Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…
The Manolo is still reading the work of the Mark Helprin. His writing has the magnificent flow, with cadences which the Manolo can only characterize as classical in their sonority and power. And, yet, he is funny! To be the writer such as this is among the chief aspirations of the Manolo, well, that and to have magnificent shoes.
Manolo says, for the past few weeks, since the start of the new year, the Manolo the Shoeblogger has been feverishly writing away at his autobiography.
Now, after this burst of activity, the Manolo is most happy to announce that he has reached the 120 page mark, and that his agent tells him that he is ready to take this brief sample of the Manolo’s magnus opus to the publishers, so that they may judge its literary worth in the markeplace.
Yes, 120 pages sounds like the large portion, but at the rate the Manolo is going, he expects this work to be in excess of 400 pages.
Thus far, at 120 pages, he has only told the story of his early childhood through the point at which he survives the winter as the homeless street urchin, who lives in the Parque del Buen Retiro, shining the shoes on the Paseo de Recelotes for the spare change. (Those who have seen portions of the work suggest that it somewhat Dickensian.)
So, please, keep your fingers crossed for the Manolo as his book-to-be enters this next stage of its existence.
Manolo says, here are the few links that may perhaps amuse…
Monumento a los zapatos viejos
We had no idea that Tim has some acting chops, too.
via the Manolo friends at Blogging the Project Runway
Manolo says, according to science! today is the most depressing day of the entire year.
Dr Cliff Arnall, a Cardiff University psychologist, devised the formula that shows today is the most depressing.
His equation takes into account six factors: weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action.
Taken together they pinpoint today as ‘Blue Monday’.
But be not afraid, dear friends, for the Manolo has been saving something spectacular for just such the situation, when the desperate circumstances called for the desperate measures…
Behold the fuschia knee high boots with the black and gold metallic trim from the Pucci!
Are they not the crazy, wonderful, over-the-top boots?
Do they not, in their crazy, wonderful, over-the-topness bring the smile to your face?
Mission accomplished! Pucci has made the smile.
Let us see the Jack Bauer do that!
Manolo says, once again, it is time for that most exciting date in the Ayatollahs’ fashionista calendar, Fashion Week Tehran!
In the name of Prophet, work it sister!
In the old house in Tehran, that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls…
The Manolo is now confused, why are the Discalced Carmelites here?
Manolo says, the distinguished Professor Norman opines on the philosophic question before the assembly.
Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post
Dear Manolo,
Could you suggest a nice pair of tall leather boots for winter wear?
Eric
Manolo says, the Manolo has the single commandment about the boots and the shoes for the men: you cannot wear the shoes that would potentially appear in the closet of the Argentine tango pimp.
You know the sort of the shoes the Manolo is talking about, with the overly pointy toes, and the bizarre details like the maltese cross cutouts, shoes which have weird colors and are made from the exotic leathers like the wildebeest and the pit viper and the Vietnamese pot bellied pig.
Men’s shoes must be of the traditional cut, color and materials. It is the quality of the workmanship and the fineness of the details which should distinguish the men’s shoe.
Of the course, the exception to the rule is the choice of sneaker, where the man may go as wild as his infantile heart desires. Do you wish new sneakers with the hydraulic springs in the heels and USB port in the toe? Do they come in lime green with the purple laces and the Linux operating system? The Manolo says, go for it.
As for the boots for winter, the Manolo recommends the
Brando Engineer boot from Frye, for its classic styling and durable nature.
Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s internet friends has asked the Manolo the most important philosophical question.
Dear Manolo,
After reading a very interesting article about the average number of pairs of shoes owned by the shoe obsessive Australian women , my husband and I have had much debate about what defines “the shoe”… he insists that the flip flop and slipper should be defined as a shoe as they cover the feet. Naturally, I disagree. Can you help moderate this discussion? It does give me a great deal of solace to know that I am not the complete shoe tragic and that I form part of a very important bell curve!
Thanks,
Cat – lover of the Marc Jacobs.
To some of the extent, this arguement between the Cat and her husband, it is similar in tone to the great arguments of the medivel ages, during which the Scholastics would debate endlessly about the theological arcana and minutiae.
However, despite the seeming pettiness of this question it is still worthy of consideration by the Manolo.
Sadly for the Cat, her husband is mostly correct: the slipper is the type of the shoe, as is the flip-flop.
However, after having said that, the Manolo would not include items such as the houseshoe and the cheap flip-flop in any accounting of his or anyone else’s shoe collection.
It would be as if the dedicated philatelist counted the roll of recent stamps in his desk drawer when tallying the breadth of his collection. Yes, they are stamps, and they are in his possession, but they are inconsequential and not worthy of mention.
Likewise, the slippers and the plastic flip-flops are not worthy of counting, as they are semi-desposible items intended for current use. (The Manolo would make the exception for the opulent slippers, such as the special monogrammed velvet houseshoes. )
Now that he has settled this question, the Manolo will soon address some of the thornier Thomistic shoe questions.
Manolo says, here are the few links that may perhaps amuse…
