For over three decades, Christian Louboutin’s shoes have danced across runways, red carpets, and music videos – but this season, they’ve gone surfing. For Autumn/Winter 2025, the Maison teams up with Australian artist and pro-surfer Otis Carey, whose ocean-soaked patterns and Indigenous-inspired motifs wash across cult classics and new silhouettes alike, turning Louboutin’s famed red soles into wearable pieces of art. “I look at Christian Louboutin as being very creative and exciting, which I also love to channel when I create art,” he says. “I wanted to keep in mind the Christian Louboutin aesthetic but also bring in something new and fresh that might not have been used before and push the boundaries,” – and you see it instantly.
For women, the season builds on the immense success of the Miss Z line, which already proved that high-heel comfort could be chic. This time, the mules, pumps, and boots are splashed with Carey’s custom patterns, individually screen-printed onto cotton canvas and sealed under a water-repellent coating that makes them wearable art. Two styles, the Gaagal Sphere and Gaagal Strass, are elevated with manually set crystals that scatter the light like glinting ocean spray. Outside the collaboration, the Miss Z universe expands, introducing the sleek Slimimule mid-heel, ombré-sequinned Miss Z Degrastrass, bold boots like Miss Botta (available in black or Bengali pony print), and the glittering drama of Merylzip Strass.
Louboutin also pushes his silhouettes into more experimental territory. The Cassia series, already known for fusing pointe-shoe grace with sculptural curves, returns with new textures and silhouettes, from the Cassia Nodo 100 pump to the architectural Cassia Nodo Botta knee-high boot. Transparency becomes a theme for the season, most notably in the new Bubble line, where PVC and leather merge in playful 1960s-inspired shapes. Its plexi heel turns the Maison’s iconic red sole into a spotlight, amplifying mules, slingbacks and statement boots. Meanwhile, the Viva Condora steps into avant-garde territory with a technically complex ‘plume’ heel, giving Louboutin’s codes an entirely new rhythm.
For the colder months, the College lug sole line reworks classic men’s styles with a new, chunkier feel. The Antonina College shoes and Cortinetta College boots arrive with integrated wool socks, blending durability with a surprisingly soft touch. Studs are also a major theme, from the updated Pyraclou to the brand-new Pyrabizz Sandal, both built with contoured inner soles for comfort.
When it comes to bags, Louboutin continues to favour supple textures and clever construction. The Baggy range returns in soft Nappa lambskin with a relaxed, slouchy feel, while Carey’s artistry shapes pieces like the Toile Enduite Gaagal Eloise, which mimics the look of layers of painted colour beneath a sleek, water-resistant finish. The Otis Waves design takes it a step further, using laser-cut leather woven into undulating patterns as a direct homage to Carey’s connection to the sea. The iconic Funky line of bags, which has featured signature spikes since its launch in 2017, welcomes new silhouettes, including the generously roomy Funky Weekender. The gender-neutral Djanis line offers a functional, boxy cross-body bag with a lacquered zip puller and an ingenious rendition of the famous red sole on its underside.
On the men’s side, Carey’s prints appear on the Louis sneaker in his exclusive Gaagal design, as well as on the embellished Gaagal Couture, where hand-set rhinestones and studs amplify the ocean-inspired details. Louboutin also explores completely new shapes with the Bloon boot and Derloon shoe, crafted in rounded silhouettes inspired by clown shoes but reimagined in plush leathers that wrap softly around the foot.
City styles are updated with a refined toughness; the Sarto combines a comfortable fit with hand-finished brogue detail on a thick sole, while the Grave and Seriox Oxford shoes and Serchelsea boots use intricate details like perforated patterns and ‘scar’ stitching to create a visually rich effect. The bestselling Chambeliss line expands with a striking knee-high boot, Lord Champ, featuring a 64 hook and eyelet lacing system inspired by riding boots. For a more relaxed feel, the Oxyford College and Oxybootie use a chunky rubber city sole, and the cult-favourite Astroloubi sneakers evolve into the new Astroskate, with oversized lacing, exaggerated volumes, and signature spikes for a fresh take on streetwear.
“My biggest mentor is Mother Earth,” Carey reflects, and in AW25, her presence is everywhere. From the hypnotic waves etched into silk pumps to the laser-cut leather that mimics shifting tides, Carey’s vision reshapes the Maison’s codes without losing its edge. It’s Christian Louboutin at its most adventurous: a collection carried forward by the current, but anchored by the unmistakable red sole.
Find out more at christianlouboutin.com
photography. courtesy of Christian Louboutin
words. Gennaro Costanzo
