The Christian Louboutin Kate comes in three core heights: 70 mm (all-day wearable), 85 mm (the sweet spot for events with walking), and 100 mm (evening-only for most people). The 120 mm stiletto version adds a fourth option, sharing the same pointed silhouette but with a dramatically steeper pitch that changes how the shoe feels entirely. In the pairs we authenticate, the Kate 85 is the height most collectors come back to. If you want the icon and accept a car-to-venue shoe, the 120 mm is unmistakable. Pre-owned pairs on Avantelle start from £274.99 for the nude patent stiletto.
By the Avantelle Authentication Team. Last updated: July 2026.
Four heel heights, one silhouette, and a 50 mm range that changes everything about how the shoe works on your foot. The Kate family is Christian Louboutin's most versatile pointed-toe pump, but "versatile" hides the fact that a Kate 70 and a 120 mm stiletto ask completely different things of the person wearing them. We handle all four heights regularly, and the conversations we have with collectors almost always come back to the same question: which one matches the life you actually lead?
What Is the Difference Between Louboutin Kate and the 120 mm Stiletto?
The Kate and its taller sibling share a silhouette but they're different shoes. The Kate was introduced in 2012 as a pointed-toe pump available in several heel heights, named after Kate Moss. The 120 mm version followed in the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection as the extreme expression of the same principle: a stiletto with a sharper pitch and narrower toe box, designed around the specific aesthetic instinct Kate Moss brought to her fittings with Christian Louboutin.
The "So" in the name is the intensifier. If the Kate is the line built for a collector's real life, the taller version is that same line taken as far as it can go. Both have the long pointed toe, low-cut vamp, and clean side profile the house is known for, but the experience of wearing them is not interchangeable. The Kate 85, for instance, will carry you through a full evening. The 120 mm stiletto is a shoe you plan your night around.
Here's the catch that trips up buyers, particularly in the pre-owned market: sellers regularly list a Kate 100 as a "So Kate" because the names sound interchangeable. They're not. If a listing says "So Kate" but the heel height is 85 mm or 100 mm, you're looking at a mislabelled Kate. The 120 mm version is defined by that single height (or 115 mm in sizes EU 35 to 37). Anything lower is the Kate. Getting this right before you pay matters, especially when you can't try them on first.
How Tall Are the Heels, and What Does Each Height Feel Like?
The 120 mm stiletto measures 120 mm for EU 38 and above, dropping to 115 mm for EU 35 to 37 to keep the proportions consistent across foot lengths. That's approximately 4.7 inches, which places it among the tallest production heels the house makes.
The Kate, by contrast, spans three heights that each create a genuinely different shoe:
| Model | Heel height | Approximate inches | Best suited to | Comfort window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kate 70 | 70 mm | 2.75 in | All day, office, travel | 8+ hours |
| Kate 85 | 85 mm | 3.35 in | Dinners, events with walking | 4 to 6 hours |
| Kate 100 | 100 mm | 3.94 in | Evening events, seated dinners | 2 to 4 hours |
| So Kate 120 | 120 mm (115 mm in small sizes) | 4.72 in | Arrivals, photos, galas | 1 to 2 hours standing |
Those comfort windows are based on what we hear from collectors, not a lab test, and your experience will vary with foot shape, material, and how broken-in the pair is. But the pattern is consistent: every 15 mm up from the Kate 70 roughly halves the time you'll want to stay standing.
Which Louboutin Kate Height Is Right for You?
Honestly, we'd steer most first-time Kate buyers to the 85. It's the height where the silhouette still reads as a proper heel, the red sole flashes when you walk, and you can get through a wedding reception or a long dinner without counting down the minutes. The 85 is the one collectors come back to when the novelty of 120 mm has worn off and the 70 feels too understated for evening.
The Kate 70 is one of Louboutin's most accessible pointed-toe pumps. At 70 mm, it sits in the mid-heel range, which means it'll pair with tailoring, a summer dress, or jeans without making your feet the centrepiece of the conversation. If you wear heels to the office or travel in them, the Kate 70 is the one that makes sense. It's also the easiest entry point into the brand if you're curious about Louboutin sizing but cautious about committing to height. For more on choosing a first pair of Louboutins, we've written a separate guide.
The Kate 85 is where the shoe starts to feel like an event shoe rather than an everyday one, without demanding the compromises a 100 mm or 120 mm heel asks of you. In our experience, the Kate 85 is among the most forgiving heights in the range for people who want to look dressed up but also need to move: standing at a drinks reception, walking between venues, dancing until midnight if the evening calls for it. The pitch is noticeable but manageable.
The Kate 100 crosses into territory where the shoe starts to dictate the evening rather than just attending it. At 100 mm, your weight shifts forward over the ball of the foot more aggressively, the toe box feels tighter because of the steeper angle, and comfort becomes something you have to manage rather than assume. We'd recommend the Kate 100 for seated dinners, theatre, or events where you know you'll be off your feet for most of the night. If you're choosing between 100 mm and 120 mm for a particular evening, the question isn't whether you can handle the height. It's how long the evening is.
The 120 mm stiletto is the icon, and it earns the reputation. At 120 mm, the arch is near-vertical, the toe box is narrower than any other height in the Kate family, and the shoe was designed to look extraordinary rather than feel comfortable. In the pairs that come through us, this is the model most often listed in near-mint condition, worn once to a wedding or a gala and then carefully boxed. That pattern tells you everything about the shoe's relationship with real life. If you want the silhouette that stops a room, this is it. If you want a shoe you'll wear monthly, start lower. We've covered the reality of walking in 120 mm heels separately.
One thing worth knowing: 120 mm doesn't mean the same thing in every Louboutin silhouette. A platform style like the Very Prive (pictured above) has a platform that absorbs some of that height, so the actual pitch on your foot is less severe than the unplatformed 120 mm stiletto. If you love the idea of 120 mm but want more stability, a platform silhouette is a different route to the same visual height. Our heel heights guide breaks down how the different architectures compare.
Do Christian Louboutin Kate Pumps Run Small?
The Kate runs narrower than mainstream footwear but is more forgiving than the 120 mm stiletto. At 70 mm and 85 mm, many people find the Kate fits at their true EU size or just half a size up. At 100 mm, the steeper pitch pushes the foot forward into the toe box, and sizing up half a size becomes the safer call.
The 120 mm is a different matter. The extreme pitch forces the foot deep into a very narrow point, and most people need a full size up. Patent leather compounds this because it doesn't stretch. In the pre-owned pairs we authenticate, this is the model where a wrong size is most costly, because you can't return on most resale platforms and you can't stretch patent into fitting.
A quick reference for Christian Louboutin sizing across the Kate family:
- Kate 70: Generally true to EU size for narrow to medium feet. Half size up if your foot is wider.
- Kate 85: True to size for most. Half size up in patent leather if you're between sizes.
- Kate 100: Half size up is the safe starting point. The pitch pushes the foot forward more at this height.
- 120 mm stiletto: Full size up for most people. In patent, err toward a full size up regardless of foot width.
If you're buying pre-owned, always verify the EU size stamped inside the shoe rather than relying on a converted UK size in the listing. Louboutin labels in EU sizing, and conversion tables vary between sellers. Our size guide has the full breakdown.
How to Walk in 120 mm Louboutin Heels
The honest answer is: in shorter steps, for shorter distances, with a plan for when you'll sit down. The 120 mm stiletto wasn't designed for comfort and it doesn't pretend to be. The near-vertical pitch places your weight on the ball of the foot, the narrow toe box compresses the toes, and after an hour or two of standing, the shoe will let you know it's done negotiating.
Three things that genuinely help:
- Break them in at home first. Four to six short sessions on clean floors before the event. Patent leather is stiff out of the box and doesn't soften quickly. Pre-owned pairs that have been worn a few times can feel noticeably gentler because someone else has already done this part.
- Apply blister plasters before you feel anything. Heels, pinky toes, ball of the foot. Don't wait. By the time you feel the hot spot forming, you're behind.
- Plan the night around the shoe. Arrivals, photographs, dinner. Then change into something lower if dancing is ahead. The 120 mm stiletto is spectacular for two hours. Beyond that, it's a test of will. Keeping a pair of foldable flats in your bag isn't defeat; it's experience.
For a deeper look at managing 120 mm heels, we've written a dedicated piece: what the shoe asks of you. And if comfort is genuinely your priority, our honest Louboutin comfort guide covers the full picture across models.
Why Buy a Pre-Owned Kate?
The Kate family follows a predictable pattern in the pre-owned market. The 120 mm stiletto is often worn once or twice, carefully, for a specific occasion, and then listed when the reality of that height on a regular basis becomes clear. The Kate 85 and 100 tend to show more wear because people actually live in them, but the construction holds up. In both cases, pre-owned pairs offer a genuine advantage: you're buying the same shoe at a fraction of the boutique price, and if the pair has been worn a few times, the leather has already begun to soften at the flex points.
Right now, we have the 120 mm in nude patent from £274.99, authenticated and graded. That's the shoe that retails well above £600 new, in a condition you can verify from our detailed listing photos before you buy. Every pair at Avantelle is authenticated before it's listed, with condition notes that reflect what you'll actually find when the shoes arrive.
For tips on buying pre-owned Louboutins with confidence, including what to check and what to avoid, read our authentication guide.
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Authenticated pre-owned Christian Louboutin, graded and ready to wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Louboutins called So Kate?
The name comes from Kate Moss. Christian Louboutin designed the 120 mm stiletto in response to her consistent requests for a narrower, sharper, more elongated pointed-toe pump during fittings. The "So" acts as an intensifier: this is the sharpest expression of the Kate silhouette. The Kate pump itself, introduced in 2012, also takes her name.
How high are the heels in cm?
The 120 mm stiletto measures 12 cm (120 mm) for EU sizes 38 and above. Smaller sizes, from EU 35 to 37, measure closer to 11.5 cm (115 mm) to maintain consistent proportions across foot lengths. The Kate family spans 7 cm (70 mm), 8.5 cm (85 mm), and 10 cm (100 mm).
How much do they cost?
New pairs from Christian Louboutin boutiques typically start above £600, depending on material and colourway. Pre-owned authenticated pairs at Avantelle start from £274.99, often in excellent condition after only one or two wears.
Does Louboutin make kitten heels?
Yes. Christian Louboutin produces several styles at or below 55 mm, which fall into the kitten-heel range. The Kate 70 sits slightly above traditional kitten-heel height but is the lowest option in the Kate family. For a full look at the lower-heeled options, we've put together a kitten heels guide.
Is the Kate 85 or Kate 100 better for a wedding?
For most weddings, we'd recommend the Kate 85. You'll be on your feet for the ceremony, the drinks reception, and the first dances, and the 85 mm height gives you a heel that photographs well without punishing you by the evening. If you're primarily seated (a formal dinner, a shorter service), the Kate 100 works. Either way, break them in at home first. More detail in our Louboutin wedding shoes guide.
What is the difference between Louboutin Kate and Pigalle?
The Kate has a slightly more rounded toe box and a lower, cleaner vamp line. The Pigalle reads a touch fuller through the upper and has a different last shape. Both come in similar height ranges, but the Kate is generally considered more forgiving on fit, particularly at the toe. For a detailed breakdown, see our comparison guide.
