Christian Louboutin is suing YSL

Chances are that when you see a flash of red sole you assume that the shoes in question are by Christian Louboutin - and the man behind the label wants it to stay that way. Yesterday he filed a law suit in New York against YSL, in a bid to stop them from selling red-soled creations in Manhattan boutiques.

According to Reuters the lawsuit states that 'Mr. Louboutin is the first designer to develop the idea of having red soles on women's shoes.' Fashion legend has it that, in 1992, the designer painted a pair of his shoes with red nail polish to give them an extra pop, and the look fast became his signature.

But apparently Yves Saint Laurent have been selling heels complete with red soles in a clutch of boutiques across New York, and Louboutin, having politely asked them to stop, has now decided to take action and is asking for $1 million in damages. We await the outcome with interest...