Quick Answer: Christian Louboutin Kate
The Christian Louboutin Kate is a pointed-toe stiletto pump that comes in three heel heights: 70mm, 85mm and 100mm. Originally known as the Décolleté 554, the Kate was renamed and launched as its own family in 2012. It shares its design DNA with the So Kate but is a more accessible and wearable silhouette across all three heights.
- Kate 70: 70mm kitten heel, the most wearable of the family, suited to longer days and office wear
- Kate 85: 85mm stiletto, the mid-height balance between everyday and occasion
- Kate 100: 100mm stiletto, the highest demand height in the Kate family, suited to formal events and evenings
- Sizing: The Kate runs small. Sizing up half a size is the right call for most people; some find a full size necessary.
Quick links: Shop pre-owned Christian Louboutin | Size guide | So Kate guide | Authentication
Contents
- Kate 100: the statement heel
- Kate 85: the mid-height
- Kate 70: the everyday Kate
- What is the difference between the Christian Louboutin Kate and So Kate?
- How does the Christian Louboutin Kate fit?
- Buying pre-owned Christian Louboutin Kate in the UK
- Frequently asked questions
- Shop the Christian Louboutin Kate at Avantelle
- Related articles
Key Takeaways
- The Christian Louboutin Kate family covers 70mm, 85mm and 100mm, all sharing the same pointed-toe silhouette and red sole that defines the Louboutin look
- The Kate 100 is the statement height of the family, suited to formal occasions and evenings; the Kate 85 is the everyday workhorse; the Kate 70 is the most accessible for longer wear
- The Kate is descended from CL's Décolleté 554, renamed in 2012, and is considered more wearable and slightly more comfortable than the So Kate across comparable heel heights
- Sizing up half a size is the standard starting point for most Kate styles; the toe box is narrow and long, and going up in size changes length only, not width
- Pre-owned Kate heels in patent leather reward careful condition inspection: the finish shows marks clearly but cleans well and holds up over time with proper care
- Styles like the Kate 100 in patent black are among the most frequently available pre-owned Louboutin models in the UK, making the family a practical entry point into the collection
Kate 100: The Statement Heel
The Kate 100 is a 100mm stiletto pump with a pointed toe and a low-cut vamp that reveals a small amount of the foot. It is the highest height in the Kate family proper and sits between the Kate 85 and the So Kate 120 on the Louboutin scale.
At 100mm, the Kate 100 reads as a genuine occasion heel without reaching the extreme pitch of the So Kate 120. If you want the full pointed-toe, red-sole, stiletto effect but are not ready for 120mm, the Kate 100 is the natural answer - and honestly, for most occasions, it is the right one. The silhouette is sharp, the look is complete, and the height is demanding enough to register as a statement without requiring the same level of foot conditioning that the So Kate demands.
Patent leather is the most common finish for the Kate 100, and it performs well in this application. The shine reads clearly in photographs, holds up to regular wear with appropriate care, and works across a broad range of outfit palettes from black tie to a sharp evening look.
The Kate 100 earns its place at formal dinners, corporate events, cocktail parties, and any setting where you want the shoe to read as a considered choice rather than a functional one. It is not an all-day heel for most people. Factor in a few hours of wearing time, not a full working day on hard floors.
For an in-depth look at how the So Kate compares, the So Kate guide covers that style in detail.
Kate 85: The Mid-Height
The Kate 85 is an 85mm stiletto. Christian Louboutin describes it as the "wearable" height in the Kate range, and that description is accurate: the 85mm gives you the shape and the red sole without the physical commitment of 100mm or above.
The silhouette is identical to the Kate 100 from every angle except the heel height. Same pointed toe, same low-cut vamp, same slender stiletto shaft. The difference is functional rather than aesthetic. At 85mm, the pitch angle is shallower, which distributes weight slightly differently across the foot and reduces pressure on the toe box during extended wear.
If you are coming to Louboutin heels for the first time, or you wear heels regularly but find 100mm impractical for longer events, the Kate 85 is worth serious consideration. It is genuinely wearable for a four to five hour event in a way that the Kate 100 is not always - and that difference matters when the evening runs long.
The Kate 85 also works well in professional contexts where a heel is appropriate but you will be on your feet for long periods. Office environments, client meetings, and occasions that require consistent mobility are where the 85 earns its reputation.
The Kate 85 is a classic pump and it behaves like one. Tailored trousers, pencil skirts, fitted dresses, and jeans with a clean line all work. The heel is present enough to read as a proper heel rather than a low block, but modest enough not to compete with more formal outfits.
Kate 70: The Everyday Kate
The Kate 70 is a 70mm kitten heel. Christian Louboutin uses the word "kitten heel" in its own product description, and it is an accurate label: the 70mm gives you a refined, low-profile heel with the full pointed-toe, red-sole Louboutin look.
At 70mm, the Kate family becomes genuinely wearable for an extended day. The heel is present enough to complete a polished outfit and provide some elevation, but the angle is low enough that most people can move in it comfortably for longer periods than the 85 or 100 allows.
The Kate 70 makes sense in a few different situations. If you love the Louboutin look but find higher heels genuinely impractical for your life, this is the height. If you are building a collection and want a Kate you can reach for on an ordinary day - reserving the 85 or 100 for occasions - the 70 is the answer. And if you simply prefer a lower heel aesthetically, it gives you the full pointed-toe silhouette without the commitment.
One thing the Kate 70 does particularly well is versatility. A black patent Kate 70 functions across a very broad range of contexts, from professional to smart-casual to evening, in a way that the taller heights do not. The shoe reads as polished in most settings without demanding a specific occasion to justify it.
What is the Difference Between the Christian Louboutin Kate and So Kate?
The Kate and So Kate are part of the same design family, but they are not the same shoe.
The most visible difference is heel height. The Kate comes in 70mm, 85mm and 100mm. The So Kate is 120mm. That additional 20mm at the top of the scale produces a noticeably steeper pitch, a more pronounced arch, and a more demanding wear experience than even the Kate 100.
The design history adds useful context. The Kate was originally called the Décolleté 554, one of Christian Louboutin's foundational styles. Christian Louboutin's own website notes the rename directly: "The Décolleté 554 style is now Kate." The So Kate, introduced later, pushed the silhouette to its most extreme interpretation. Both belong to the same family, but the Kate has the longer history and the more measured heel heights.
The toe box is where experienced wearers notice the second difference. The Kate has a pointed toe with a longer, narrower profile, while the So Kate takes that to a further extreme. The Kate's toe box is still narrow and definitively pointed, but it tends to feel slightly more accommodating for wearers who struggle with the So Kate's compression at the toe. Neither is a wide-fit shoe. But there is a measurable difference in how they fit for many people.
Comfort across comparable heights also tends to favour the Kate over equivalent-height So Kate options. The So Kate 120 is the most demanding of the two family lines. Styles in the Kate range at 85mm and 100mm are consistently reported as more wearable for longer periods than the So Kate at its 120mm height.
If the So Kate is the high-commitment, full-statement version, the Kate is the version that delivers the same silhouette and red sole across a more accessible range of heights. If you are new to Louboutin heels, the Kate is where we would start.
Read the full comparison in the So Kate vs Pigalle guide for a broader look at how the key Louboutin silhouettes sit relative to each other.
How Does the Christian Louboutin Kate Fit?
The Kate runs small. Sizing up half a size from your usual shoe size is the starting recommendation for most people, though some find that a full size is necessary depending on foot shape and width.
The important thing to understand about Kate sizing is that going up in size changes length, not width. Christian Louboutin has confirmed this directly in their sizing guidance: the last width is fixed, and a larger size will give you more length in the toe without widening the shoe. If width is the issue rather than length, there is no sizing solution within the Kate range. The shoe is built on a narrow last.
When sizing pre-owned Kate heels without the ability to try the pair first, the most reliable approach is to know your EU size in a Louboutin you have already worn. If that is not available, go half a size above your street shoe size as a starting point, and read listing photos carefully for any visible signs of toe box compression or unusual creasing that might indicate the previous owner sized incorrectly.
Worth noting: Louboutin uses EU sizing as its standard. Our size guide covers UK to EU conversion with guidance specific to Louboutin's last measurements.
Buying Pre-Owned Christian Louboutin Kate in the UK
The Kate family is one of the more consistently available Louboutin styles in the pre-owned market. Patent black Kate 100 and Kate 85 pairs appear regularly, which makes the Kate a practical option if you want an authenticated pair without waiting for a specific style to surface.
What to inspect on a pre-owned Kate
Patent leather is the most common finish and it is unforgiving under close inspection. Check the toe box carefully in listing photos: light catching at the pointed tip often reveals creasing from tight sizing, or marks from contact with hard surfaces. Neither is a barrier to buying, but both are worth knowing about and factoring into condition assessment.
The heel tip is the highest-wear component on any stiletto. Look for the rubber tip condition first. A worn-through or replaced tip is common on pre-owned heels and is easily fixed by a cobbler, but it tells you how much walking has been done in the pair.
Check the red sole for wear. On the Kate 100 and 85, the sole will show wear at the ball of the foot and at the heel strike point after regular use. Light lacquer scuffing is normal. Deep wear-through on a pair advertised as lightly used is a flag worth raising with the seller.
For authentication, the Kate carries the same markers as all Louboutin heels: the stamped branding on the insole, the heel counter construction, the depth and evenness of the red lacquer, and the quality of the stitching at the sole edge. Our full authentication guide covers what to look for in detail.
Pre-owned Kate heels frequently come up in near-new condition - many people buy them for specific occasions and wear them carefully. That is good news if you are shopping pre-owned. A pair with minimal heel tip wear and a clean sole is a reasonable expectation in the UK pre-owned market.
Christian Louboutin Kate: Materials and Colourways
The Kate has been produced in a wider range of materials and colourways than its reputation as a black patent pump suggests.
Materials
Patent leather is the signature finish and the most widely associated with the Kate. It gives the shoe its sharp, high-shine appearance and is the most common material found in the pre-owned market.
Lamb nappa leather is the softer alternative. CL offers the Kate 85 and Kate 100 in lamb nappa, which produces a matte finish with a noticeably different texture underhand. Nappa wears differently from patent, showing scuffs rather than shine marks, and is considered by many collectors to be a more comfortable material against the foot.
Veau velours (velvet) appears in seasonal and limited runs, particularly in darker colourways. Velvet Kates are less common pre-owned but do surface, and the material requires more careful storage and handling.
Classic calfskin (matte calf) appears in selected heights and styles, offering a mid-point between the formality of patent and the softness of nappa.
Special edition finishes have included metallic suede, embossed leathers, crepe satin with strass detail, and denim. These are considerably rarer pre-owned.
Colourways
The core colourways across the Kate family are:
- Black: the most produced and most available, in patent and nappa
- Blush (nude-pink): the second most common, particularly popular in patent; one of the most wearable neutrals in the range
- Leche: a creamy off-white, warmer than pure white
- Bianco: white, produced in nappa
- Marine: navy, a seasonal colour that appears in nappa
- Last Night: a very dark blue-navy, close to black in low light; produced in nappa and velours
Limited and seasonal colourways have included red, burgundy, nude versions in various undertones, and special metallics. The black patent Kate at any height is the most consistently available pre-owned. Blush patent is the second most common.
Frequently Asked Questions
What heel heights does the Christian Louboutin Kate come in?
The Christian Louboutin Kate is available in three heel heights: 70mm, 85mm and 100mm. The 70mm is a kitten heel. The 85mm and 100mm are stilettos. All three share the same pointed-toe silhouette and low-cut vamp design. The So Kate, at 120mm, is the most extreme version of the same design family but is a separate style.
Does the Christian Louboutin Kate run true to size?
No. The Kate runs small and sizing up half a size is the standard recommendation. Some people need a full size up depending on foot length and shape. Going up in size changes the length of the shoe only. The width of the toe box remains the same regardless of size. If you are between sizes, half a size up is the safer choice.
Christian Louboutin Kate 100 review
The Kate 100 is a 100mm stiletto pump in a pointed-toe silhouette. Patent leather is the most widely available finish. At 100mm, it reads as a formal occasion heel rather than an everyday shoe. Wearers who have tried both the Kate 100 and the So Kate 120 generally report the Kate 100 as noticeably more manageable for longer events, with the same pointed-toe aesthetic but a less demanding pitch angle. It is not a comfortable all-day heel for most people, but for a three to four hour event it performs well.
Is the Christian Louboutin Kate 85 comfortable to wear?
By Louboutin standards, the Kate 85 is one of the more wearable heel heights in the range. Christian Louboutin describes the 85mm as the "wearable" height, and for most heel wearers it is manageable for longer periods than the Kate 100 or So Kate 120. That said, comfort depends significantly on foot shape, experience with heels, and how long you are standing or walking. The pointed toe means there is always some pressure at the front of the foot; this is not a wide-fit shoe. If you are genuinely new to Louboutin heels, starting with the Kate 85 rather than the Kate 100 is a reasonable approach.
Where can I buy Christian Louboutin Kate pre-owned UK?
Pre-owned Christian Louboutin Kate heels are available through authenticated resale specialists in the UK. Avantelle carries authenticated pre-owned Christian Louboutin, with every pair verified before listing. The Kate 85 and Kate 100 in patent black are among the most commonly available styles. You can browse the current selection at Avantelle's Christian Louboutin collection.
Shop the Christian Louboutin Kate at Avantelle
Pre-owned Kate heels give you the same pointed-toe silhouette, the same red sole, and the same Louboutin craftsmanship - authenticated, clearly described, and at a fraction of retail. The Kate is one of our favourite entry points into the collection for exactly this reason.
Every pair at Avantelle is verified before it reaches a listing. Our authentication guarantee covers every purchase.
Browse authenticated pre-owned Christian Louboutin
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- So Kate vs Pigalle: Ultimate Comparison Guide
- Christian Louboutin Heel Heights: Complete Guide
- Christian Louboutin Miss Z: Complete Guide
- Christian Louboutin Pigalle: Sizes, Heights and Pre-Owned Guide
