What happens when Christian Louboutin’s iconic heels dive underwater? French Olympic synchronized swimmers, wearing the high heels of this legendary brand, brought a display of grace and perfect choreography to Paris Fashion Week. Kicks, spins, and jumps—each move precisely synchronized to music—had one purpose: to showcase the new "Miss Z" collection by the renowned French designer. Could there be a better way to highlight those iconic red soles? And yes, not a single shoe was lost during the performance. Every heel stayed firmly in place.
Christian Louboutin, captivated by the elegance of synchronized swimming, dreamed up a show meant to surprise and entertain. As he explained, “I’ve always loved synchronized swimming—even my two daughters swam before they learned to walk,” he joked. The show, titled Paris is Louboutining, debuted at Paris Fashion Week in the iconic Piscine Molitor pool, where a team of French Olympic synchronized swimmers performed a breathtaking routine in high heels.
In the historic Art Deco pool designed by Lucien Pollet, the synchronized swimmers and additional dancers presented the new collection with flair. The French designer, inspired by the upcoming Paris Olympics, envisioned combining athletes with the presentation of his collection. “I imagined something unexpected, where the audience wouldn’t expect athletes—let alone my shoes,” he explained before the show. Louboutin crafted this unforgettable spectacle in collaboration with acclaimed director and photographer David LaChapelle and choreographer Blanca Li. “We three share one thing in common—a love for dance,” Louboutin noted. Blanca Li added, “Collaborating with artists you know and giving them space to create is wonderful, as there’s mutual trust and complementing of each other’s work.”
Louboutin himself is known for his love of dance, bold aesthetics, and opulence. He began his career designing shoes for dancers at the Folies Bergère cabaret and later worked with the legendary Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse. He often introduces his collections through Loubi Shows—dance and music performances created with various choreographers and performers, offering audiences an immersive experience at the intersection of fashion and art.
The Olympic swimmers, dressed in retro swimsuits by French designer Fifi Chachnil and wearing pointed heels with metallic sheen, delivered a flawless dance performance during the evening. Their shoes "shimmered like seashells," as Louboutin remarked. The swimmers performed perfectly synchronized water acrobatics, with Louboutin’s signature red soles flying through the air while they disappeared beneath the pool’s surface. Their movements were precisely timed to the song Lost on You by singer LP, enhancing the evening’s romantic yet dramatic tone. Falling bubbles added a dreamy touch, as the swimmers gracefully showcased an elegant harmony of movement and control over both their bodies and their shoes. This playful scene captivated the audience, with one comment noting, “This makes so much more sense than just standing or walking in heels.”
The swimmers weren’t alone on stage—they were joined by other dancers performing in building alcoves, reminiscent of the famous Models in Window photograph from 1960, which inspired Jean-Paul Goude's Chanel Égoïste campaign in 1990. Another dancer, dressed as a firefighter, performed on a pole.
The concept of showcasing stiletto heels in water posed both a creative and technical challenge for Louboutin. He needed to ensure the shoes would stay securely on the swimmers’ feet, even during complex movements and kicks. “These shoes have to be designed completely differently,” Louboutin explained, adding that it wouldn’t have been possible with standard high heels.
The fifteen-minute show, choreographed by Blanca Li, quickly became a hit on social media and was described as "epic." The choreography blended elegance with athleticism, naturally emphasizing footwork. Swimmers in turquoise and purple swimsuits had to learn to coordinate their movements to gracefully manage the shoes—a completely new challenge. “I think I got stabbed by a stiletto; we perform very close to each other,” admitted team member Claudia Janvier, who had a few bruises after the show.
David LaChapelle aimed to revive the old Hollywood atmosphere, inspired by the works of Esther Williams and Busby Berkeley. Williams became famous for her swimming performances in pools, combining dance and acrobatics, with her synchronized water choreography celebrated in Hollywood films of the 1940s and 1950s. LaChapelle drew from these vibrant and kaleidoscopic images filled with lights and dramatic twists, but wanted to present them in a modern spirit.
The entire performance was extravagant and spectacular, starting with the very title Paris is Louboutining, which is a reference to the documentary Paris Is Burning (the 1990 American documentary by Jennie Livingston about the ballroom culture of 1980s New York). At the end of the show, LaChapelle and Blanca Li joined the swimming team, jumping into the pool fully clothed, while Louboutin slid down a stiletto-shaped slide.
You can watch the performance video on Christian Louboutin’s official website.
