I'm super excited to show you the final result of our Christian Louboutin strassing project! It was definitely a labor of love to get these babies completed. In the end, the size 37.5 shoes required approximately 3600 tiny SS6 crystals, 2400 SS10 crystals, 75 SS20, and 144 SS16 crystals.
The result was stunning. These shoes glimmer and sparkle so much. The farther away they are the more magical they look. The DMC rainbow vitrail crystals were a fantastic choice. Constantly transforming from blue to green to yellow to pink, it's absolutely mesmerizing. But, enough from me! You be the judge!
Hope you adore the final result as much as we do.
I love love trying on Herve Leger dresses, the best dresses in the world in my opinion! In my recent trip to the Herve Leger boutique I tried on 6 different dresses. In my opinion, all 6 were pretty fantastic. You be the judge! Which dresses do you love and which ones do you hate?
First up is the very sexy showstopper, Billie. It's a mini length with a revealing neckline. What I really like about this dress is the black vertical band. It's very slimming. Since I've been sitting around for 3 months straight in front of my computer, my body isn't exactly... toned. lol... But, with this fantastic dress, you can't tell. 🙂
A fit and flare is a dress that I REALLY want in my collection. They're still sexy, but are a unique departure from most Herve Leger dresses. And, since a fit and flare is so different from any of the dresses in my large collection, it's an even better excuse to get it. 😀
Out of the 6 dresses that I tried this time, this was surprisingly my favorite. The reason? It's the HOLD! This thing really shapes your body beautifully. OMG, is this flattering! It's no wonder why this dress has been seen on so many celebrities.
The fit around the waist was much better on this one than the lilac one above.
Just another amazing dress. This metallic dress is the perfect balance of sexy and sophistication
Hope you enjoyed seeing some new Herve Leger dresses. 😀
Covering a pair of shoes with small crystals has proven to be even more time consuming than I expected. The good thing is that the process is very therapeutic. When I need to wind down and purge the thoughts in my heads, placing tiny crystals onto a pair of shoes always helps.
After decorating the front bow of the CL shoes, SS16 and SS20 crystals were placed randomly on the shoes. And, SS6 crystals were used to trace the edges of the shoes.
After this, it's just an iterative process of adding more and more smaller SS6 and SS10 crystals in a random way around the larger crystals.
Finally, here's the current status of the Louboutin shoes.
It's amazing how brilliant these shoes are already. These pictures really don't do these shoes justice. I catch myself looking at these shoes all the time across the room. The super sparkle and the way that the colors transform based on the angle is very mesmerizing.
The next update will reveal the final look: fully crystal covered heels!
A pair of swarovski covered Christian Louboutin heels retail for over $3000. So, it's no surprise that a lot of people have covered their own Louboutins with crystals. This process is commonly called strassing. Come take a look at my first strassing adventure! 🙂
Here's the first part of my strassing project. First, I needed to determine which materials were needed. Online, it suggested a pair of craft tweezers (it turned out these were not needed), at least 4 different sizes of crystals, gem-tac (less strong, but non-toxic) or E-6000 (stronger, but toxic) glue, and fabric Louboutin heels (fabric was chosen as I used the weaker non-toxic glue: gem-tac). If you have leather shoes, particularly patent leather, E-6000 glue should be used. Just be sure to work outside due to its toxicity.
I found out that the tweezers did not work well, even though they are very well made. A cheap eyeliner or lip liner worked much better at picking up and placing crystals. So, you really don't need the tweezers at all!
One of the things that is super important is figuring out how many and what kind of crystals to use. There are several types of crystals to choose from. For covering Louboutin, don't use anything but swarovski or DMC crystals. The highest quality crystals are swarovski due to their sparkle, but they are expensive. The cost of swarovski crystals for a pair of shoes will be around $300. The cost of DMC crystals (slightly less sparkle) costs around $30.
I ordered the following DMC crystals for my project: 75 of the SS20 vitrail rainbow crystals, 144 of the SS16 vitrail rainbow crystals, 4320 of the SS10 vitrail rainbow crystals, and 4320 of the SS6 vitrail rainbow crystals. SS refers to the size. Vitrail means that the crystals change color depending on the angle of the crystal.
My SS10 DMC crystals:
The easiest and fastest way of transferring crystals to the shoe, is to directly apply a few small dots of glue onto the shoe, and then placing the crystals on top. I started the project by applying SS10 crystals to the butterfly pattern on the front of the shoe. ***UPDATE*** Be liberal with the glue. I learned through experience that the glue dries completely clear, and these little dots of glue are not as good as more glue spread around to make a thin layer across the entire surface.
Though it may not look like much, placing the SS10 crystals to the bow area took a couple of hours. Later, I place additional smaller SS6 crystals on the butterfly pattern to complete just the butterfly area. Here it is with just SS10 crystals.
The crystals really look different depending on the lighting!
I hope you enjoyed this first look into my new adventure! As my project progresses, I'll update you all on how it goes! Hope that these shoes turn out pretty. I already know they will be super sparkly. 🙂
Many fake Christian Louboutin shoes are quite easy to spot! Here's a beginner's guide of some of the most common characteristics of counterfeit shoes. Don't end up with a fake! They're very uncomfortable, lower quality (won't last as long), and not nearly as gorgeous as the real thing!
I've collected a number of pictures from eBay to show what some fakes may look like. We'll go through different features of the shoe, so you can get an idea of how to authenticate Louboutin.
Red Sole
Many fakes do not copy the red sole very well at all. A true Christian Louboutin sole is made of leather painted a bright glossy vibrant shade of red. As a result, the look is very recognizable and unique. Many fakes have plastic or some other resin bottom. Take a look at the red soles below. They are all from counterfeit shoes.
Please note that when authenticating any item, it's not good practice to only look at one aspect of the item. I have seen fakes with somewhat convincing bottoms, especially when pictures are taken in less than ideal lighting. So, let's take a look at some of the other features.
Shape and Design
Notice how clunky and bulky these shoes look? Large toe boxes, high vamp, wide shoe bodies and less than elegant slopes for the heel are not common for Christian Louboutin's designs.
Bad Quality
The quality of the shoe is a dead giveaway. If the studs, glitter, sequins, etc are less than perfect, it's a very good chance that it's a fake! Take a look at how awful the bedazzle is on these counterfeits!
Please note the jagged cutting on this shoe:
Please note the asymmetry of the toe boxes
Accessories
Authentic Christian Louboutin can come with 1 or 2 shoe bags, a small mini shoebag containing heel taps, and wrapping and shoe stuffing. All these are held in a hard cardboard beige Christian Louboutin box. It should not come with a card, and shoe tips are not in a little plastic baggy.
As you can see in this picture, there is a card behind the shoes. Also, you can see the plastic bag with heel taps.
Style
Finally, it's great to familiarize oneself with the different styles of Christian Louboutin.
Right below is the Christian Louboutin Dorepi in leopard print. Notice the differences between the fake and the real? Real is on the right side. It's pretty drastic!
Authenticating Louboutin is much easier than authenticating most other brands like Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc.
We hope that these basic authenticating tips on Christian Louboutin will help you out!
I look around on eBay and other marketplaces all the time. It's interesting to observe the fake to authentic ratio from site to site. Though there are many fakes on eBay, they actually perform very well compared to other similar sites. Anyway, here are two appalling listings that took my breath away.
This particular style is a personal favorite. The ombre off-shoulder dress from Fall 2008 is absolutely divine! So, when I saw this dress on eBay, I had to check it out. Looks good at first, right? Feedback is plentiful with 100% positive!
Let's take a closer look. What really prompted me to do this article is that the dress doesn't even look remotely like the authentic. It is one of the worst fakes I've ever laid eyes on! Why would people pay $220 for the dress in that picture?!? Sometimes, fakes are difficult to discern for non-authenticators, but this dress is obviously fake to any untrained eye. Observe the stark color contrast and width from band to band.
Next up is a sad, sad story. If any of you are bidding or contemplating on this piece, please stay away. With still a whole day left (and, we all know that the most aggressive bidding occurs during the last few moments of an eBay auction), this Chanel bag is already at a whopping $2900. Too bad it's a horrible counterfeit!
Notice how the description states that this bag is an original Chanel, and that money will be refunded if it's not? If only they intended to keep on that promise! It does take a special kind of person to be ok with selling a fake item for hundreds if not thousands of dollars!
Hope you enjoyed the article and found it useful. Take care, and stay tuned. We plan to release some mini authentication guides out soon for you all. 🙂
Most Herve Leger dresses are true to size, but there are a few exceptions. For example, many Fall 2008 dresses run particularly small, whereas some dresses in 2009 and 2010 run a bit big. So, what is a girl to do?!? We've got you covered!
Been eyeing that super-gorgeous Herve Leger dress, but worried that it might not fit? We put together the most thorough online sizing guide to help you figure it out.
If you are new to Herve:
Here are some reference tables to help! First, determine your "true to size" based off your body measurements:
Generally, Herve Leger garments run "true to size," so you should be OK in most circumstances. If you want to be extra careful... ask the seller if the dress (or top, or skirt) runs true to size, small, or large.
Sometimes a seller may have a different idea of true to size or not know how their Herve compares to others. If that's the case, you can ask them for the measurements of the dress -- when laid flat (ie. unstretched). "True to size" measurements for each Herve size are:
For example, a true to size small dress (laid out unstretched) will measure approximately 28 inches for the bust, 23 inches for the waist, and 30 inches for the hips.
If you already have a Herve Leger that fits well:
Measure that perfect-fitting dress across the bust, smallest part of the waist, and hips while it is laid flat (unstretched). Don't bother worrying about the actual size.... Other Herve Leger dresses with similar measurements will most likely fit you as well!
Sizing Quiz:
1. What size do you typically wear in dresses that are numbered:
a) US 0-2, UK 4-6, or EU 32-34
b) US 4, UK 8, or EU 36
c) US 6, UK 10, or EU 38
d) US 8, UK 12, or EU 40
e) US 10, UK 14, or EU 42
2. What jeans size do you typically wear?
a) 23-25
b) 26-27
c) 27-28
d) 29-30
e) 31-32
3. What jacket size do you typically wear?
a) US 0-2, UK 4-6, or EU 32-34
b) US 4, UK 8, or EU 36
c) US 6, UK 10, or EU 38
d) US 8, UK 12, or EU 40
e) US 10, UK 14, or EU 42
If you answered:
- mostly a’s:: you are an XXS in true to size or most Herve Leger dresses.
- mostly b’s: then you are an XS in true to size or most Herve Leger dresses.
- mostly c’s: then S.
- mostly d’s: then M.
- mostly e’s: then L.
Do not be surprised. Herve Leger should fit tight. Sometimes, it may require someone to assist you into the garment.
I recently took a trip to the Herve Leger San Francisco boutique. I tried on some seriously beautiful dresses, including several from the recent 2013 collection! Trying on dresses is a great way to figure out which dresses look best on your body, and can help you decide which ones to add to your wishlist... so you can snag 'em when a good deal appears on Lollipuff. 😉
Melody, my favorite Herve Leger stylist and sales associate, helped me pick out 7 different dresses to try on.
Most Herve Legers have an amazing fit... but some seem like they are made just for you -- which is why it's so easy to get addicted to Herve! This one was my favorite of the trip. The drop waist is ideal for those with a very short torso, like me.
Here it is with a Herve Leger belt:
I did not think this colorblock dress (Parker) would look good on me. It is very similar to some of the vintage 1990's Herve Leger pieces. But I was pleasantly surprised -- it was super-cute, quite flattering, and totally timeless!
To be honest, the dress was so out of my price range that I don't even remember the price without looking it up -- it is $3250. Looking at this dress, you can see why it costs so much! It obviously took some real skill (and creativity) to make this dress: tiny individual bands throughout along with shimmery bead-work! If you want phenomenal shaping and have the money to spend... this dress might just be the one.
This next dress, Bridget, was one of Melody's favorites. She debated purchasing this very dress for herself. I can certainly understand why she likes it so much:
You may recognize the next dress. I own the black and white version and am head over heels in love with it. However, I'm not entirely impressed with this blue version -- it just doesn't fit the same (or have the same spark) as my flattering black-and-white one. Strange.
The Anaya dress below is very busy looking. With a whole lot of design and a whole lot of flare, this dress swallowed up my small frame! On the right body, this could be a fantastic dress.
The final dress is a beautiful, chic, one-shoulder ombre piece, Eliana. By the way, you can see the sexy Miss Melody on one side of the picture. 😉
With the recent move to the Bay Area (for Lollipuff's development), I’m now much closer to stores that sell high-end designer items. San Francisco is pretty fantastic! Earlier this week, I popped by the BCBG / Herve Leger boutique. Here, let me share.
Actually, this was the first boutique I visited after arriving in San Francisco. It's actually a BCBG boutique, but it currently stocks Herve Leger as well. For now, they are at 331 Powell Street; however, I hear that Herve Leger will (soon?) be moving into it's own location nearer the Chanel store (yay!).
Since most of these high high end brands only exist in large cities, here are some eye candy pictures of the store!
Anyway, while I was there I met with Melody -- one of the best Herve Leger sales associates in the world. She helped me pick out and try on a few different dresses. I’ve worked with Melody in the past over the phone and email, but this was our first meeting... She is a total sweetheart!
I’ll get pictures of my try on Herve Leger dresses online in a future post! Some of the dresses in the next season are real treasures!
I had the pleasure of visiting the Chanel boutique in San Francisco for the first time ever. While I was there, I was able to snap some beautiful Chanel pictures.... until I was told that "taking photos is forbidden." Oops. Either way, allow me to share this forbidden fruit. 😉
Actually, I did not know that taking pictures was not allowed. When I first entered the store, I asked one of the ladies working there if I could take a picture or two, and she said, “Sure.” Well… I got carried away thinking that it was totally fine to take pictures of all the beautiful things. With wild abandon, my “picture or two” quickly turned into 14. I would have kept going... but one of the security gaurds told me to stop. Oops!
Oh, and just to set the record straight to my co-founders: I did not get "kicked out." LoL.
These bags were so incredibly beautiful! Supple rich leather! Every single millimeter in total perfection! And, I can see how each bag was just totally classic, meant to be worn and handed down from generation to generation!
These are seriously the sexiest backpacks ever seen!
Those gloves were one of my favorite items in the store.
Long Chanel Statement Necklaces
More amazing bags! I just loved all the color in there! Karl Lagerfeld is a genius!
The Chanel store was a very interesting experience. The store had only 3 small rooms on the bottom floor where makeup, jewelry and bags were located. Each room had its own security guard -- even though each item was securely behind glass or chain locked to the wall. Apparently, there was an upstairs with clothes and shoes... but I completely missed 'em. I was too focused on all the gorgeous bags. Oh well.... that sounds like a good excuse to make another trip!
Like what you see? You can call the Chanel boutique at (415) 981-1550.