How to buy Christian Louboutin shoes for WAY under retail

The coveted Louboutin. The epitome of a luxury shoe. The chic designs, the red soles… and of course the price… Ouch.

I’m going to let you in on a secret. The 5 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes pictured in this guide collectively cost less than what one and half pairs would at retail price. “HOW?”, you ask? Read on and I’ll share how you can score Louboutins for less…

Know Your Size

When trying to grab a deal on these luxurious beauties, you’ll need to know your size. I highly suggest trying on a pair or two Christian Louboutins in person so you know your size. They’re European sizing and typically run small, and often narrow. I wear a US 7.5/8 and have a narrow foot. A Louboutin 38.5 is usually my size. Once you know your size in a certain style or two, make note of it! This will be helpful on your hunt to find deals on them. (NOTE: Sizing on styles vary, Googling the style name to read reviews is also helpful for sizing!)

Follow Me on Instagram

Did you know I post sales and deals multiple times a week? I keep my finger on the pulse so you don’t have to. I’ll let you know when and where the best sales on Louboutins pop up, so be sure to follow me @PracticallySpoiled

Department Store Sales

Department stores run sales throughout the year, but CL’s are often excluded. Twice a year, stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue & Bergdorf Goodman do markdowns on luxury brands and Christian Louboutin is included! The designer markdowns are usually in June/July then again in December/January. The first markdown will be around 30% off retail, but discounts can go as low as 70%-75% off retail! The longer you wait, the less inventory will be available. Many sale styles won’t make it to the final markdown, so if you really like something, you may miss out if you wait too long. With that said, sale items often go quickly and may be final sale.

How can you find out about these sales? Good question. Sign up for department store emails. Ask sales associates at your local stores if they can put you on a notification list for designer markdowns. Also ask them if they have an Instagram or Photo Circle account and follow them. Now-a-days, so many sales associates use social media to post new items and sale items. You can contact them directly to purchase. Similarly, you can also find personal shoppers who aren’t affiliated with stores who shop these sales. They typically charge fees between 10-20%, but often get access to the best selection because they have consistent relationships with store associates. (Always do your homework before using a personal shopper and make sure they are legitimate!) Finally follow me on Instagram. @PracticallySpoiled I promise I’ll let you know when all the Christian Louboutin sales get going and tip you off on the who has them, where they are, and how to get them!

All three of the pairs pictured above were purchased from department store sales via a sales associate at the store. The Leopard Kate 55’s retail for $775, but I paid just $217. The Tan Ballalla Flats retail for $575, I paid $241. And my favorite pair of all, the black LoubiClou studded sandals retail for $895, but I snagged them for just $250. All three cost me less than one pair of average retail priced CL’s would!

Boutique Shops

Whether in your neck of the woods or somewhere else, don’t forget about the smaller shops! Many you can shop via website, social media (Facebook/Instagram) or by phone. At the end of the season, just like department stores, they have to move merchandise. I’ve seen boutiques discount as low as 60% on Christian Louboutin. A few that I browse and shop include Coplon’s, Roan & Mitchell’s (…who has INCREDIBLE customer service. They included a handwritten thank you with my purchase!)

Outlet

Right now there is only one Christian Louboutin outlet in the US. It’s located in California at the Desert Hills Outlets. While visiting would be best, you may be able to get a sales associate on the phone to assist you with a charge-send purchase. This is hit or miss depending on if someone will answer the phone. If they do, my suggestion would be to try and ask them if they have something specific. A style, a heel height, a color, etc. These associates don’t like to waste time unless they know they can make a sale, so be pointed when calling for availability and pricing.

Resale

eBay, Poshmark & Tradesy all are great places to find Christian Louboutins at a discount. Both new and used inventory can be found on all of these sites. Keep in mind conditions will vary as will things like included dust bags or boxes. With any consumer to consumer transaction, you need to take some precautions. Buying from sellers with good feedback/ratings and confirming authenticity of the item. Sales over a certain price on both Poshmark & Tradesy include authentication services. If you’re not a Louboutin pro, sites such as PurseForum (Any other PurseForum OG’s out there?) may be helpful in helping to confirm authenticity. There are also many paid services out there which will give you peace of mind.

Both Christian Louboutins above were purchased from eBay. The green ones are probably considered vintage by now, but were brand new in box when I nabbed them for just $180! The black CL’s are no longer in production, but I got them a few years back very lightly used for just $200.

Designer/Luxury Consignment

Fashionphile and The RealReal are some of the most popular high-end consignors. While they both stand behind the authenticity of their items with money back guarantees, Fashionphile blows everyone out of the water when it comes to authentication. To say they are trusted is an understatement. Fashionphile is much more discerning when it comes to condition, while the RealReal is a little more lax. Always look closely at pictures, zoom and check measurements.

On both sites, inventory changes often so you never know when you’ll find something. The longer items sit on both sites, the deeper the discounts go.

Also, search for designer/luxury consignment shops in your area. Not only will you be supporting a small business, but with a physical location you’ll be able to see the condition and try on before purchasing.

Are you pumped up (See what I did there?) and ready to find a deal on some Louboutins?! Good luck, and I hope that you found this guide helpful! If you have any questions or have an under-retail CL tip I missed, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

Happy Loub Hunting!