Louboutin digs his signature heels into flagship Ginza space

Christian Louboutin, arguably the most famous shoe designer in the world, was in Tokyo early this month to christen the opening of his very first free-standing boutique in Tokyo and Japan. The space is a three-story building that fits snugly into Ginza's flashy 6-chome district. The bottom two floors are teeming with the designer's signature red-soled women's shoes, with a smattering of handbags and men's shoes as well.

A wooden spiral staircase with wildly curvy rails is the centerpiece of the shop, perfectly conveying a design inspired by the art deco and art nouveau styles of the early 1900s.

"I chose this (kind of design) because there was so much Japanese influence of style and nature in those movements," Louboutin told The Japan Times as he gestured toward the staircase.