Christian Louboutin So Kate 120 review: worth it or skip?

What the Christian Louboutin So Kate 120 does well

The headline: the signature pointed pump with a 120 mm stiletto and red lacquered sole. The details: Material: Patent calfskin; Sole: Red lacquered leather; Fit: Narrow, size up half; Made in: Italy. In our list it is the pick for: red-sole icon. It usually sells for $795–$895 in the US.

The Kate 85 is the same shape with a heel most people can wear all evening.

The trade-offs

Good: instantly recognizable, elongates the leg, beautiful patent finish. Not so good: very high heel, narrow last. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you need shoes you can stand in for hours.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Manolo Blahnik BB Pump 90 ($795–$895): classic pointed pump on a famously well-balanced last. Better if you want one perfect black pump for work and evenings.

Instead, consider the Christian Louboutin Kate 85 ($750–$850): the So Kate silhouette with a lower 85 mm heel. Better if you want the red sole in a heel you can actually walk in.

Instead, consider the Aquazzura Linda 85 ($750–$850): pointed slingback with an elastic strap. Better if you want a comfortable slingback.

Before you buy

Heel height: 100 mm and above are for short wear; 70 to 85 mm is where most people can walk and stand for hours. Last and toe shape: pointed lasts from Louboutin and Manolo run narrow; brands such as Gianvito Rossi and Aquazzura are kinder to wider feet. Sizing: Italian sizes run about half a size small for many people; check the brand’s size chart and the return policy.

Buyer tip

Add rubber half-soles from a cobbler before the first wear: it protects the leather sole, adds grip and costs little compared with the shoes.

Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.