DIY Louboutin Shoes

I’m a firm believer that shoes make your whole oufit. The type of shoe that you choose can give your ensemble a completely different feel. The shoe’s job, in my opinion (besides enabling you to walk without cutting your feet on glass and rocks), is to complete your look. Christian Louboutin’s classic red soled shoes are a perfect example of a shoe that completes an outfit. The contrasting sole just looks so incredibly chic. Unfortunately, we can’t all afford to spend 845 dollars on one pair of shoes. Here is a tutorial so you can get the same look at a tiny fraction of the price!

Start off with a pair of basic black pumps. I got these ones from Wal Mart. I would recommend trying out this project on a cheaper pair of shoes, or a pair that you don’t wear very often anymore. That way, if something goes wrong, you haven’t ruined your favorite pair of shoes. If you like the end result then you could do this to all of your heels!

Start off by gently cleaning the soles of your shoes with dish soap. This way, you won’t paint over any bits of dirt or have any weird textures on the sole. Tape off the areas you do not wish to paint. There’s no point in painting all the way down to the toe since the paint will just rub off when you walk. If you’re not great at staying in the lines then tape along the sides of the sole as well. Paint the soles with acrylic paint using a soft brush in order to avoid brush lines. Another great way to apply the paint is by using spray paint. I recommend Krylon brand which you can buy at Michaels. If you are going to use spray paint then make sure to tape up the sides, and cover up the rest of the shoe with scrap paper.

For my pair I decided to use an ultramarine blue paint instead of red. I love the contrast of Christian Louboutin’s shoes, but I am just not a red girl. Realistically, you could try this project out with any colour you want. Gold could be a really fun alternative, and if you’re a bit handier with a paint brush then animal print soles would be amazing!

Allow the first coat of paint to dry, then add aditional coats to increase the brightness of the sole’s colour. The point of the style of these shoes is for the sole to pop.

I finished off my shoes by painting on a thin layer of glossy gel medium to seal the colour and add some shine. You can find gel medium at Opus. If you’re working with spray paint, use Krylon’s Crystal Clear acrilyc coating, which can be found at Michaels.

Allow the shoes to dry overnight before wearing them out and about.