Shoe designer Christian Louboutin has unveiled an exhibition featuring hundreds of his sought-after heels - and burlesque star Dita Von Teese.

Louboutin, famous for the red soles on his stilettos, is the subject of a retrospective at London's Design Museum.

Von Teese appears in the form of a three-dimensional holographic performance to illustrate Louboutin's earliest design inspiration - the showgirl.

The burlesque performer's silhouette morphs from a Louboutin shoe to dance on stage before she transforms back into a stiletto.

Louboutin, who began his career more than 20 years ago, recently hit the headlines when he called high heels "pleasure with pain" and added: "If you can't walk in them, don't wear them."

At the preview of the 10-week show, he defended the remark, saying: "I am concerned with comfort. I know that it's important but I don't want to have this evoked in my design.

"My work is not about comfort but in the engineering of the shoes there's something that makes them as comfortable as possible."

Louboutin also gave his blessing to Topshop boss Sir Philip Green's daughter Chloe, who has designed green-heeled shoes for her father's store.

"It has her name on the shoe. There's nothing wrong with that. I wish her luck," he said.

He said it was "a bit emotional" to see his first UK exhibition because his work has been related to his personal life.

"I never really separated my private life from my professional life," the designer said.