Why Christian Louboutin Named His Shoes the ‘So Kate’

Nikara Johns

August 20, 2024 at 11:00 PM·2 min read

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Christian Louboutin released the ever-popular Kate stiletto more than a decade ago, and the So Kate came just a year later. Both shoes continue to be a customer favorite, with over 500,000 pairs of the Kate and its variations sold since its 2012 launch.

So who is Kate? According to the designer, the name is inspired by supermodel Kate Moss.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 18: Kate Moss attends Stella McCartney Winter 2012 London Eveningwear Presentation and Dinner on February 18, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Sylvia Linares/FilmMagic) — Kate Moss attends Stella McCartney Winter 2012 London Eveningwear Presentation and Dinner on February 18, 2012 in London, wearing Louboutin Kate heels.

“The Kate is a sharp style, simple and very complex at the same time,” he explained. “If the line is not very perfect, you do not have any embellishment to hide it. It sounded so much like Kate Moss, simple yet very sophisticated. I felt this pump just had to be named after her, because it was so Kate.”

Most recently, Zendaya could be seen wearing the So Kate event after event while she promoted her latest film “Challengers” in April. The actress has been wearing the 120mm super-stiletto heel for years, however. More specifically, since she was 14 years old — according to stylist Law Roach.

Roach, who made an appearance on Recho Omondi’s fashion podcast, The Cutting Room Floor, in May, said he put Zendaya in the pumps when she was a teenager and she’s been wearing it ever since.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: Zendaya is seen at "Good Morning America" on April 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) — Zendaya is seen at “Good Morning America” on April 23, 2024 in New York City.

Louboutin said the shoe “gives all the power to legs of whoever wears them with no distraction and just elevation. The ‘So Kate’ lets the woman and her entire body language speak.”

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) Christian Louboutin and Kate Moss attend the Christian Dior show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 on September 30, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images for Dior) — Christian Louboutin and Kate Moss attend the Christian Dior show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 on September 30, 2016 in Paris.

In 2022, the designer continued to pay homage to his friend and model with a new iteration of the Kate as seen in the modern Sporty Kate pump. This shoe has been designed with pointed toe, a plunging vamp and is set on a shorter, more wearable 85 mm heel height in a supple leather construction.