My nude patent ‘So Kate’:
Christian Louboutin shoes have been on my wish list forever. For years I’ve been drooling over the pretty Pinterest pins and Instagram pictures of the sexy long skinny stilettos with the famous red soles. I understand the irony that I might not be able to walk more than an hour in them, or might look like a fool wobbling in these 120 cm high heels, especially after a few cocktails. But just look at how beautiful and perfect they are. The super fine and even stitches, the shiny Italian patent leather, the sophisticated pointed toe, the low cut toe box to reveal toe cleavage. The long and fine stilettos that give you legs for days. And of course, the well-known red lacquer on the soles that instantly changes the woman’s attitude. How could I not want a pair of all of that?
The time is now, I got myself my first Christian Louboutin pair, and they are the nude patent leather ‘So Kate’. I knew I had to get one of the basic and popular styles, and in black or nude color. I debated on black, but I went for nude because black could be too formal, whereas nude is easier to pair with a lot more clothes informal and formal. Also, nude will give you legs for days as it’s the color of your skin, so the shoes will really extend your legs so much more. Of course petite me could always use some more leg. I searched and searched in department stores, even on Chistian Louboutin website, but I couldn’t find nude ‘So Kate’ in my size. Finally, I found them at Barneys New York online in size 36.5, and so here my precious babies are.
They are everything I dreamed about and more. To hold the beauty in my hands just feels so right! They are truly a work of art. I had never seen shoes like these. So well made, so delicate, dainty, yet they feel sturdy. The red lacquer on the bottoms are flawless and screaming for attention.
That came to my mind the question of how to protect the red bottoms. Of course, I only have to worry about the bottoms at the balls of the feet, the rest won’t touch the ground, so they won’t need much protection. As gorgeous as the red soles are, they rub off as the shoes walk, because according to Louboutin himself, sexiness is when woman leaves a little bit of red “rosette” everywhere she goes. And I know a lot of people will agree and leave their soles unprotected. A rubbed off pair of Louboutins means they have been loved and have taken their owner to wonderful places. However, as a typical Asian, I cringe at the idea of my $675 rubbing off on the streets everywhere I go. As an engineer, I wonder myself how many times of wear I would get before the red rubs off completely and leaves ugly black color on the bottoms. So I did some research, and I found a way to give the red soles some protection. If you’re looking to protect yours, follow along!
How I protect the red soles:
The short story is to use any mobile device screen protector, easily found at Best Buy. Apply it as you would on your mobile device. You just need to get the right size of device to fit both of your soles. Depending on what shoe size, you could go for screen protector of an Amazon Fire Kindle, or iPad Mini, to an iPad size. Then you need some patience to apply it, as it’s a little tricky to get all the bubbles out.
This method will only work best for unworn Louboutins. With dirt and marks on the red soles, it’ll be extremely difficult to apply the shield without leaving any air bubbles. Also this is only to help the red to stay on temporarily. You still need to be careful of what surface you walk your shoes on. And the shield will also wear off after a couple times of wearing, so you still need to remove old shield and apply new shield to maintain the protection.
The long story:
Sizing: I purchased this Zagg brand Invisible Shield for a Kindle Fire 7″ from Best Buy for $14.99. Lucky for me, the Kindle dimension fits both of my soles perfectly (size 36.5) with zero room to spare. If you’re a smaller size, you could go for this. But if you’re bigger than 36.5, definitely purchase one for iPad mini or iPad size, keep in mind they’re a little more expensive to size up. Or if you just prefer more room to wiggle, go for a bigger size. Also, I know Zagg has a glass shield for much more expensive, you don’t need that, you don’t want glass under your heels.
I went for Zagg brand because it comes with an application solution in a spray bottle. This eases the process, helps with not leaving fingerprints and removing air bubbles. Look in the back of the box to make sure the solution is included.
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- Amazon Kindle fits my soles sz 36.5
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- Spray solution is included
Now let’s begin!
Step 1: Preparation
Admire your bare red soles one last time before application. In a short half an hour, they will be covered to maintain the beautiful shiny red lacquer. There’s usually a sticker on the right sole, you will need to remove that first, and remove any sticky residue.
Also, gather some scissors then wash and dry your hands and fingertips.
Hello gorgeous red soles, I will keep you red as long as possible! (Peel the sticker off on the right sole)
Step 2: Trace your shoes on the screen protector
Like I said, the size for Amazon Kindle Fire 7″ fit perfectly my 2 soles of size 36.5 with no room to spare, like pic below. So make sure you pick up the right size for your shoes.
Here is the tricky part, the sheet has 3 layers that stick together. The middle layer is your screen protector, which is the piece you will stick on to your shoes. Then there are two other layers on either side of the screen protector. You need to figure out which side is the sticky side of the shield, but do not separate any layer yet. Put the sheet down on flat surface, sticky side up, in my case the side that I can read the words “Invisible Shield”. Then you want to position the shoes first before tracing so you can angle them to fit both on the sheet. Use a pen or pencil to trace. Angle the pen such that you’re tracing the outer edge of the shoes instead of smaller, with bigger you can always trim later.
Label them Left and Right.
Position both shoes to fit on sheet
Trace and label
Step 3: Cut following the trace
Now you’re ready to cut the sheet following the trace. When you put the cut piece on one shoe, you should not be able to read the printed words.
It’s ok if the cut piece is slightly bigger than your shoe
Step 4: Apply the shield one shoe at a time
Use the provided cloth to wipe off any dirt on your shoe bottom.
Very important, wet your fingers with the application solution first to help prevent fingerprints. Then peel off the layer that sticks to the sticky side of the shield (the layer with the words printed).
Spray the solution on the sticky side of the shield. Spray generously, it’s okay if you completely wet it.
Spray your fingers first to prevent fingerprints, then spray the sticky side of the shield
Now apply the sticky side to the shoe. Use the provided squeeze-gee on the thicker edge to press the shield onto the shoe. Apply pressure but don’t kill your shoe 🙂 You will not be able to get all the bubbles out yet, because the shield is still too thick, just try to get the shield to stick evenly first.
It’s ok at this time to see more bubbles than this, cuz this is my finished shoe 🙂
Then peel off the other layer. It’s super tricky to find that layer. It took me a while to peel it off. I looked for it at the tip of the toes.
Peel off the other layer, leaving just the ‘invisible shield’ layer
Step 5: Get rid of all bubbles!
Use the squeeze-gee to squeeze all the liquid/air bubbles out. See these right here at the edge, we don’t want those!
Get rid of these bubbles around the edges!
If you don’t get rid of these bubbles, later when you walk in your shoes, the bubbles will break, create holes, and invite dirt and air in that way. Then the holes will start to lift, invite in more air and dirt. They get bigger, and eventually the shield will come off. So it’s super important that you remove all air bubbles, even around the edges, so the shield doesn’t start lifting.
When you’re done, trim the edges if you have excess. This is also important, because the shield can also start lifting.
Now you’re done with one shoe! Here’s my final look, can you tell that there’s a shield on? 🙂
Trim around the edges if there’s excess! One done!
Do the same to the other shoe, this one will be much easier because you already have experience with the first!
And voila, you are done! You now have a protection layer on your red bottoms, but they are almost ‘invisible’! Can you tell I have a shield layer on? 🙂
All done!
-
- Final product!
-
- Yay!
Hope this was useful for you guys! If you want to see the update of how this method works after a few wears, let me know in the comment below.
How do you guys protect your red soles, or do you prefer to leave them unprotected?
Shoes: Christian Louboutin 🙂 || Zagg ‘Invisible Shield’: Best Buy
-xoxo
Lily Rose
This post was chosen in the IFB link roundup of this week, so check out the other 19 bloggers that were featured!
Links à la Mode, August 27
- Arisgold: How to Wear Suede Fringe Jackets for Fall 2015
- Bawse Girl: What to Wear on a First Date | Do’s and Don’ts + A Guy’s Perspective
- Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: {Beauty Board} Dark Shadows
- Fashion Blender: Practicing My French Chic
- Flash [Frame]: What to Know Before Your Strip
- Happy. Pretty. Sweet.: Inspired by The Great Gatsby
- Hey Just Jei: Spotlight Review | Brother’s We Stand, Alec Bizby’s Double Faced Kimono Cardigan
- Lobler & Delaney: 5 Jewellery Designers Worth Stalking
- Miss Trend She: Pro-Sustainability Fashion Designer Encourages Industry Movement
- Moon and the Mirror: The Soiree of Excess
- MySelf Expressed: Inspiration Board | The Skinny Scarf
- Rafa’s POV: Stylish Backpacks Will Make You Want to Go Hand-Free!
- Red Alice Rao: Why Kitsch Fashion is Everything But Ugly
- Sassy Ethnic Bohemian: Closeup | Traci Claussen of Repurposing NOLA is Recycling Piece by Peace
- SassyPlus: Roses are Red, Fall is Blue
- Stellah Charles: Leather Skater Skirt
- The Wanderbliss: All Day All Night | W T F{loral}
- Trollsen Twins: Traveling is the Ruin of All Happiness!
- With Love Lily Rose: How to Protect Christian Louboutin Red
- Zamri’s Big Fat Blog: Just Like April, I’m a Clubber in the City Again
SPONSOR: Amazon’s Shopbop Soia & Kyo, Faribault Woolen Mills, Woolrich, Nour Hammour, Vasic Collection, MM Druck, APL Shoes, Ray-Ban, Uri Minkoff, Flare Jeans
One of my absolute favorites! Such a classic:) Great post!
Have a great day!
Laura
http://www.loveandsapphires.com
Thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comment! 🙂
Gorgeous!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Wow!!! So beautiful idea!!! Marvelous shoes!!! Kisses from Italy and thank you for stopping at my blog. I’m very happy for you comment.
Eni
Eniwhere Fashion
Eniwhere Fashion Facebook
Thank you Eni for stopping by! 🙂 Glad you enjoy the shoes and the idea!
Wow thanks for sharing! I’m still to own my Louboutin’s but I think this applies to Valentino and Gucci’s too.. will definitely look into this!!
Congrats on being featured in Links A La Mode too! I was featured three weeks ago they used my picture as one of the top three images too it was truly exciting =)
Jessica
http://www.mycubiclechic.com
Hi Jessica, yes. I think the method will work for any shoes that you want to protect the bottoms of. I think it works wonderfully so far for me 🙂
And yay for being featured! Congrats on your feature too!
This is absolutely genius!! I wish I had come across this before my red soles got ruined 🙁 I am 100% doing this to my next pair! Thanks so much for sharing!! xo, Kimmie
Wow girl, awesome freaking post! You chose the perfect pair for your first :)! They too have been on my list for years but I could never find my size! I just sold my beautiful suede violet so kates today and I am pretty damn heartbroken 🙁 but they were too big so I know there wasn’t any point keeping them! Lol, time for a new pair right?!
What a terrific idea btw! I’ve only ever heard of buying the vibrams after they wear out! Some girls love that worn out look but I also do not like it! I will have to try your method 🙂
http://www.ontothenextpaige.ca
Don’t we all need a new pair of Loubes? I’m actually looking some suede violet right now, they’re so cute! I’m drooling over the suede, since it’s so in this season. I might just get a pair this fall 😛
And yay, thanks for reading and glad you like the idea. If you do try it, do let me know how it works out for you. I’ll probably do an update post soon on my pair, it’s been working great so far for me! 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting and reading. That means a lot to me, girl!
-xoxo
Hi Lily- thanks for ur post! I have a new pair of Loubes and I don’t want to wear them until I find the right protection. Can u share how ur soles look after a few wears? Thanks! Liz
Hi Liz. Since this post, I have only worn my Louboutins once to a dinner date, and the soles still look really good (with a few dings from the tiny rocks/pebbles I stepped on from the street). Dinner wasn’t a lot of walking though, mainly indoor walking and sitting.
So I’m waiting for the shield to completely wear out to count how many times of wears it takes and do a full update on my blog / new YouTube channel for you guys (so stay tuned for that). In the mean time I could send you some pics of how the soles look right now after just 1 wear to your email, if you’re interested? Let me know 🙂
Thanks so much for reading! It means so much to me!
Lily, thanks for this post! I just got my first pair and used this method. I would love to see your bottoms after a few wears with the Zagg shielf!!
Cool! Congrats on your first pair, how exciting!! 🙂 And of course, I will be doing an update on mine, stay tuned!
Hey Lily, have you tried removing the Zagg shield off your shoe? I want to do this method but I’m worried it will peel off the paint when or if I decide to remove it.
xxJacky
Hi Jacky! I totally understand your concern.
So, true story, in this post I mentioned that I was a size 36.5. However, after this post and after putting the shield on, walking around in these shoes just around the house to test them out, I realized that was too tight for me. So long story short, I peeled the shield off of the 36.5, ordered a size 37, shipped back the 36.5 and got my money back with no comment or question asked. Not gonna lie, I was very very nervous to peel them off, and I do suggest peeling them from the ball of your foot towards the toes, not the other way around. Do it slowly in one pull (as opposed to pull a little, then stop, then pull a little). It’s also easier to peel off once you have worn the shield out, rather than peeling off a fresh shield. I will be doing a YouTube video on applying and peeling off the shield when mine wears out more! Hope that helps! 🙂
have you ever tried to remove the zagg? Will it peel off the red sole?
did you take off the zagg off the new paid you got? did it take off the red sole?
Can you send updated pics now?! I’m curious to see how they are holding up!
Maja, como te has currado las suelas de los Loubos. Yo tengo unos negros y la suela está machacadita pero lo peor es como protejerlos de los chorrazos de mi chico, no se como no llevarlos siempre blancos.
Besos.
Hey is it slippery? I can’t imagine walking on a plastic strip ….
Hi! It’s actually not slippery at all. It was more slippery before I put the shield on, because the red lacquer was very smooth 🙂 The shield made it a little “sticky” if that makes any sense.
Your Blog is seriously AMAZING!!!!! I love the style of your pages and the quality information and pictures you provide! I love it!
How did you remove the sticky residue?
Hi, does the protector rip off the red bottom if you try to remove it?
Thank you for the fantastic info. I am soon to celebrate my 65th birthday and the purchase of my Red Soles was a planned event! I am so nervous about applying the protectors but I will buy them now and hope I can complete the task, with your guidance. Maybe I could book you a flight to LA and you could help me with each step? So very grateful
I’ve heard you can take them to a professional cobbler and they can laquor the bottoms also. Never tried it though!
Hi, I was wondering how the shield was holding up and if your soles were still looking good! I just purchased a pair and really want to try this, but I’m also a little hesitant since I’m scared the paint will peel off when I change the shield in the future. Have you changed yours yet?
I was looking for a YouTube video of yours, I saw you mentioned you’d make one, but no luck 🙁
Oh my goodness. Thank you SO much for posting this! I was so worried about losing the red.
Lily, many thanks for this post!
I would love to see your bottoms after a few wears with the shielf, if possible…
Tank you!
Betty
Does the protector make the shoes slippery?
Omg you’re brilliant ?
Hi! Thanks for posting this. I’ve been dreading wearing my very prive and pigalles. After you did this, were the shoes really slippery? Did you end up having to replace the shield?
Hello! I was wondering what the shoe looks like with the invisible shield after wearing them outside on surface like a sidewalk? do you have any pictures of how the invisible shield holds up? Thank you!
3M transparent protective film…. used on cars to protect paint. Cheaper, lasts longer, way easier to apply, doesn’t damage or peel lacquer
Will this protector make my shoes slippery or add a little grip?
Great article, will be using this trick for my wife’s christmas present
She’s apparently MIA, it’s ridiculous to start a blog, promise and update and flake out.?
Just tried out your method on my first pair of Louboutin nude Suzanne and they look great can’t wait to wear them …
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