By Laura
Updated: May 21, 2024
6 minutes
Fashionpreneurs and fashionistas, especially those with special interests in luxury items, are no strangers to Louis Vuitton and Louboutin. The two French brands have been at the forefront of churning out high-quality womenswear, such as bags, shoes, and other items. Notwithstanding, many still confuse these fashion houses with each other, probably because of their common country of origin and items sold.
In this article, I will help you to differentiate the brands by comparing and contrasting them on some salient parameters. By reading this piece, you can answer how both fashion houses differ and where they meet. Let’s consider the origins of these French fashion giants first as we seek to know their differences.
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Brand History
The history of the two brands reveal information such as the year of establishment, the motivation for starting it, and the working philosophy. You can know all these from here.
| Louis Vuitton | Louboutin |
| Originating country: France | Originating Country: France |
| Established in: 1854 (169 years) | Established in: 1991 (32 years) |
|
Brief History:-
Known globally by the iconic LV insignia, Louis Vuitton is a luxury French branch that commenced operations 169 years ago. Europe’s economic expansion and globalization in the 1830s are the primary motivation for Louis Vuitton to venture into making bags and other items for women’s use. People moved across America and Europe on horseback and needed specialized trunks and bags to convey their merchandise safely. Among those that quickly recognized the business opportunity created by this need was Monsieur Maréchal, a Paris-based artisan that made trunks and customized bags.
Louis Vuitton worked several years as an apprentice under Monsieur Maréchal before starting his business outfit in 1854. His experience and skills soon spoke for him as his brand became established and patronized across Europe & America. From 2006 to 2012, LV consecutively held the much-coveted World’s Most Valuable Luxury Brand award. Its explosive growth has also seen it established in over fifty countries, with a net worth of over $28 billion a few years ago. |
Brief History:-
Though Louboutin now attempts to rub shoulders with LV, it only commenced thirty-two years ago in France.
Christian Louboutin
, an astute French designer, founded this brand in the 90s and made a name for himself with the unique Stiletto design that features high-heel shoes with shiny red soles. From a career in freelance design to a full-time private business, Louboutin has celebrities to thank for its breakthrough into the fashion world. And besides making women’s fashion items like bags, shoes, and the like, Louboutin has also ventured into producing similar items for men.
Like any brand that enjoys global patronage, mischievous merchants often faked and sold Louboutin’s items. But to combat this menace, this fashion house only sells through its website, dedicated retailers, and standalone shops globally. |
| Main Features :- Although Louis Vuitton produces more than classic leather bags, it is probably not known with its other products as this. The brand’s global stores with different organizations amount to over 460, and it sells its products via its websites, standalone shops, and luxury stores such as Saks Fifth, Harrods, and Selfridge. | Main Features :- Just like handbags and classic leather shoes will come to mind at the mention of Louis Vuitton, high-heel shoes plus red bases are Louboutin’s well-known luxury products. The brand also sells through similar routes as LV to counteract piracy and sales of fake products in its name. |
| Interesting Facts:- Louis Vuitton is among the world’s oldest design brands still operating today, having come into existence in 1854. For six years (2006-2012), it topped the list of the world’s best ten luxury brands and has a net world that its competitors must work hard to meet. | Interesting Facts:- Louboutin’s shoes have heels of about 4.72 inches and above, and their soles are usually colored red. |
| Reputation: Having existed for one and a half centuries now, Louis Vuitton has come to establish itself as a trustworthy brand. | Reputation:- Like Louis Vuitton, Louboutin is a luxury brand that has lived up to its name for over thirty years. The progress it has made in churning out quality shoes and other products is why many mention it alongside LV, over 130 years older. |
| Focus on: Luxury handbags, innovations, and quality | Focus on: footwear, unisex fashion items, innovation, and global expansion. |
Bottom Line: Louis Vuitton has come a long way, staying consistent with the ideals of its founder and winning the admiration and needs of its teeming customers. Louboutin, on its part, may be relatively young, but it has also been consistent in producing excellent footwear. Historically, we can give it to LV, given its 169 years of existence.
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Price Range
While both fashion houses are luxury-based, their prices differ slightly. You can still get a Louboutin bag for $600, but the minimum price for a Louis Vuitton bag is $1,700. The higher-end products can range from $2000-$4500, making these fashion brands one of the most expensive.
But while these luxury brands’ bags, shoes, and accessories may be pocket-demanding, the satisfaction it brings is incomparable, especially for modern-day women seeking to have their fashion signatures.
Range of items: Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin
| Louis Vuitton | Louboutin |
| Handbags
Trunks Shoes Watches Jewelry Purses Travel bags Clothes(including swimwear) Toys and furniture Fragrance and candles |
Handbags
Fragrances Makeup kits Heels Pumps Loafers Slip-on |
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Social Media
| Louis Vuitton | Louboutin |
| Instagram: 52.6m | Instagram: 16.4m |
| Twitter: 9.8m | Twitter: 2.8m |
| TikTok: 8.8m | TikTok: 91.7k |
Louis Vuitton relates better with its buyers on social media, which can be seen in the number of followers. Also, the brand has a good rep among employees regarding company culture. Employees give the company about four stars, saying it’s a diverse company with great teamwork. Louboutin also has a 4-star review from former employees, but many opine that although the team is excellent, management can apply extra stress to the job.
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Celebrities
Celebrities are great influencers regarding a brand’s visibility and acceptance. Most of them demand some level of reliability and quality from the brand before sticking out their necks for them. With these two brands in review, some celebrities have publicly used and displayed their products.
| Louis Vuitton | Louboutin |
| Lady Gaga
Mikel Jackson Taylor Swift Diana De Gales Madonna Audrey Hepburn Justin Bieber Alain Delon Bradley Cooper Pharrell Williams |
Kate White
Jennifer Lopez Madonna Lady Gaga Rihanna Cardi B Selena Gomez Katy Perry Dakota Johnson Gwyneth Paltrow |
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Where to Buy
| Louis Vuitton | Louboutin |
| Outlets | Outlets |
| Boutique | Boutique |
| Online store | Online store |
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Identifying the Fake & Real
With the growing counterfeiting of globally acknowledged brands like LV and Louboutin, you must know how to identify the origin from fake. For LV, check the seam for a serial number, which you can confirm with the customer center before making payments. Besides, check for the leather for roughness and imperfections; such does not exist in original LV bags, shoes, and other products. The stitches are also single and smooth.
For Louboutin, there is no accompanying serial number to confirm originality, but you can also pay attention to the stitches and leather material to weed off fake items. A more reliable way is to buy from officially designated stores, websites, and cleared organizations by these brands; it’s rare to fall victim to subpar products this way.
Louis Vuitton vs. Louboutin: Which Brand is Better?
The “better” brand depends on what you are shopping for, your budget, and if you care about customer service, company policies, etc.
Louis Vuitton is the way to go if you’re looking for a good, classic handbag. Their bags are timeless and last for years. Whether you’re looking for a small crossbody or a large tote bag, they will have something for you. If you’re looking for heels that will be the life of the party and admired by many, Louboutin is your best bet. Most people often buy from both brands to complement each other.
No matter which side you choose, we hope you will be happy and satisfied with your purchase!
