Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, the latest column of the Manolo it is now available for downloading at the Express of the Washington Post.

Today, the Manolo discusses one of the horrors of modern life, the “comfort shoes.”

Dear Manolo,

Can you please recommend some stylish comfort shoes for me?

Audrey

Manolo says, ayyyyy! Few things in the language of the English can inspire such cold dark horror in the breast of the Manolo as the phrase “the comfort shoes.”

More atrocities have been committed, by the comfort shoes than all of the Mongol hordes, the oil tankers, and the chainsaws combined.

It is the truism of the Manolo that the word “comfort” allows the shoe companies to believe that they can foist upon the peoples the most hideous sort of the shoes; shoes that appear to be constructed out of the rubberized burlap and dried dung, shoes that would not have been tolerated by our cave-dwelling ancestors.

This it is not to say that the comfort and style are incompatible, indeed they are not.

But rather it is to note that those shoe companies who market only based upon the comfort are, to the mind of the Manolo, equal to the Big Tobacco in the damage they are doing to the tender and gullible soul of this nation.

If you wish to see the shoe that is stylish and comfortable, but emphatically not the “comfort shoes” then the Manolo would present to you the Physical by the Stuart Weitzman; simple, atrtractive, classical, and designed to be worn on almost any occasion.

To this the Manolo can only add that this past weekend, the Posse Manolo tried on the wedge variation of the Physical by the Stuart Weitzman, and to the woman, they characterized it as being among the most comfortable shoes they have ever worn.

Manolo says, the weekend it is coming, and perhaps you are going out to somewhere stylish, where the simple black shoes with the handsome classic lines are needed, yes?

Well, here is just such the shoe from the Anne Klein New York. Even the better it is on the sale, more than 50% off of the regular price! The savings of over $125 of the American dollars.

Manolo says, here is the link to the brief article on the history and popularity of the ballet flats.

We bow (or maybe a pirouette would be more appropriate) to whoever thought to take a ballet slipper, slap on a sturdier sole, finish it in a nicer fabric, add some cute adornments and take it to the street.

Since its transformation from the dance studio to daily life, the ballet flat has become one of the hottest shoe trends - one that miraculously couples cuteness with comfort. Forget the gold and silver satin metallic finish that we associate with the typical fashion ballet flat. Check out what’s new for the shoe that is enjoying an extended stay on the fashion forefront.

Back when ballet flats were strictly a dancer’s shoe, the Mascaro family opened a handcrafted ballet shoe workshop in Menorca, Spain in 1918. After many years, the company is now recognized internationally for the Jaime Mascaro collection of shoes and bags, as well as the Pretty Ballerinas line, a collection of street-worthy ballet flats and pumps that - with over 30 styles in the spring collection alone - have something for every foot.

Of the course, the Manolo he is the big fan of both the ballet flat and the Jamie Mascaro.

Manolo says, Ayyyyyyyy! The designers for the next season of the Project Runway, they have been announced, and the Manolo’s good friends at the Blogging the Project Runway, they have the links to the various webpages of the designers.

The start of the show it is only the mere weeks away, and the Manolo he is almost breathless with anticipation.

Manolo says, it is again the Tuesday, and thus it is time to see what the Manolo is…

Watching…

Reading…

Eating…

Just because the book it is the children’s book does not mean it should only be read by the childrens.

Manolo says, once again the Posse Manolo has been on the polite and well-heeled rampage through the mean-girl streets of the Beverly Hills.

And as always, there is much to see on the Robertson Boulevard, such as the angry and importuning papparazzi swarms, the re-engineered faces of the ladies who lunch, and the occasional glimpse of the celebrity of no consequence.

Such things, although remarkably entertaining, are the not the point of the trip to the 90210.

In the stead, it is the shoes!

And here are two of the Manolo’s favorites purchased by the members of the Posse during the day spent on the prowl.

First the beutiful, gold sandals from the Miu Miu

And then the simple, t-strap sandal in the antique bronze from the Donald J. Pliner.

Both of these they have the understated panache that the Manolo finds appealing in those women who do not need to obsessively seek out the attention of the press.

As for the luncheon while shopping, the Manolo politely suggests this place, the Michelia Nouvelle, as being the relaxed and tasty alternative to the power-based snobbery of the Ivy.

Manolo says, here you see the craft project that has gone horribly, terribly awry: the plastic grocery bags crocheted into the pair of the sandals.

Yes, it is not the secret that the Manolo has many times in the past been so poor that he has had to fashion his own super fantastic shoes out of the recycled and repurposed objects. And so he could perhaps be considered the expert in such matters, which it is why he is qualified to say that these shoes they are frightening.

These they are the sort of thing that would be worn the ranting homeless lady who lives in the culvert behind the Ralph’s Super Saver. You know, the one who wears the dirty grey poncho and shouts at you as you leave your car, “Whore of Babylon! You’ll burn in the sulphurous pits of Hell!”

That one.

This is the sort of person who would put such things upon her feets.

Do not be this person, do not wear such things upon your feets.

P.S. Many thanks to the Pamela for alerting the Manolo to this horror.

Manolo says, finally, the super fantastic Sewing Divas they have posted the latest Carnivale of the Couture, and it is the marvelous exploration of the “ritual cloth“.