London - Few women are completely immune to a pang of envy when they see a flash of red sole on a pair of shoes.
But they should take heart. Rather than Christian Louboutin heels worth hundreds of pounds, they may well be a distinctly DIY version.
Sales of tester pots of red paint have soared as thrifty women use them to recreate the distinctive designer soles on their high street shoes.
At Homebase, sales of 75ml pots in bright red shades Flame and Show Stopper have risen by 40 percent in the past year.
French shoemaker Louboutin is famed for using Pantone-18 Chinese red paint on the soles of his creations, which are favoured by the likes of Victoria Beckham.
Louboutin first added the red sole during a fashion show in 1992, using an assistant’s nail polish.
Claire Stevenson, 24, a PA from Croydon, wanted a pair of Louboutins for her cousin’s wedding but couldn’t afford them, so she decided to follow the designer’s DIY example.
“I bought a £20 pair of plain black shoes and a tester pot and recreated the designer look at home,” she said. “I carefully painted the soles, let them dry overnight, and by the next day they were ready to wear.
“I received so many compliments about my gorgeous shoes but I didn’t have the heart to confess they were DIY fakes.”
Peter Rooney, store manager of Homebase in Acton, West London, said: “We have noticed a significant number of girls in the store colour-matching the tester pots to pictures of designer shoes in fashion magazines.”
The chain has even released a set of tips on how to recreate the designer look. - Daily Mail