Christian Louboutin, a French designer of high-end women’s shoes, has opened his new concept store in the Beirut Souks, a fast growing commercial and lifestyle centre in Lebanon.

The 1000 sq ft Christian Louboutin boutique on Fakhry Bey Street is divided into two spaces. The mezzanine level offers women Christian Louboutin’s range of day wear and classic styles while the first floor is dedicated to evening wear.

The boutique, which also offers Christian Louboutin’s shoe and handbag collections, is decorated with customized chandeliers, printed cornices using Middle Eastern references, and upholstered furniture pieces from the region.

A gallery wall features an intimate collection of Christian’s private photographs - friends, family and travels through the years give a unique insight into the world of Christian Louboutin.

“The Beirut launch is very significant because there’s a very sophisticated Middle Eastern client who wants the very best in footwear for every occasion and they want it presented a space that resonates with the new world that is fast emerging in the Middle East while staying true to their customs,” said Christian Louboutin.

“The Beirut store is exciting as my clients have the chance to see my life up close and personal – the photos, the facets of the store and the collections have all been handpicked by me with the Lebanese client in mind.”

With the opening of the second store in the region in a joint venture with the Chalhoub Group, Christian Louboutin will continue to expand into the burgeoning luxury goods market of the Middle East, which was initiated with the Jeddah boutique opening in February.

Openings in Dubai, UAE and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia are scheduled for 2010, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service