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Christian Louboutin Taps Parsons Grads for Bergdorf Display

By Andrea Swalec | January 30, 2012 6:47pm
Parsons graduate Hyeyoung Kim designed a billowy black and white floral dress and black jacket with a lining in Louboutin red.
Parsons graduate Hyeyoung Kim designed a billowy black and white floral dress and black jacket with a lining in Louboutin red.
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Hyeyoung Kim

MANHATTAN — Hyeyoung Kim, a graduate of Parsons The New School for Design, has been a long-time fan of Christian Louboutin's sleek red-soled stilettos.

This year, the famous luxury footwear maker created a 5-inch-heel sized step up for her career. 

Dresses that Kim, 26, and four other Parsons alums made using Louboutin's shoes as inspiration will be unveiled by the high-end shoe designer at a party for his label at Bergdorf Goodman on Tuesday. Their dresses will remain on display there through Feb. 8, according to a statement from Parsons.

The 49-year-old Frenchman joined Bergdorf women's fashion director Linda Fargo to select five Parsons alums for a design contest centered around Louboutin's 20th Anniversary Capsule Collection, which features his most iconic looks. 

Louboutin contest winner Hyeyoung Kim started her own line after graduating from Parsons The New School for Design.
Louboutin contest winner Hyeyoung Kim started her own line after graduating from Parsons The New School for Design.
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Hyeyoung Kim

Kim, who graduated from Parsons in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in fashion design and now sells her own line, Que Si, evoked Louboutins' famous red soles in a billowy black-and-white floral dress and black jacket lined with a dramatic red — much like the coveted shoe. 

"When there's a red sole on a heel, you automatically think it's Christian Louboutin, so I made the jacket in my outfit have a red lining," Kim said. "I really wanted it to pop in that red, so that when [the wearer] is moving, you can see it." 

Designers Isaias Arias, Joanna Baker, Vivian Graf and Manuela Di Prima were also named winners. 

Louboutin, who will sign new shoes at Bergdorf's 754 Fifth Ave. store Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m., told Women's Wear Daily he admired the contest entrants' creativity. 

"What I found exciting and interesting about all the finalists is that they took an element of each of the shoes, or a unique detail, and created something completely different," Louboutin said. 

Shoe salon manager Sondra Hodes said she expects Louboutin fans to start lining up to meet their idol at noon. 

"We're telling people to shop around, get lunch and get in line," she said. 

Shoe designer Christian Louboutin selected the winners of a competition for Parsons The School for Design graduates.
Shoe designer Christian Louboutin selected the winners of a competition for Parsons The School for Design graduates.
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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Prices on Louboutin shoes listed on Bergdorf's website start at $625 for the towering Pigalle Patent Pump and climb to $1,295 for the 5-inch Decoupata Strappy Boot.