I never wanted to work in fashion. At age 12 or 13, I wanted to design for showgirls - for the theater! And I was crazy for the Hollywood of the 1950s: Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Jones. They were my idea of glamour - and Sylvie Vartan, the French singer.

In this quote, Christian Louboutin reveals that his initial dream was not to work in the traditional fashion industry but to design for showgirls in the theater. This early aspiration highlights his passion for creating dramatic, larger-than-life designs that would be part of the performance arts rather than fashion as it is commonly understood. Louboutin’s desire to work in the theater suggests that his creative drive was tied to the artistic and expressive elements of costume design, where clothing plays a significant role in performance and storytelling.

Louboutin’s fascination with the Hollywood of the 1950s further sheds light on the glamorous, cinematic era that inspired him. He mentions iconic actresses like Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jennifer Jones, who represented the epitome of glamour and luxury. These actresses were known for their elegance and captivating presence, and Louboutin’s admiration for them shows how his aesthetic tastes were shaped by the high drama and opulence of Hollywood's Golden Age, which he aspired to capture in his own designs.

The inclusion of Sylvie Vartan, the French singer, also reflects Louboutin’s connection to European glamour, linking his design influences to both American and French cultural icons. This combination of cinematic and musical influences helped shape Louboutin’s vision of fashion as something that goes beyond clothing and becomes a symbol of fascination, artistry, and performance. It was this mix of influences that would ultimately lead him to develop his signature bold and luxurious shoe designs.

Ultimately, Louboutin’s words reveal his personal journey and how his early interests in theater and Hollywood glamour diverged from the traditional path to fashion. His admiration for icons of the past helped shape his unique perspective on design, one that fuses art and performance, and emphasizes the exaggeration of beauty and style as central to his creative philosophy.