Manolo says, wagging her tail behind her.

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

Dear Manolo,

Fall is now emphatically here. Can you recommend something autumnal, yet stylish?

Kim

Manolo says, ah, how the Manolo loves the arrival of the fall months, when the weather cools, the leafs change the colors, and the costumed trick-or-the-treaters and desperate congressional candidates both begin to appear on the doorsteps asking for the handouts.

Of the course, the Manolo always loves the arrival of any new season—summer, winter, spring, or fall—for such changes demand the new shoes! But the Manolo doubly loves the coming of autumn, for after the frivolous and light shoes of the summer, it is time to return to the shoes of substance, shoes which will cheer us through the waning of the sun’s cycle.

Yes, the more sober season demands the more sober shoe, but sober does not mean somber, as there are many and obvious pleasures to be had in the good autumn shoe, such as the richer materials and the more sophisticated colors.

Thus the Manolo recommends to his friend that she consider the suede Harness Pump from the Michael by Michael Kors, which comes in the black, honey, and the seasonally appropriate oxblood colors.

Manolo says, ayyyyyy! The it was the much delayed but mostly satisfying Bryant Park grande finale Project-Runway runway show, featuring the models who can’t walk, Tim Gunn verklempt again, and odious troglodytes in the audience!

The Manolo shouts, Congratulations to the Jeffrey! The Manolo thought that this was the right decision, as his final collection was not only beautiful in places, but also had the strong original point of view. Although, as usual, he himself dressed it the style which may best be described as “dissipated Rock-n-Roll hobbit”.

As for the rest, the Michael’s collection was the weakest, filled with the booty shorts and hoochy dresses made from the crazy patterns and over-the-top spangles, which it is too bad because the Manolo truly wanted the Michael to win as he is so sweet and had done such good work in the past.

The Laura, who is a) married to the ghost of Einstein, and is b) the far more petty and jealous person than the Manolo had first assumed, (”I’m not questioning your integrity, you filthy cheater…”) produced the absolutely beautiful clothes, which would not have looked out of place in the collection of the Oscar de la Renta, which was the problem, as it all seemed derivative. Yes, wonderfully derivative, but derivative nonetheless.

And the Uli did the Uli thing, beautifully, wonderfully, with a level of sophistication that was impressive, but it seemed limited in that they were ultimately clothes to be worn by the recent Palm Beach divorcees, with all that that implies. Sadly, there is something vaguely muumuu-ish about her work.

And now, what else is there left for the Manolo to say, other than that he is sad to see the Project Runway end, and that he eagerly awaits the return of this show. He also profoundly hopes that next season will feature more designing and less whining.

Manolo says, here you see the pair of the purplish suede Mary Jane pumps from the Sigerson Morrison that the Manolo thinks are quite smart.

Like many of the shoes of the Sigerson Morrison it is subtle. It does not over the head hit you with the sparkly psuedo-glamour, but in the stead persuades you slowly of its playful and intelligent sophistication.

Manolo says, as the leafs change the color and the days turn cooler, many of the Manolo’s internet friends may feel the need to don the sweater. However, last year, the Manolo had the few words of advice for his friends, words which remain pertinent today.

******From the Archives of the Manolo******

Manolo says, yes, it is true, the Manolo he has been reading and very much enjoying the blog of the Harriet Miers!!! She is obviously the delightful person, one who could easily be confirmed to join the Posse Manolo on the shopping expedition, if not the Court of the Supremes.

However, the Manolo he only mentions the blog of the Harriet Miers in the passing, because today the Harriet she has brought this website of fashion atrocity to the attention of the Manolo. (This page of the fashion atrocity website, it almost sent the Manolo into the convulsions, as if he were the small Japanese child watching the frenetic episode of the Pokemon.)

Trust the Manolo, the heavily beaded and be-rhinestoned “gem sweater” it is not the look you wish to adopt. And here, because we are approaching the season of the holidays, the subject of the sweaters it deserves the special discussion.

Manolo says, the truly super fantastic girl, she does not wear the holiday sweater. (Nor does the truly super fantastic man.)

See! Even the Mr. Darcy of Your Dreams looks like the dork in the holiday sweater. Think then how much worse you would look in …the Turkey Sweater!

Notice the grimmacey What-the-Hell-I’m-Getting-Paid smile.

Or perhaps you would like to make your own darling child look like the fool with the Mother-Daughter Frosty Scene of Societal Entropy Matching Sweater Set.

This, it is clearly child abuse.

Finally, as the Holloween it is only weeks away, you might wish to don something like this, the “Holloween Friends Cardigan”.

Trust the Manolo, if you wear this and no one tries to stop you, you have no friends.

So, listen to the advice of the Manolo, and make this the season of joy by giving your holiday sweaters to the garbage man.

Manolo says, on the syllabus for this week, Manolo!

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

Reading…

Watching…

Listening to…

eagerly awaiting the release of…

Although the Manolo is by no means the fanboy, he is none the less convinced that the Guillermo del Toro is one of the most interesting and humanistic directors working today, and thus is worthy of our close attention.

Manolo says, the Manolo loves the Nancy and the Ann, such beautiful fierce ladies, but sometimes things from the past reappear which cause one to wonder, “what the Hell were they thinking?”

Manolo shouts,

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to the Manolo’s Shoe Blog!!!!

Two years ago exactly today, the Manolo invented the shoe blog.

It was from the beginning, the intention of the Manolo to share with the world his love of the shoes, and the fashion, and the fun. And he has succeeded in this beyond his imagination, as he now has many thousands of internet friends who each day visit the shoe blog of the Manolo.

But it is not only the shoe blog of which the Manolo is proud. Indeed the Manolo is also filled with pride for his small network of blogs, and especially for the quality of the other writers who blog for him.

It is beyond argument that there are few bloggers anywhere who are as consistently funny, or write as well as Never teh Bride at the Manolo for the Brides, Izzy Gallant at the Manolo for the Men, or Mr. Henry at the Manolo’s Food Blog. If you are not reading these blogs you are missing some of the strongest writing on the internets.

What now lies ahead for the Manolo and his blogs?

There are things yet coming, dear friends, that will astound and amuse you.

Soon there will certainly be talk of the autobiography of the Manolo, Super Fantastic, the first chapters of which, after much delay, are now almost ready to be presented to the publishers.

Also, as you have perhaps noticed, the Manolo has already been writing his weekly column for the Express of the Washington Post, and the occasional pieces for the Politics Central, but it is likely that in the next month or two there will be other places where you may read the musings of the Manolo.

Of the course, the Manolo will always and forever be here at his first love, his humble shoe blog, showing his friends the pictures of the beautiful shoes, gently mocking the celebrities, and offering his advice to those in need.

Finally, and most importantly, the Manolo must thank you, his internet friends, for your attention, for your generosity, and above all for the love you have shown the Manolo. He is truly grateful for all that you have done for him.

Yes, Manolo loves the shoes, but it is doubly true that Manolo loves the readers!