Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

My friend is getting married in November and she has selected for her bridesmaids a brown dress with a sage sash. I’d like to help her avoid the typical dyed satin slippers. What would you suggest?

Dani

Manolo says, November! Brown and sage! From this alone the Manolo can intuit not only the entire scheme of this wedding, from the decoration to the table centerpieces, but he can even tell you the menu at the reception, which will undoubtedly feature the roast acorn squash and the cranberry sauce.

There is the reason why most of the weddings are held in the spring, so as to avoid exactly this.

But, it is now almost October, too late to reschedule, too early to phone the bride with your fake illness, and so you must do what you can to minimize the damage.

Happily, if you act quickly and are persuasive, at the least your shoes can look stunning.

The Manolo would suggest something with the heel, something that would elevate you above the colorful fall leaves and gilded pine cones that will undoubtedly be strewn in the aisles.

Also, you will want to have the shoes that you can wear again. Thus the Manolo would recommend to his friend the Maxime from the BCBG Max Azria in the color called the black coffee.

As the special exclusive treat for the readers of the Manolo’s humble shoe blog, here is the picture sent by the Manolo’s internet friend of the autumnal dress for which the shoes above are intended.

Manolo says, Fuller Brush lady!

Manolo says, here is the unusual suede D’Orsay peep-toe pump from the House of Dereon.

Yes, it is the bit over the top, but in the attractive and luxurious manner of which the Manolo approves. Is it not possessed of the semi-retro Hollywood glamour?

Manolo says, perhaps the Manolo can best expess what he is thinking about these Signorina Italia contestants with the musical interlude…

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

Reading…

Watching…

Listening to…

Manolo says, many people have raved to the Manolo about the television show Dead Like Me, and the is enjoying it, although not to the level that many had predicted. Perhaps it is that the Manolo is sceptical of the basic premise, of the notion that the Grim Reapers have their own fairly mundane problems.

Manolo says, here you see the cycloptic predatory stick insect in the clever natural camouflauge.

Manolo says, here are the few things that may perhaps amuse.

“Oh dear! Who is this old British Royal with ice cream all over her?”

“My design genius lies in my ability to capture zee essence of vulgarity und throw it back in zair faces.”

“Flying is no picnic, though you’ll have to pack your lunch all the same.”

Manolo says, here is the beautiful pair of the round-toed platform pumps from the Claudia Ciuti. It is somewhat formal, the sort of the shoe that could move gracefully from the day to the evening.

Manolo says, here is the link to the most amusing and gratifying article in the Radar Magazine in which the Manolo has been quoted decrying the terrible rise of the crocs.

However, this is the best quote in the entire piece.

“I have to say that these things are hideous!” adds Jay Escobara, cofounder of New York-based design collective Saenai. “Crocs personify the ‘eclectic’ person who really isn’t all that different from the Kmart shopper but pretends to follow the trend in hopes it might place him among a group of people and/or lifestyle.”

It is so true, so very, very true.