Like so many wonderful things in this world, the creation of the red-soled Louboutin stilettos that took the world by storm in the 1990's and haven't slowed down since was something of an accident (via Style).

Christian Louboutin was born in Paris in 1963 and became interested in fashion very early in life, something for which he partially credits his three sisters. Growing up surrounded by women allowed him to glimpse firsthand at what women appreciated and hoped to find in fashion. He started sketching footwear in his teens, and in his professional life went on to design shoes for major companies like Chanel. In the early 90's, he decided to begin his own shoe business, and the Parisian shop that would grow to become the Louboutin shoe empire was born.

After creating his second shoe collection and getting them into stores, the designer felt there was something missing from one of his designs (via Italist). Suddenly inspired by a bottle of bright red nail polish his assistant was using to paint her nails, he grabbed the bottle and lacquered the bottom of the shoe red. He liked the look. And his signature red-bottomed stiletto was created.