Simply Abu Dhabi XI

K eep it to yourself, but there is more to Louboutin than red soled killer stilettos. The men’s collection is growing in notoriety and with stellar designs such as these, that acclaim looks set to continue. Louboutin’s madcap creativity is by no means removed when he doesn’t have the spiked heel to work around, but his mind works in a different way when presented with a gentleman’s shoe. Perhaps subconsciously, perhaps by design, however, that spike is never far from his creative mind. For many seasons now, Christian Louboutin has themed his men’s collection around spikes. It’s a cheeky, youthful collection with practicality in mind. It is the classics with a modern twist that are likely to appeal to most. The Dandy Pik Pik Flat Spikes in Floque are entirely carpeted in rubbery matte spikes like an emphasised durian fruit. Rollerboy spikes will appeal to the dandy gents with traditional patterns vamped up by liberal spikes. There are clear references to Louboutin’s early punk phase in the 1970s. Perhaps he has yet to grow out of it. For night time, the Bruno Orlato flat in patent and pony skin black coffee and finished with the metal trims that have been seen all over the runways this year, you could do worse. The same shoe is available in black with a glittered toecap in shades of pink and purple. By day, stomp the streets in a cutting edge high top in pony skin (a fabric experiencing a revival) complete with gleaming metallic panels and an unexpected leather buckle, or don the Club Flat Basket in white calf leather for an urban sporty look. A cross between a golf shoe and a training shoe with cutout motif trim, it could easily be imagined at an A-list rooftop party. The Dechaine flat has a punky edge with gold chain trim around the sole andmulti-coloured panels inmuted shades of rose and grey while the Harvanana Flat with its embroidered appliqué badge give the sense of a slipper, were it not for the spiked toe. The Watson Pony with a moustache motif has a real sense of fun and will play down almost any outfit. Colour is injected in the loafers. Ponyskin is again used in the Daddy Flat, this time in camouflage in a slipper-esque flat shoe adorned with black leather tassels. Not to your tastes? Choose the same shoe but in blue velvet tartan with patent tassels. Louboutin has homes around the world, in Paris, Lisbon, Aleppo, the Nile, Luxor and Vendée. He says this season was inspired by Egypt, a land with which he has had a long obsession. As a result, he’ll be presenting this season at his shops around the world against an overtly Egyptian window display featuring azure blues and glimmering golds; pharaohs and hieroglyphs. They have been draped in gilded cloths, papyrus scroll paintings and ancient Egypt figures wearing high-heeled Louboutins to honour the season’s muse As from childhood (where he moved out of home aged 12) Louboutin can pretty much do as he likes. He can do no wrong. 1 7 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I