5 tips for identifying fake Louboutin shoes

He is one of the most famous shoe designers in the world with his luxury shoe designs: Christian Louboutin. His most famous fans include Princess Caroline of Monaco, Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, and many others. Every woman's dream is to own the iconic shoes with the red sole. Unfortunately, this unique brand is often falsified. It's even claimed that there are counterfeits so well made that it's difficult for experts to distinguish them from genuine Louboutin shoes. As tricky as it can be, there are a few features you should look out for when buying shoes. To make sure you don't fall victim to one of these scammers, here's a guide to help you buy a real pair of Louboutins.

1 - The famous Christian Louboutin red sole

One of the most important things to look for in a Louboutin shoe is the red sole. Louboutin soles should be bright red leather with a smooth texture and a slight curve around the edges. As a result, the look is highly recognisable and unique. In addition, the sole should not be plastic, resin or flat. Many counterfeits have plastic soles even though they say they are leather. In addition, the logo on the sole must be deeply engraved and not printed. The details that must be included on the sole are the Christian Louboutin logo, "MADE IN ITALY" and the European size such as 38.

However, many people opt for a rubber sole for better grip. The vast majority of shoemakers use Topy leather with the Topy logo printed on it. In the images below, the colour of the red is a different shade. Similar to the previous method, the font has been completely messed up and the logo looks so different on the correct image that it's almost unrecognisable. Not only the logo, but each letter and number has a different shape and size.

On the left, a fake Louboutin sole, on the right, a real Louboutin sole.

2 - The quality of Louboutin shoes

Christian Louboutin shoes are made in Italy, so they have to be of the highest quality. Every aspect of the design - from the types of leather to the stitching to the placement of embellishments - must be perfect. Stitches must be tight and uniform on all shoes. Fake shoes may have double seams or large, uneven stitches. The leather should be of the highest quality and have a perfect shape. A tell-tale sign of counterfeit Louboutin shoes is poor quality leather. The insole of the shoes should be aligned with the side of the shoes and sealed properly. Another tell-tale sign is that the sequins are not glued on properly.

3 - Embossed Christian Louboutin logo on the sole

Another key factor that distinguishes the real Louboutins is the embossing on the insole of the heel and the arch of the sole. After 2007, Louboutin removed the "Vero Cuoio" stamping that you can find on the bottom of the shoe. Whether the stamp exists or not is not what will determine its authenticity. The same goes for the Paris stamp on the insole, which is sometimes missing.

What you need to look at in detail is the gold stamping and embossing on the bottom of the sole. This must be clean, neat and not overflowing. The logo stamp on a Louboutin counterfeit may be a little messier or thicker than on the authentic version. The letter spacing may also be slightly off or the font may not quite match. So the typography should be fine, clearly defined and elegant.

On the left, a fake Louboutin, on the right, a real Louboutin.

4 - The dust bag

Inside every box of Louboutins is a cotton dust bag designed to keep your shoes clean and scratch-free. Although the bag is made from red cotton, it is often mistaken for velvet because it is so soft and fluffy. The dust bag should be cherry red with clean, overlapping dots, a drawstring and a general sense of quality. If the bag looks cheap or flimsy, it's a fake (just like the shoes).

When you buy Louboutins, you also get replacement parts for your shoes in the dust bag. These come in a smaller dust bag, not a plastic bag. If the extra accessories come in a zip-type plastic bag in the larger dust bag, it's a fake.

On the left, a fake Louboutin dust bag, on the right a real Louboutin dust bag.

5 - The price of Louboutins

Of course, the quality of Christian Louboutin shoes also comes at a price. So if you decide to buy a pair of luxury shoes, you should be looking at a minimum of 500 euros for the designer's high-heeled creations. The more unusual the model and the decorations, the higher the price. It's even possible to find pairs of shoes priced in the four-figure range. However, it's fair to say that buying authentic Louboutins is well worth it: the feeling of wearing heels knowing they are genuine Louboutins is completely different.

What's more, a high-quality leather shoe with a leather sole can never be compared to a plastic shoe. Especially when you want to wear shoes for a longer period of time, there is a huge difference in wearing comfort to be felt. If you see louboutin shoes for under £500 for no reason at all, beware. To avoid being tricked, remember to compare the Louboutin shoes you want to buy with the model on the official website.

Buy your second-hand Louboutin shoes with Obvy

However, if you don't want to pay the rather high price of Louboutin shoes, there are of course cheaper alternatives in the form of second-hand offers. This allows you to avoid the high price of Louboutins, while still being able to become the proud owner of a pair of Louboutin shoes. These shoes are often in like-new condition, with prices starting at just €200 on classified ad sites such as Leboncoin, Facebook and Vinted.

When it comes to paying for your Louboutins, opt for a secure payment method like Obvy, which will give you 72 hours upon receipt of the parcel to check that your Louboutins are genuine, thanks to our advice above. So don't take any risks and buy your second-hand Louboutins in complete safety with Obvy!