The So Kate are IT!!ure IT that is!but they look soooo good Christian Louboutin‘s red lacquered soles anywhere, but differentiating between the brand’s various classic pumps is a bit more challenging. For a footwear-focused brand like Louboutin, attention to the slightest changes in toe box, pitch (the angle at which a high heel rises) and heel is what it takes to differentiate the most popular styles and decide which is right for you. We put together a comparative guide to help you understand the subtle variations between Christian Louboutin’s Pigalle, Pigalle Follies and So Kate pumps, and you can learn all about each of the super popular, super sexy styles below.
[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published June 23, 2016. Think of it as Erlebniswelt-fliegenfischenShops Classic!]
Sizing and Heel Comparison
Sizing: As always, fit depends on the wearer’s foot structure. Many woman who wear Louboutin pumps are not the same size in all of the brand’s styles. However, due to the narrow silhouette of all three pumps, the consumer consensus for these three styles is to go up a half size if your foot is on the wider side of average.
The So Kate and Pigalle Follies have a similar heel structure, which tapers as it nears the ground, although the Follies’ heel is slightly thicker. The Pigalle has an even thicker heel that does not taper.
The Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pump
The Pigalle is a brand classic that’s been around for over a decade. This iconic style features the shortest toe box of the group, which give the illusion of the highest arch. While the Pigalle comes in various heel heights, the most popular by far is the 120mm version. (Go big or go home, right?) The steep pitch, vertiginous heel and low sides are both sexy and extreme, which is everything Louboutin stands for
Heel Heights Currently Available: 120mm/4.8 inches, 100mm/4 inches, 85mm/3.3 inches
Starting Price: $675
Shop 100mm pumps for $675 via Net-a-Porter
Shop 120mm pump for $675 You can spot
Fauré Le Page
The Pigalle Follies design is a combination of the Pigalle and So Kate. Of the group, the Follies comes in the widest selection of heel heights, ranging from flat to stiletto. The toe box is shorter than the So Kate, but is not as short as the Pigalle. The heel of the Follies is narrow and tapered, like the So Kate. Unlike the Pigalle and the So Kate, the Follies features a cushioned insole, which makes the world of difference when it comes to long-term wear. If you’re looking for a sexy heel but are daunted by the pitch of the So Kate, then this is the pump for you.
Heel Heights Currently Available: 120mm/4.8 inches, 100mm/4 inches, 55mm/2.3 inches, flat
Starting Price: $595
Shop 55mm pump for $675 You can spot
Shop 100mm pump for $675 You can spot
Shop 120mm pump for $745 The Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pump
via Neiman Marcus
Louboutin’s So Kate pump features the steepest pitch and most severely pointed toe of the group. The toe box is longer than the famed Pigalle, and the heel is the thinnest when compared to the Pigalle and the Pigalle Follies. However, its angular silhouette makes it one of the sexiest shoes in the luxury footwear market. The So Kate is only available in a 120mm heel height, so if you’re up for the challenge, then this is the shoe for you.
Heel Heights Currently Available: 120mm/4.8 inches
Starting Price: $675
A looot of boring “moms” in the commentary section I see 🙂 The shoes are pieces of art! There are two types of women. The ones that would prefer to walk around in pyjamas and unwashed hair, and the ones that take pride in their Beauty, in making an effort and feeling more empowered as a result. Beauty is Power! Learn to use it to your advantage, Ladies. Put a pair of Louboutins on for a night out, and notice de difference 🙂
Don’t be a fool. Beauty is not power if you have to endure pain and possibly long-term damage for it. Real power is when you are considered attractive without having to physically torture yourself. Men do not subject themselves to this nonsense.
Boring, huh? LOL…You can’t truly believe that! CL’s are the number one shoe sold on consignment because they HURT! They are truly pieces of art, but they hurt like hell!
Agreed! I had the So Kates walked out my door and my feet started to hurt so bad! I didnt even make it to my car! Sold them in a week, didnt care if I took a huge loss either! They hurt like hell!
I own all 03 styles described here and have absolutely no problem walking in them from 100 to 120 mm. These shoes are truly a work of art and the shape makes them look really sexy. For me, they are by far the best. I think one must try a pair on and see the difference before committing not to buy. Plus they are painful when new as every shoe, then become wearble after a while. Ladies, please tey them on in all heel heights you can manage and you will see 🙂
Sorry, but I don’t find crushed toes in shoes sexy (So Kate).
Shoes don’t make you sexy. Its how you carry yourself.
Indeed, many women wear high heels and do not know how to walk in them. They end up walking like hens and it’s both pathetic and ridiculous. I believe you can look fantastic in any kind of shoes, if it’s good quality and you’re paying attention to yourself.
Agreed, nothing is less appealing than someone who cannot walk in heels (on the other hand, someone who knows how to walk in heels is usually stunning!) or who has clothes who don’t fit for that matter, it’s how you carry yourself at the end of the day…on heels or flats:)
I suppose it’s easier to buy magical designer shoes than to learn how to carry yourself.
The Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pump.
That said, I think the the foot becomes so contorted in the 120 So Kates that they say ‘fashion victim’ even if one can glide effortlessly in them.
Ouch! I feel much sexier in shoes with a platform or a chunky heel as I am able to walk normally and carry myself comfortably and confidently for hours on end.
The Christian Louboutin Pigalle Follies Pump.
The heels look really painful. The desire to own them is nada.
via Neiman Marcus.
Oh i would love them! But being (a young) 70 yrs. old, i would like a smaller heel. So Kate 120mm beautiful!
They are all likely to break the wearer’s ankle?
The feet in photo 4 look freakish, not sexy. If I had to wear any of them (and thankfully I don’t) it would be the Pigalle Follies in 55 mm. It’s a heel height you can walk in. Followed by the Pigalle pump in 85, but only on rare occasions. A heel higher than that worn for more than a few minutes is both uncomfortable and unhealthy.
This feature came at the perfect time, I’m buying my first pair of louboutins and couldn’t decide between the pigalle or pigalle follies, I also considered the décolleté but they do not look as alluring.
I have two pairs of the Decollete, one in smooth black leather in 85mm, easy to walk in, and the 100 mm leopard patent, and they are super sexy because the heel is so slim. They make the ankle and foot look so beautiful. I like the more modern shape, more rocker sexy. Try them on 🙂 So pretty.
That’s so exciting! Hope this guide can help!
The toe box on Louboutin pumps is too small. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the creator stated that he makes these shoes to look pretty/sexy not for comfort.
Louboutin no doubt makes beautiful shoes, but life is too short to walk around in pain. When your feet hurt, that’s all you can think about is how much your feet hurt.
The So Kate are IT!!….Torture IT that is!…but they look soooo good!!!
There is no denying that the shoes are beautiful to look at,but to me that’s where it ends. I feel like the style isn’t worth the long term damage that it will cause to your feet. The human foot isn’t meant to stand at a high angle & defiantly not suppose to bare all of the body weight that wearing heels causes. Even if I am young,only 23 I just can’t bring my self to wear them based on those facts.
Sexy huh? Oh, Kate do tell about the lady in Union Station who fell and busted her azz. It was too damn funny, but I will admit the shoes were beautiful.
Great post! If you are interested, check out more information based on Artificial Intelligence data – How many hours can you wear Chrisitan Louboutin pumps, sandals, flats? How to select the correct size? And how to protect the red sole?
https://luxdesignershoes.com/shoes-reviews/christian-louboutin/
It’s worth noting that although the So Kate doesn’t *technically* come in any height but 120mm, you *can* get the So Kate’s silhouette in other heights by getting the Anjalina, which comes in flats, 85mm, 100mm, and 120mm. When the brand first released the Anjalina a couple years back, the press/web copy for the style read “Accented with . . . mini spikes, she makes a thrilling new style out of the . . . ‘So Kate’ last.” So, if you don’t mind spikes, you can indeed get the So Kate look in heights other than 120mm.
I must add that Christian Louboutin makes some very beautiful flats and reasonably heeled shoes, something for everyone. I agree with many that the 4 inch plus heels with the high pitch are beautiful but painful and the sole is pretty but slippery. I found this out after my first pair and now purchase the more moderate styles, just as beautiful and pain free!
Nice to see a shoe post. Please consider featuring some other wearable brands like Valentino, Giuseppe and Charlotte Olympia.
Aesthetically absolutely gorgeous…in my view what a pump should look like but my feet hurt just looking at them…especially in the last picture:) I admire women who can do 10 cm and over heels every day…I really do!!
Curious about the Pigalle Follies, how is the toe box for wider feet? My Decollete’s were very, very narrow, hoping someone who has worn the Decollete could comment on how the Follies compare in the toe box. Thank you!
They would be difficult with wide feet. The Décolleté has a generous toe box, where the Pigalle & SoKate are very small, similar to the Rolando.