part of the brand's identity and recognised by consumers worldwide, will continue to be recognised as the Christian Louboutin trademark." SEE LOUBOUTIN'S AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION Updated Wednesday January 4, 8.27am: Christian Louboutin has suffered another blow to its attempt to protect its red soles trademark, as a group of eminent law professors has sided with YSL. The academics - from some of the US's most famous law schools - have filed an amicus brief with the Federal Court of Appeals in Manhattan urging the court not to allow Louboutin to "monopolise" the colour, WWD reports. The appeal "should be rejected in order to preserve freedom of innovation and competition," the group stated. SEE THE SEASON'S 100 BEST SHOES "A woman who buys red shoes is doing so for a reason," the brief argues. "Red shoes have a particular meaning to her, and to others, that cannot be supplied or even approximated by shoes of a different colour.

Given the substantial creativity involved in both fashion design and fashion consumption, courts should not lightly allow one particular competitor to monopolise particular fashion submarkets." The case, which began in April 2010, may not be settled for months to come. Updated Tuesday January 3, 10.12am: It may be a new year but some things don't change, as the Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Louboutin red sole fight rumbles on. YSL filed an appellate brief in late December - within the federal court of appeals deadline - in response to Christian Louboutin's appeal of the court ruling in October. YSL maintains that the court's original judgement - that Christian Louboutin should not be allowed to trademark the colour red - should be upheld and that Louboutin failed to show that YSL's use of the red sole caused "irreparable harm" to its business.

SEE LOUBOUTIN'S BIG NEWS Updated Tuesday October 25, 10.43am: Tiffany & Co has added weight to Christian Louboutin's red soles fight, by filing its own brief arguing that a colour - like the blue of its famous Tiffany boxes - can be trademarked and shouldn't be allowed to be copied. "We are enormously pleased that Tiffany has weighed in," Louboutin's lawyer told WWD. "Tiffany has not only agreed with our arguments, but it also put forth arguments that strengthened the case and made the point that the [earlier] decision should be reversed." "Tiffany is not taking sides in this dispute," Tiffany's lawyer was careful to add. "We are only trying to assure that this area of the law is not disturbed by an overbroad decision in the lower court." SEE THE LATEST LOUBOUTIN COLLECTION Updated Wednesday October 19, 10.31am: Christian Louboutin has launched an appeal against the court's decision not to grant an injunction stopping Yves Saint Laurent from producing red-soled shoes - but a verdict may not be passed until 2012.

The shoe label filed its first brief to the Court of Appeal in Manhattan on Monday with the hopes of protecting its trademark red soles, whilst YSL's representatives have not yet filed the expected counter-suit. "All the briefs from both sides are on a schedule that the Court of Appeals agreed with, to wit: all done and in before the end of the year," Louboutin's lawyer told WWD. "Considering what is at stake, it is probably fair to assume a ruling sometime in early spring, if not earlier." SEE LOUBOUTIN'S AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION Updated Friday August 19, 10.08am: An expert in US fashion law has stated that even Tiffany & Co's trademark blue boxes could be at risk of copying if Louboutin's trademark case against Yves Saint Laurent falls apart. "Louboutin's nightmare is that every fast-fashion retailer will begin stirring up vats of red dye because it believes the trademark is officially cancelled or is about to be," Susan Scafidi, director of Fordham University's Fashion Law institute, told WWD. "Louboutin stands to lose so much. This is identity theft for him.

Those red soles are almost as recognisable as his name. The philosophical question is, if it doesn't have a red sole, is it a Louboutin? If the shoe has house designs on it, yes, but the question is, will the public see it that way?" Updated Monday August 15, 9.13am: Christian Louboutin's lawyer says the shoe designer plans to "fight like hell" against YSL's attempt to overturn his re-sole trademark - and plans to file an appeal against the judge's denial of his requested injunction. Louboutin had asked that YSL be stopped from producing red-soled shoes in its pre-spring/summer 2011-12 collection whilst the two brands fought their trademark dispute in court. Last week the judge ruled that Yves Saint Laurent could continue to produce the shoes in the meantime and hinted that Louboutin's monopoly on the colour could be set to end.

<a href=""> SEE THIS SEASON'S 100 BEST SHOES</a> Updated Wednesday August 10, 4.40pm: Christian Louboutin's request for an injunction to stop sales of red-soled shoes made by Yves Saint Laurent has been denied by the judge considering the case. Judge Victor Marrero said Louboutin wasn't able to prove that its red soles deserve trademark protection. "Because in the fashion industry colour serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection," Marrero concluded, the Wall Street Journal reports. With the injunction denied, it looks unlikely that Louboutin will win its case against YSL, since it too relies on the association of the red sole only with Louboutin. Updated Thursday August 4, 8.56am: Both parties are still awaiting a decision, but the judge deliberating the case between Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent over the use of red-soled shoes sided with Louboutin yesterday as he ruled to disregard exhibits submitted by YSL.

Both sides submitted letters declaring their position, but YSL supplied additional articles - including a chart depicting YSL red- soled shoes since 2004 - which Judge Victor Marrero, presiding, ruled inadmissible. Louboutin's lawyer argued the chart's accuracy could not be verified and the judge agreed. Louboutin is seeking an injunction to stop YSL producing red-soled shoes for its 2011 cruise collection. It is not known when a decision might be reached. <a href=""> SEE SUMMER'S 100 BEST SHOES</a> Updated Tuesday July 25 8.26am: Shoes were strewn all over a New York courtroom yesterday as the Judge heard preliminary evidence in the case of Christian Louboutin vs Yves Saint Laurent. Louboutin's lawyer Harley Lewin of McCarter & English LLP urged the Judge to grant a preliminary injunction, stopping YSL from producing and selling the red-soled shoes it has produced for its <a href=""> pre-spring/summer 2011-12 collection</a>.

Lewin asserted that if the injunction was not granted, it would cause "irreparable harm" to the brand, WWD reports, and could encourage third parties to begin mass producing shoes with red soles. <a href="">YSL's</a> representative argued that no brand should have the "monopoly on a colour" - and that red soles have been worn through the ages by everyone from King Louis XIV of France to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, which was greeted by sniggers from the courtroom. And the judge's final words as he retired to his chambers to consider the footwear evidence he'd seen? "Nice shoes," he smiled. The case will resume later today. <a href=""> SEE LOUBOUTIN'S AUTUMN/WINTER SHOES</a> Updated Tuesday May 24, 8.17am: Yves Saint Laurent has responded to accusations that it copied Christian Louboutin's trademark red soles, by asserting the shoe designer doesn't have a monopoly on the colour.

"Red outsoles are a commonly used ornamental design feature in footwear, dating as far back as the red shoes worn by King Louis XIV in the 1600s and the ruby red shoes that carried Dorothy home in The Wizard of Oz," court papers filed by YSL read. "As an industry leader who has devoted his entire professional life to women's footwear, Mr Louboutin either knew or should have known about some or all of the dozens of footwear models that rendered his sworn statement false." In a lawsuit launched last month in New York, Louboutin is seeking damages of $1 million from YSL which - Louboutin claims - has copied his signature coloured sole on "virtually identical" shoes. Updated Wednesday April 20, 4.23pm: Louboutin has spoken out for the first time about his court case against Yves Saint Laurent, following allegations the luxury fashion house copied his famous red soles. "I have the biggest respect for the house of Yves Saint Laurent," the designer tells the Evening Standard. "Having discussed the matter with them and not been able to reach an agreement, we have had to take this to court.

My company has a trademark on the red sole and if we don't enforce it this would leave the door open for other brands to copy us while jeopardising the identity of the Louboutin red sole. No one before me has ever used a coloured sole to define a brand's identity. The red sole has become widely recognised as the distinct sign of my brand in the eyes of women all over the world." Updated Tuesday April 12, 09.14am: Christian Louboutin is suing a second footwear company, Carmen Steffens, for replicating his signature red soles. The Brazilian label has fought back against the allegations, commenting that it has been using the colour red on its soles since 1996 - before Louboutin officially trademarked it in the US. "Carmen Steffens France is confident in its position regarding the brand's long-standing use of colour on the soles of some styles of Carmen Steffens shoes, including the infrequent use of various tones of red," Carmen Steffens' president of US operations, Mark Willingham, told Footwear News.

"Of the 250 styles in Carmen Steffens France's current collection, only three styles utilise red tones on their soles." Updated Friday April 8, 1.50 pm: Christian Louboutin is suing Yves Saint Laurent for putting red soles on its shoes. Louboutin filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in New York on Thursday, alleging that YSL has breached its copyright by using the red sole. "Mr. Louboutin is the first designer to develop the idea of having red soles on women's shoes," the lawsuit said, Reuters reports. "The defendants' use of red footwear outsoles that are virtually identical to the plaintiffs' Red Sole Mark is likely to cause and is causing confusion, mistake and deception among the relevant purchasing public." Louboutin - which trademarked the red sole in the US in 2008 - says that it asked YSL to refrain from using the red colour in January this year, but the company has not yet responded. The shoe company is asking the court to award it $1 million in damages and to order YSL to halt production of all red soled shoes.

ADVERTISEMENT This isn't the first time the footwear legend has become annoyed at other labels using his trademark colour - in 2007, the label sued US brand Oh Deer! after it replicated his famous red sole. YOU SHOULD SEE: <a href=""> The season's most beautiful shoes from Harrods...</a> YOU SHOULD SEE: <a href=""> The shoe Louboutin designed for Blake Lively...</a> YOU SHOULD SEE: <a href=""> Louboutin's new collaboration with Bella Freud...</a> American Apparel's Court Case Closed By Scarlett Conlon Dolce & Gabbana Case Officially Closed By Scarlett Conlon Cavalli Settles Two Cases Out Of Court By Scarlett Conlon Louboutin Entitled to Protect Signature Red Sole, Court Rules - ABC News ABC News Louboutin Entitled to Protect Signature Red Sole, Court Rules By Lauren Effron Star Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images A spiked shoe is seen at a preview of an exhibition by French shoe designer Christian Louboutin showcasing 20 years of the famous red-soled shoes at the Design Museum in London, April 30, 2012.

0 Shares Email Christian Louboutin gets to click his red-soled heels together in victory. A U.S. federal appeals court ruled today that the famous French luxury shoe designer was entitled to trademark protection of its signature fire-engine red soles , with certain limitations. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that Louboutin was allowed to protect its brand against red-soled shoes produced by Yves Saint Laurent S.A.S., another Paris-based luxury designer, but it instructed the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to limit Louboutin's registration "to uses in which the red outsole contrasts with the color of the rest of the shoe," meaning that if Yves Saint Laurent were to use a red sole on a red shoe, it would not infringe on Louboutin's trademark. "It is the contrast between the sole and the upper [part of the shoe] that causes the sole to 'pop,' and to distinguish its creator," the appeals court wrote. This decision overturned a district court judge ruling last year that went against Louboutin, saying that one color could never serve as a fashion brand trademark, even though the U.S.

Patent and Trademark office had granted Louboutin protection in 2008. In response to the court ruling, Louboutin told ABC News in a statement that they were "extremely pleased and gratified that the Appellate Court found our key arguments to be correct: first that color can and does serve as a trademark in the fashion industry, and that Christian Louboutin's world famous Red Sole trademark is valid, protectable and enforceable." "As we have said throughout these proceedings and we reiterate now, especially in the light of this decision, we will continue to take all steps available to protect our trademark," the statement said. Attorney David H. Bernstein, who represented Yves Saint Laurent, told the Associated Press that the ruling was "a total victory for us," since the company would be able to continue making all-red shoes. The court battles over the bright red window into Louboutin's sole arguably put an entire shoe empire at stake. Louboutin sells more than 650,000 pairs a year, and his shoes don't come cheap.

The sexy, sky-high heels can sell for $495 and up -- with a crystal-encrusted pair costing $6,000. They have been seen on the feet of many of Hollywood's elite, including Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johannson and Jennifer Lopez (who has a song about the shoes called "Louboutins"). Even Barbie dolls have their own custom mini-sized Louboutins. The signature red sole had become a beacon of high-fashion and the demand is great. Just last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated 20,457 pairs of counterfeit Christian Louboutin shoes at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. "Nightline" caught up with Christian Louboutin at his Paris atelier in November 2011 , as the designer was celebrating his line's 20th anniversary while the legal battle raged over his right to keep his identity as the red sole man . "Well, you know, it's, to be copied can be sort of taken as a compliment, but when it's to be really attacked, in a way... then I do not see it as a compliment," Louboutin said at the time.

YSL's lawyers had previously argued that using the red sole for its shoes was not trademark infringement because "no designer should monopolize a color." Louboutin rejected the Saint Laurent argument. "I do not monopolize a color, I have put a color at a place where nobody has put it, and became, becoming iconic, as a trademark," he told "Nightline" in 2011. "I do not monopolize more colors, and Hermes is monopolizing the orange of their bag, or Tiffany has a blue. It's just the way it is. At one point, it makes part of your identity. It is my trademark." The designer said he first came up with the idea for painting the sole red in 1992, when the prototype of a shoe he created came in, but seemed to be lacking something. "I had a girl working with me, trying on the shoes," Louboutin said. "So when she was not trying on shoes, she sort of had nothing to do, so she was sort of waiting, and, so she was doing her nails, at that time... and I thought, why, this black has to be the red!

So I grabbed her nail polish, and painted the soles." It was then that his signature red sole was born. Louboutin said wearing shoes is a study in psychology. For women who may not feel comfortable with their bodies, in his shoes, he said, they will at least like their feet. "I would say that a good shoe is exactly like a good wine," Louboutin said. "These shoes are going to stay and last for a long time." The Associated Press contributed to this report 0 Shares Christian Louboutin vs. YSL 'Red Soles' Court Case Takes A New Twist | The Huffington Post Christian Louboutin vs. YSL 'Red Soles' Court Case Takes A New Twist 09/05/2012 12:43 pm ET | Updated Sep 05, 2012 140 As one fashion court case heats up , another (almost) draws to a close. Christian Louboutin SA has emerged victorious in its battle against Yves Saint Laurent: a New York federal court of appeals has granted Louboutin trademark protection over its signature red sole , according to Women's Wear Daily.

The case has been ongoing since April 2011 when Christian Louboutin sued YSL for using red soles on the bottom of its pumps. The lawsuit, which demanded $1 million in damages, stated , "Defendants' use of red footwear outsoles that are virtually identical to plaintiffs' Red Sole Mark is likely to cause and is causing confusion, mistake and deception among the relevant purchasing public." The 2011 suit was based on a trademark granted to Louboutin in 2008 . Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark states that Louboutin has the exclusive right to make red-soled shoes for "women’s high fashion designer footwear." Yet when Louboutin's suit against Yves Saint Laurent came before U.S.

District Judge Victor Marrero in August 2011, Judge Marrero questioned the legitimacy of such a trademark in the first place, calling it "overly broad." The entire YSL team agreed: David Bernstein, a lawyer representing YSL, told the Wall Street Journal , "No designer should be able to monopolize a color in fashion." Louboutin's team appealed the district court decision almost immediately and Judge Marrero postponed a decision on whether to cancel the 2008 trademark until the appeals court made its ruling. Now, according to Women's Wear Daily, the federal appeals court has decided to reject the earlier ruling, stating that Louboutin is entitled to its trademark on red soles , except when the entire shoe is red. Except that the YSL shoes were entirely red, i.e. the battle isn't over. With the new ruling to consider, the case will return to the lower court for review by a trial judge. And that's been your biannual update on the Louboutin vs. YSL "red sole" battle. Read more at WWD.com. UPDATE: Yves Saint Laurent released a statement following the decision, emphasizing their victory when it comes to the all-red shoes.

"The Court has conclusively ruled that YSL's monochromatic red shoes do not infringe any trademark rights of Louboutin, which guarantees that YSL can continue to make monochromitic shoes in a wide variety of colors, including red," said David H. Bernstein of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, YSL's rep on the case. He added, "YSL will continue to produce monochromatic shoes with red outsoles, as it has done since the 1970s." What do all these Louboutins and YSL heels look like? Check out some below: Celebrities In Platform Heels

Question: Red-soled shoes are the signature of which fashion designer?
Answer: Christian Louboutin