Louboutin: women are happy in painful shoes

Kate Moss with Christian Louboutin The world's most famous footwear designer has spoken out on the female species' love of sky-scraper stilettos and vertiginous platforms, in an attempt to explain our obsession with high-heels. "There is an element of seduction in shoes that doesn't exist for men," Christian Louboutin explains to the Sunday Times Style. "A woman can be sexy, charming, witty or shy with her shoes. Shoes for men are about elegance or wealth; they are not playing with the inner character. That's why women are happy to wear painful shoes," he adds. "For some a little discomfort is balanced by something else, which has to do with desire. You feel yourself, empower yourself, know yourself. You are aware of your body. This little act of discomfort pays off in lots of other ways."