These crystal-studded ‘Daffodile’ platforms by Christian Louboutin are $6395.

Want the look of Louboutins but can’t afford the steep pricetag?  The Telegraph UK reports that across the pond, lovers of the red sole are buying look alikes and (gasp!) painting the soles scarlet.  From the piece:

Peter Rooney, manager at the Homebase store in Acton, London, said sales of the paint have “rocketed.”

He said: “Many people tend to look at magazines to get the right paint colour for walls and furniture, but we’ve noticed significant numbers of girls colour-matching tester pots to pictures of designer shoes in fashion magazines.

“They have also asked staff for tips on how to paint on leather or rubber.”

Homebase senior paint buyer Richard Johnson, said: “Clearly paint is meant for decorating walls rather than shoes, so we are amazed at this new trend that has hit our stores.”

Irene Rubaum-Keller, a blogger for TheBlush.com, owns genuine Louboutins and considers them worth the splurge (or worth the time spent searching on eBay),  but admits to doing the same using red nail polish.  As she notes (and as I have always thought interesting), unless the wearer has red rubber soles placed on the shoes, the color is going to wear off fairly soon.  In the end, your faux designer footwear may fool onlookers but you won’t fool yourself.  I say save your money and splurge on the real thing.

What do you think, readers?  Is stopping in Home Depot or Lowe’s for red paint and touching up a pair of non-Louboutins something you’d do in the name of fashion?

Image via Net-a-Porter