During the MaleExtra Review ensuing years, Louboutin had disassociated himself from the women's shoe industry and pursued a career in landscape gardening. This was a short-lived hiatus from his passion, and by 1991 he opened his first shoe store in Paris. It didn't take long before complimentary remarks from European dignitaries propelled his business to the top of the latter in the fashion world. In 2008 Christian Louboutin secured the "red bottom" trademark in the USA. The brand sky-rocketed almost immediately, as word of his history of crafting shoes for British royalty went viral. Eventually American "media royalty", helped turn Louboutin gold into platinum, following an early 2008 "Oprah" show appearance. After countless industry accolades and celebrity endorsements worldwide, extraordinary success loomed evident. Louboutin's approach to exclusivity not only impacts the styles but includes sizing and also his price points. The phrase toe-cleavage has become synonymous with many styles in his powerful arsenal of pumps. Creating this effect meant lowering the "vamp" (that part of the upper which covers the toes to the lower ankle) exposing the divisions between the toes. Subsequently, the design eliminates women with bunions (swelling of the first joint of big toe) or those with wide metatarsal bones (referred to as ball of the foot) from finding comfort with these designs. Moreover those with naturally chubby toes, attempting to wear these styles, may appear as though the shoe is to narrow and squeezing the foot together. This is not a stylish look. Women with narrow to medium size feet will enhance the toe-cleavage effect and have that sexy appearance. Most of the high-heeled platform peep-toe pumps follow this rule. The desire to own these amazingly distinct designs entices some women to over-size the shoe. Within a very short period of time, (sometimes one or two outings) the shoe will stretch at the wrong pressure positions, and will begin to slip at the heel. Occasionally this problem can be addressed by having "halter pads", (self adhesive forms placed just below the metatarsal area of the foot) applied to the shoe reducing the slippage. It doesn't always work yet other options are virtually non-existent. Imagine paying $1500.00, at the medium to lower end of the price points, for a single wearing. To avoid fitting and sizing issues, resulting in pain and loss of capital, don't ever over-size these shoes. Often you'll notice women walking in these shoes with their feet pointed outward in opposite directions. Their shoes are not fitting properly, so they compensate by gripping the inside of the shoe with their toes, and "duck walking" to keep the shoes on their feet. This is not a comfortable method of wearing Louboutin shoes. The medium high-heels with closed rounded toe-boxes, will also have a low vamp, but will deliver more long-term comfort and wearability. Several options such as a "Maryjane" design, with a strap across the instep (upper middle arched area of the foot) may fit more securely and comfortably.