Christian Louboutin

I didn't even know 'Vogue' existed when I was growing up.

I never was interested in being part of the fashion world - I just wanted to design shoes. I didn't even know 'Vogue' existed when I was growing up. 'Vogue,' what is that?'

I am always surprised by who wears my shoes. This is a good thing. There is no type of woman, but all my women like to feel feminine. They are women who are happy to be women.

I like to undress women - not to dress them. You know, like Manet's 'Olympia' or Helmut Newton's photographs - naked women with shoes. This is what I am trying to do.

A woman carries her clothes. But the shoe carries the woman.

I am interested in all things that celebrate and enhance the female form.

I don't like conflicts. I'm not a competitive person at heart. To be in the middle of turmoil is boring.

Shoes for men are about elegance or wealth; they are not playing with the inner character.

Shoes for men are about elegance or wealth, they are not playing with the inner character. That is why women are happy to wear painful shoes.

I wanted to be a shoe designer, but I never thought it could be a profession. But what was the alternative? Doctor? Too dirty! Air-hostess? Maybe not! Then someone gave me a book on Roger Vivier, and, cheri, instantly I knew that was it!

When you are too specific on a target, it can drain you. Ask me where I will be when I am 60, and I will have no answer to give.

The thing I always try to remember is that feet are attached to the leg, and that you must prolong the silhouette. The shoe elongates the leg and does it discreetly. The goal is to get people to look at a woman's legs. It's all about the leg. No, it's not about the leg. It's about the woman.