Dallas Greets Christian Louboutin - Paris Greets Harriet

Christian Louboutin was in Dallas working with me to fit models and put the finishing touches on a Stanley Korshak fashion show for the Leukemia Society. It was 1998 and to the best of our knowledge, no one had ever produced a shoe fashion show in America before. We were making shoe history together.

I had been in Paris the month before working through the creative concept of what we would do together and how we would get him down the runway in Dallas. It was my first trip to Paris and in my off time, I indulged in the romance of a Parisian stroll and solitary visit to the Louvre. While there, a well dressed man approached and asked me if I'd like to go to Monte Carlo with him on his private plane. I was stunned. Did I look like a Texan hooker?

I asked Mr. Louboutin, when I returned to his showroom, "Is this a common occurrence in Paris, men propositioning women at the Louvre?"

He enthusiastically covered for his fellow countryman and explained, "Not everyone who comes to Paris receives such an exciting offer, Harriet. Obviously, your warmth was very appealing to this man. You should be flattered."

Really?

But now Christian was in Dallas and it was time for me to offer up our renowned hospitality. I felt sure my conservative hometown would embrace this little Frenchman and provide mildly interesting memories of his first trip to Dallas to take home to Paris.

As his limo drove up to the store at 9:00 at night however, he noticed a couple having a romantic interlude in front of the Korshak store windows displaying his shoes. Apparently, someone found it a great moment to engage in oral sex.

Christian had the retaliatory ammunition he had been waiting for. As we greeted each other in the store he indignantly remarked, "Harriet, is it a common occurrence for Dallasites to engage in oral sex on the street in front of store windows?"

Pause.

"Oh Christian," I explained, "It is a great compliment to you that they felt so comfortable engaging in such romantic behavior. Not everyone in Dallas gets to see this. It must be due to your warmth and Frenchness."

The shoe fashion show was a huge success and Christian Louboutin is now an international shoe star and media darling.  Without his warm Dallas welcome, who knows where he would be today?