Christian Louboutin — and Friends — Fete 20 Years of Shoes with Barneys

>> Last night, Christian Louboutin joined up with Barneys to fete the launch of
<product href="http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Louboutin/dp/0847836517" target="_blank">his eponymous book</product> — as well as the 20th anniversary of his brand — in New York.

The designer's longtime friends (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen), collaborators (Marchesa's Keren Craig), and design peers (Calvin Klein, who left with an autographed copy of the tome) showed up in support. As did more than a few fans — sporting their Louboutin heels, of course. "I'm wearing my very first pair from 1997," Amanda Brooks
<product href="http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/scoop/newyork-110211_Christian_Louboutin_Barneys/" target="_blank">told Style.com</product> of her strappy red sandals. "He gave them to me as a thank you because I used to work at the Gagosian Gallery, across from the Carlyle, and he would call me on my lunch break to come over and model the shoes for him."

Blake Lively, who made headlines a year ago for carting 40 pairs of Louboutins away from the designer's sample sale, also stopped by: "My first pair was basic black, and after that, it was love — now I have hundreds." Clearly the feeling is mutual — Louboutin whisked her off her feet and carried her away after the event.