Jaden Smith Steps Into the Future of Louboutin at Paris Men’s Fashion Week
By Alexus Mosley
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Jaden Smith’s Paris Men’s Fashion Week debut for Christian Louboutin could be named a witnessing of painting the town red. Presented in a restrained palette of black, white, and crimson, the collection paid homage to Louboutin’s heritage while gently pushing it forward. Much of the collection is about sensation, with a thoughtful meditation on leather craftsmanship, humanity’s relationship with nature, and what it means to feel fashion rather than simply wear it.
Smith leaned into classic leather footwear silhouettes but with expected but unexpected twists, of course. With a range of perforated penny loafers, slingbacks, and silver-toe cowboy boots, reimagined with a philosophical undercurrent that blurred the line between protection and perception.
“Usually shoes are to protect you from the outside, but I wanted to kind of blur the line of what shoes are,” Smith explained.“It’s about humanity’s connection to nature and being able to feel the wind, the temperature, and the atmosphere through your shoes.”
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That tension between armor and openness is what defined the collection. Leather, often associated with durability and separation, instead became a medium for connection. The designs suggested a world where luxury does not insulate us from our environment, but heightens our awareness of it.
At the heart of the project was Smith’s deep respect for Christian Louboutin’s legacy of handmade leather craftsmanship. “His brand is really about handmade leather craftsmanship, and I wanted to honor that,” Smith said.“He’s my main inspiration. I really wanted to learn from him and take the last of Christian Louboutin to create the future of what Louboutin could be.”
The 27-year-old American rapper, singer, and actor did not dare make an attempt to overwrite Louboutin’s brand identity, but to prophetically extend it, positioning the French fashion house not only as one of sensual glamour, but as one capable of introspection, evolution, and generational dialogue.
The debut drew a notable front row, underscoring both Smith’s cultural reach and the moment’s significance. Parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, as well as sister Willow Smith, attended in support. They were joined by Gene Gallagher, Alton Mason, Guram Gvasalia, Mingi, and Annahstasia, signaling the collection’s resonance across music, fashion, and avant-garde creative circles.
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