Manolo the Columnist
Manolo says, here is the latest column written by the Manolo for the Express of the Washington Post.
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Dear Manolo,My high-school aged daughter asked me to ask you for suggestions to go with skirts. The child has to wear a back brace for scoliosis and wants something in low or no heels, with sure footing, and with a little bit of style.
Andrew
Manolo says, ah, how the Manolo remembers his own traumatic few days in the high schoool, where the Manolo first discovered that not everyone on the football team appreciated the super fantastic shoes, shoes that the Manolo himself had constructed out of the old book bag he would not carry and the gym clothes he would not wear.
Children can be so cruel, and the gym lockers they are dark on the inside.
Still, such petty buffeting did not break the spirit of the Manolo, for he had learned that being super fantastic is as much the burden as the pleasure, and indeed the jealousy of the un-super fantastic swirled around the Manolo like the tails of the Edwardian frock coat he frequently wore to his algebra class.
Although, as the hulking Eduardo “El Bruto†Sanchez taught the Manolo in the schoolyard after class, sometimes it is better to wear the clothing that is appropriate to the time and place.
Here are the pair of the hip and sporty suede Mary Janes from the Lacoste that would be most appropriate for the high school girl who stands out but wishes to fit in.
Comments
Sam 18 years ago
I laughed, I cried, and then I marveled at Mr. Manolo’s artistry with words. Well done, sir.
The timing of your article is uncanny (perhaps intentional?) as there was just a Primetime special on TV last night about real-life Mean Girls.
That shoe is cute and looks deliciously comfortable!
Joan 18 years ago
The shoe is completely adorable. Too adorable, I wonder, for a busy 43-year-old mom of three little kids?
My biggest fashion fear is wearing something too young, but at the same time, I’m not old and refuse to dress like a matron. It is difficult, this fine-line dancing between being appropriately hip and unseemly clinging to past youth. What says the Manolo — are these shoes OK for moms, too? They would be perfect for wearing to the fields and decks of the various children’s activities where any kind of a heel is likely to imperil the ankles of the wearer, not to mention the integrity of the shoe itself.
Lori 18 years ago
Joan, I was wondering the same thing. (I’m 37.) I love Mary Janes, and I think a show in a similar style, but a little less cute and a little more sophisticated, would suit me.
Say What? 18 years ago
Thank you for addressing this fashion forward young lady’s question. My daughter has scoliosis as well, and it is hard finding a comfortable, fashionable shoe.
Bravo, Manolo!
Phyllis 18 years ago
Those are adorable – and my gut is telling me high heel Mary Janes are this fall’s Wedge. I’ve seen them in tons of great colors and styles. Monolo – please blog about high heel Mary Janes! They are sexy yet demure, and more flattering than ankle straps, and they look great with retro styles.
JamaisVu 18 years ago
If you look at the Lacoste shoes, there’s black leather version of the same shoe that offers a bit more sophistication, and the “Focus” skimmer that offers a similar but more streamlined design.
Jillian 18 years ago
I’m also wearing mary janes to school this year–I have the black velvet ones, and I really love them.
An Edwardian frock coat! I wish more boys at my school would dress like you instead of wearing the jeans with the waists cut to see-level, often entirely too big or too small.
Tight jeans + low crotch = abnormally short legs.
pinkmirage 18 years ago
That was great! hahaha….I’d love to see the Edwardian frock coat..
prettysmart 18 years ago
Normally I don’t like visible logos, but that alligator is so darling I’ll make an exception.
Rebecca 18 years ago
Hey, I think those shoes are darling! I’ll be 43 in about 3 weeks and, although my own children are older, most of my friends have little kids.
Joan and Lori should go for it, don’t you think, Manolo?
kay 18 years ago
Hey, I’m a 32-year-old mom of 2 and I love to rock the Mary Janes! I’ve got… lessee.. 4 pairs right now, including me broken-down Docs that serve as work shoes. Hooray for Mary Janes! Just because you’re a Mom doesn’t mean you have to wear mom jeans and snowman sweatshirts with white Reebocks every day. (or ever!)