Source: S2S Magazine

Your friends have been telling you that you’re bougie (derived from bourgeois), but you deny it. You simply have distinctive tastes and enjoy nice things, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That doesn’t make you bougie, does it? When you think bougie, you think of Toni Childs on Girlfriends or Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But it’s more to it than these TV characters who were poster children for sadity-ness. Don’t think you’re bourgie? Well, check out these 7 signs to see if you actually are.

From StyleBlazer.com

The classic pointy-toe pump is making an appearance this spring/summer and recently some of Hollywood’s most fashionable celebs have been spotted rocking the trend. And from what it looks like Christian Louboutin Un Bout pumps are a popular preference. Beyoncé, Kim Kardashianand Rihanna are just a few label lovers we picked up strutting around in the hot shoe.

Peep how each celeb rocked the killer shoe in the gallery by visiting StyleBlazer.com.

More on Madame Noire!

• Ask a Very Smart Brotha Live: The Cheating Scale & Adult Videos
• Find a Solution to Your Suffering Sex Life
• Disappearing Acts: Why Men Suddenly Stop Calling
• Malinda Williams Is Not Feeling ‘Think Like A Man’
• Bruised But Not Broken: 10 Ways to Cure Heartbreak
• What’s The Big Deal About The Lack Of Black ‘Girls?’
• Skincare Q&A: Photo Sensitivity, Combination Skin and Dark Circles
• Haute Hair Accessory: Clip-Ins (Starting Under $100 Too!)

From NecoleBitchie.com

Brandy looked stunning yesterday morning as she left the Good Morning America Studios and greeted fans in New York’s Times Square. She made sure to show off her new Celine bag as she walked out the door as well as her Christian Louboutin No. 299 Trash pumps from the Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

Earlier this year, Rocsi was spotted celebrating Estelle’s birthday in a pair of the pumps which she paired with a grey and black outfit.

For all the fab footwear photos, visit NecoleBitchie.com

More on Madame Noire!

• Women Who Get/Got Too Into Their Men
• The New Dating Norms: 6 Big Changes In The Dating Game
• You’re Just Not That Into It: Signs That Your Job Isn’t For You
• Madames Who Acted Like Ladies, But Thought Like Men
• Kandi Says Beef With Marlo Almost Turned RHOA Reunion Into A Different Kind Of Show
• Growing Up Fast: Toya and Lil Wayne’s Daughter Reginae Gets Dolled Up For Photo Shoot
• RHOA Salaries Exposed: They’re All Making Bank!
• Cartoon Has a Message for Black Women

When you see a pair of “red bottoms,” as the rap world has so affectionately come to label Christian Louboutin shoes, you know who they belong to, and the French shoemaker wants to make sure things stay that way.

On Tuesday, the luxury label battled with with another well-known French fashion house, Yves Saint Laurent, in appeals court in an attempt to overturn a decision made by Federal Judge Victor Marrero last August that denied Louboutin’s request to stop YSL from selling a line of shoes with red tops and bottoms.

“Louboutin’s claim would cast a red cloud over the whole industry, cramping what other designers could do while allowing Louboutin to paint with a full palette,” Judge Marrero wrote in his opinion, suggesting that the trademark the brand was granted in 2008 to use red for the soles of it’s shoes was given in error. He argued that color performs a creative function and doesn’t identify or advertise a commercial source. “Louboutin would thus be able to market a total outfit in red, while other designers would not.”

Attorney Harley Lewin argued strongly against that suggestion before a three-judge panel, noting that red soles are synonymous with his client’s brand.

“Christian Louboutin has created one of the more iconic trademarks of the 21st century. Louboutin turned a pedestrian item into a thing of beauty.”

YSL’s counsel, David Bernstein, of course, wants Judge Marrero’s opinion to be upheld:

“Artists of this type need the full palette of colors available. In order to compete and compete fairly, we need red. We don’t want to find out that we can make green, blue, purple shoes… but we are enjoined from making red.”

If YSL has gone this long without making  a shoe with a red sole, I think they’ll be alright. Everyone knows a red bottom equals Louboutin, and since the brand has only trademarked its shade known as “China Red,” YSL should be content using any other variation in the color pallet. The judges meanwhile are trying to determine whether Judge Marrero properly interpreted trademark law and whether to send the case back to him for additional findings.

What do you think about this issue? Should Christian Louboutin have sole rights to China Red bottoms or should all designers be allowed to use a red sole if they so choose?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Evening Eye Candies: 6 HOT Reasons to See “Red Tails” NOW…The Delicious Cast
• Sisters In Hiding: Not So Famous Sisters of Famous Celebs
• Delusions Of A Thirsty Chick
• Racism? Why I’m Not Surprised By The Help’s Nomination For Best Picture
• 7 Curl Defining Products to Get Your Curls and Coils Poppin’
• Traits of Trifling Parents
• He Loves Me: Men Who Just Adore Their Wives
• New Documentary Gets ‘In Our Heads About Our Hair’

According to a recent national poll in ShopSmart Magazine, the average woman owns 17 pairs and spends about $49 per pair. Only 13 percent of the women polled owned over 30 pairs of shoes (not including tennis shoes).

Does this poll accurately describe your shoe closet? How many shoes do you own? How much would you say you spend on average for a pair of shoes?

[Source]