Non-Fan Mail for the Manolo
Manolo says, not every person agrees with the suggestion the Manolo made in his most recent column.
Your suggestion that $449 shoes would be an appropriate accessory for a Halloween costume demonstrates that you don’t know your readers and don’t take their questions or pocketbook constraints seriously. Very few of your readers would be willing to spend $449 on any pair of shoes, let alone a pair which is meant to be worn for one night only. Sabrina the sexy witch would have benefited from a realistic recommendation in the realm of $50. Spending more than that on a Halloween costume, let alone breaking triple digits, would be an irresponsible move for even the classiest of Halloween revelers. The readers of your Express column are taking public transportation and picking up a free newspaper. We’re not cheap, but you can bet we will never, ever spend $449 on shoes. Your recommendation was ludicrous, wholly unhelpful, and a tad insulting to someone who wrote to you genuinely seeking fashion advice.
Kate
Ayyy! Many apologies to the Kate.
It was not clear in the column, but it was the intention of the Manolo to recommend boots which could be worn proudly long after the Halloween was over.
These boots by the Charles David they are not costumey. They are handsome and edgy, the sort of boot which almost any super fantastic woman, the sexy witch or no, would be most happy to wear.
As for the matter of the cost. The Manolo will admit that the $449 of the American dollars is the not inconsiderable sum. However, as the long-time internet friends of the Manolo know, the Manolo believes that one should never wear the cheap shoes.
Indeed, it has been the experience of the Manolo that the $50 boots are not even worth that amount. Here for the example is the pair of the $50 boots available for purchase at the Zappos.
Yes, when you first see these boots, at the distance, sitting on the shelf at the Meglo-Mart, they appear to be attractive.
As you approach, however, you will notice that they are not made of the leather, but of something which is euphemistically called the “man-made material”, the abhorrent combination of the plastic and the cardboard recycled from the discarded juice boxes and colored with the carcinogenic dyes.
This material, it will not breathe properly and will undoubtedly give you persistent toenail fungus.
Worse, because these shoes have been assembled in Myanmar by pre-pubescent workers chained to the sewing machines, they will not fit properly. (If you do not believe the Manolo, read the reviews at the Zappos.)
Trust the Manolo, there are few things that will sour your experience as the sexy witch faster than the unsightly cankles. You will attempt to be all Serena, but will end up looking like the Broomhilda.
It is the simple fact that the well-made and handsome shoes–shoes which make their wearers stand taller, walk straighter, and feel better about themselves–cost money, but it most of the cases is the money well-spent.
The Manolo is perfectly within his rights to show us all shoes which we can admire, and to which we can aspire. Do I own a pair of $1200 Christian Louboutin boots? No. Does that prevent me from admiring and sighing to myself, “someday, if I win the lottery…”? No. I don’t think the Manolo should trade downward just because things are out of the financial reach of most of us. Manolo, keep showing us the beauty! You are, indeed, super fantastic!
Manolito is right! The cheap shoes are for the cheap feet. You can always find a cheaper alternative to the Manolito’s rec’s. Sometimes even the same shoe for a lot less if you search diligently. Sometimes, it maybe not the same exact shoe, but the Manolito’s suggestions serve as a guideline and we can search for something equally beautiful, but within our budget. People will spend a lot of money on stupid, cheap things instead of one beautiful thing that you wear on your feet all day, every day. I prefer to spend my money wisely – besides everybody should know the equation about the shoes: One Pair of Blahnik’s = 1,000 pair of Payless. Except the Blahnik’s make one look and feel like $1million – the 1000 pairs of Payless – well, they make you feel and look cheap – and not the Superfantastic.
I think the reader of the Express was wrong to ask the Manolo to reccomend boots for a halloween costume if she was only looking for boots for a single night. For we all know that the Manolo, he does not reccomend the cheap shoes that might be appropriate for a single wearing, but the shoes to be worn out to the point where they are worn out! For the right lady, these boots that he reccomended are indeed the superfantastic.
If the Sabrina is not the right lady, she should have clarified her budget with The Manolo in her letter so he knew she only had $50 to spend on shoes for a costume and she planned to never wear them again.
Buy the best and you only cry once. $445 is not too much to spend on a quality pair of boots that will be worn for years vs. a cheap pair of plastic boots that won’t make it through a season. Not only are they UNfabulous, they are a waste of fifty of my hard-earned American dollars. I immediately put these lovely Charles David boots on my birthday wish list when The Manolo posted them last week!
A question, though: Are these really “boots that will be worn for years”? True, everything comes around again; but this particular style is a bit, I dunno, niche-y. Niche-y as in “I can afford one really good pair of black boots. Which ones will give me the most versatility for my bucks?” My guess is that most would not put these at the top of their “wear-everywhere” list.
But if you have the disposeable income, by all means buy quality footwear for every occasion. Honestly. My sad, tired, picky feet are having to spend more each year; and had I done so earlier, I might not have such sad, tired, picky feet.
VIVA LA MANOLO!!!!!
It is not for nothing that the material from which the $50 boots are made is abbreviated on the Zappos site as “Pu” (for polyurethane). Pee-you, indeed!
Cheap shoes aren’t so cheap once you have to go to the podiatrist.
Manolo, we know you will never stoop to conquer such small-minded peoples! Do people honestly think you should dumb down your blog just to satisfy the lowest common denominator? Oh please. Your blog has never been about the price of luxury goods – it’s about the appreciation of the beautiful shoes and being super fantastic every day!
BUT – there is a difference between “cheap” and inexpensive. Yes – do not buy the cheap anything, it is invariably poorly made and will need to be replaced almost immediately. But expensive also does not always equate with quality, another painful lesson to learn. Some very expensive clothes are very cheaply made.
Perhaps the Manola could also provide the key things to look for when looking for well-made quality shoes that would truly be worth the investment.
I agree that guidance as to what makes a quality pair of shoes — regardless of price — would be welcome. However, I also wonder at the lack of resourcefulness on the part of those who would have the Manolo tell them exactly what to buy to meet their individual specifications. I enjoy seeing the shoes he delights in showcasing, as I do not spend time browsing shoes on the Internet. If, on the other hand, I required a pair of, say, lime green flats in order to masquerade as a Leprechaun, I would find them myself. If Zappos didn’t direct me, Google would. I do not need my mother or the Manolo to find shoes for me.
Let’s allow the Manolo to do what he does best and otherwise be responsible for ourselves.
“You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube.”
-Hannibal Lecter
I hate to say I learned my lesson about shoes fifteen years ago, from a fictional serial killer, but it’s true.
Dear Manolo,
Never, never, never let the turkeys get you down! Those boots are wonderful for the costume as described. They represent a goal, certainly not a requirement for someone who could not, in good conscience, afford to possess them. Fine living is an art, not a bank account.
Although I wouldn’t enjoy them so much in my own life, since I would more likely be seen in the La Crosse green rubber boots than the Charles Davids, and I also would find it more enjoyable to dress for Halloween as the Charlie Chaplin rather than the sexy witch, I would heartily applaud the person who had the desire and ability to wear them with joy as a part of self-expression.
How else would I have known of such boots without the help of the humble shoeblogger, my internet friend, the tasteful & super-fantastic Manolo?
So very sorry to double post, but I should have mentioned that with the La Crosse rubber boots, I could not live without my extra thick & scrumptious cashmere socks that make life seem like a dream. Now those are the dogwalking heaven!
And worth every cent.
So true, so true, aimlessjoys. A good foot deserves a great sock. And fabulous shoes, of course. But I do love a great sock.
I agree in that you can’t really find quality leather boots that go up to the knee for less than $100. At least not in my neck of the woods.
Also does anybody seriously read Manolo’s column for cheap shoes? I rather doubt it. There’s other blogs which address the fashion-for-cheap or knockoffs question….
Six years ago I spent $200 on a classic pair of chocolate brown riding boots with two-inch stack heels (made in Italy). Last spring, the soles were getting a little thin, so I spent $40 to get new half-soles installed and to get the leather refurbished. They now look almost like new, and will probably last another six years. That means that by then, they will have cost $20 a year, and they look great with a variety of outfits, both pants and skirts. To me, that is the definition of value. Quality lasts.
If you ask Philip Roth to recommend a good book don’t complain if he suggests Saul Bellow instead of Dan Brown.
Aw, what a sourpuss.
If I may paraphrase …
Whatever biotch. He is the Manolo, and your letter, it is ridiculous.
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to ask the Manolo (and the wise commentors of the Manolo) a question . . .
I have taken to heart the Manolo’s wisdom of eschewing the poorly-made, poorly-fitting shoes, and have recently begun dreaming of the Stuart Weitzmans (since the Stuart Weitzman, or at least the minions of the Stuart Weitzman, spare a thought for those of us with the wide feet). However, I tremble at the thought of paying $250 or more for a pair of the nicely-made, well-fitting shoes and then somehow destroying them through my shoe ignorance. How does one care for the shoes so that they last for the years and years? Reheeling? How often? Leather soap? Looking outside and saying, “It’s raining, so I will forego the wearing of the Stuart Weitzmans and dig up the dying Naturalizers?” I would love to follow the example of the diva360, but am uncertain and need guidance.
Princess-
If you live where there is a bootery or saddle shop, they are leather experts. They work on boots far more expensive than almost any fashion shoe, and can re-sole or re-heel, as well as fix stitching, buckles, etc. I use a leather cleaner/protectant with beeswax and natural oils in it, not a soap, shoes don’t get that dirty (I hope)! They also put a new hole (for free!) in my expensive wide leather belt when I wanted to wear it up higher. I love my local boot shop!
If you are investing in a pair of expensive shoes and would like to get a lot of mileage from them, avoid suede and (especially) patent leather. A good shoe polish kit will restore the finish to regular split-leather, but a damaged patent finish is irreversible. Suede gets dirty and can’t be polished or be easily cleaned. Now you’ve inspired me to get out my kit & go to work!
I have come across your blog I was to buy a pair of boots and thought: “why does he not publishes videos?”
Pictures is for losers like us, have no money no ideas, well may be 1 or 2 ideas we have:
for example I’d love to see those boots tik&tak ing on someone we all know I am sure the loser’s one make a complete different lousing sound.