The Paris Olympics may have been and gone, but legendary shoe designer Christian Louboutin brought the joy of the games back to the French capital at Paris Fashion Week. Set in the aquatic surroundings of a historic Olympic pool, the brand’s SS25 show featured a performance from the French Artistic Swimming Team, who competed in the Paris games earlier this summer, and was choreographed by renowned artist and dancer Blanca Li. A crazy, camp and theatrical affair, there were A-list guests, underwater heels, and it all ended with one big dive bomb into the pool. Scroll down for everything that went down at the show.

THE STARS ALIGNED

The brand’s iconic red-bottoms are worn by practically every A-lister you can think of, and the show’s front row reflected that. Sitting poolside in Paris was The Little Mermaid herself Halle Bailey, alongside bandmate and sister Chloë Bailey, plus Little Mix-alum Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Joining them were divers Noah Williams and Tom Daley, current Dazed cover star Ayra Starr, and actor Cole Sprouse.

THE SET TOOK INSPO FROM 1950s AQUA MUSICALS

Held inside the historic Molitor swimming pool – an Art Deco space designed by architect Lucien Pollet in 1929 – the show was art directed by none other than fashion photographer David LaChapelle. The impressive production was reminiscent of aqua musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood, the kind that starred 50s swimming starlet Esther Williams. Three rows of red arches reached the ceiling on one side of the set, and below that were some giant, shiny Louboutins, with one acting as a slide for immediate pool access.

AM I THE DRAMA?

It’s safe to say that, for his SS25 extravaganza, Mr Louboutin definitely brought the drama to Paris Fashion Week. At the beginning of the show the set was lit up to look like it was on fire, while two firefighters appeared in the arches to help a screaming woman and her baby, who were apparently trapped in the flames. After the first fireman threw down a bouncing bundle to the one below, the screaming mother unwrapped it to reveal not a child, but a pair of glimmering Louboutins. Thank god they were safe!

SWIMMABLE STILETTOS

After that, the French Olympic team descended the stiletto slide for the next part of the show. The synchronised swimming spectacle that followed – titled Paris is Louboutining – provided the perfect moment for the French designer to debut his latest heel, the Miss Z Stiletto. The metallic shoes, in varying colourways from gold to pink, blue and silver, gleamed from the feet of the swimming team, who modelled the style wearing magenta and blue swimsuits, all whilst twirling underwater. Of course, the shoes are appropriately waterproof, and the swimmers had no trouble keeping them in place whilst flicking their heels and pointing their toes. It would seem that you can in fact swim in Louboutins. 

WAS IT A ZENDAYA TRIBUTE?

Though nothing has been confirmed by the brand, fans quickly made a connection between the new Miss Z stiletto and Hollywood megastar Zendaya. The actor and her “image architect” Law Roach are known for their love of Louboutin, and Zendaya’s worn nothing but the So Kate heel on red carpets since she was 14. Earlier this year, on an episode of Recho Omondi’s The Cutting Room Floor, Roach revealed that other brands often try to send shoes to Zendaya, to which he replies, “she’s only going to wear So Kates.” A dead ringer for that Kate Moss-inspired style, Louboutin’s Miss Z seems to be a sweet tribute to Zendaya and Roach’s loyalty to Louboutin after all these years.

MAKING A SPLASH

It was a celebratory night that ended with a splash when Christian Louboutin himself, LaChapelle and singer LP, all went for a dip during the finale, euphorically sliding down the big stiletto slide and dive bombing into the pool.