Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, here are the few links which may perhaps amuse…

Throngs of women, sweating & pushing & vomiting on one another in a furious race to the choice markdowns.

And I was almost home free — I mean I was literally 20 feet from the elevator that would take us to the parking deck, when I felt it happen.

Then there is the obvious correlation, these are just another pair of freaky hooker shoes.

Manolo says, here it is the last Monday in June and you are still chained to your desk, working for the man every night and day. But the girl can dream, can she not?

And what better way to dream than by thinking of shoes, beautiful shoes from Italian designers in exotic metallic colors, such as these expensive anthracite and gold toe-ring sandals from the Giuseppe Zanotti.

Manolo says, just the other day, the Manolo wrote the following,

The bunion in these fetish shoes belongs to that dreary spotlight hound, the Posh Spice.

You may be assured that if she–the connoisseur of plastic surgery–has not yet had the feet operated upon it is because she has not yet thought it fashionable.

And now comes this news from the Daily Mail.

The scale of Victoria’s painful bunion problem was laid bare recently when she was snapped in a pair of spiked Mulberry sandals. Now a friend of the former Spice Girl tells me: ‘Victoria has had enough of having bad feet and has made some early-stage enquiries about having her rather unpleasant bunions removed.

‘They are causing her a considerable amount of pain, so much so that she thinks the only thing to do is to have surgery. She knows the operation is unpleasant and she will be out of action for a while, but she thinks it may be worth it.

‘It is something she will probably have done in the States when the family is fully settled in LA.’

When I bumped into 33-year-old Victoria recently, she candidly confessed her feet were giving her a headache. ‘I always wear stilettos but they have given me awful feet,’ she said.

‘I hate my feet, they are the most disgusting thing about me. Part of the reason I wear such amazing shoes is to take the eye away from my horrid feet and on to the stunning shoes.’

The Manolo stands corrected.

Manolo says, here are the few links which may perhaps amuse…

Masculine? Tom-boyish? Clunky? Sexy? Read what you like into them…

I bought overalls. And I love them.

So, here’s another find in vegan footwear

Manolo says, the Robin Givhan of the Washington Post has spoken. Heed her wisdom.

Did someone say comfortable? Because this is a culture quick to justify wearing virtually anything in the name of comfort — pajama bottoms as pants, sneakers as business footwear, leggings in lieu of trousers, Uggs with miniskirts — Crocs now rival flip-flops as the most annoyingly omnipresent style of summer footwear. City streets are inundated with shuffling phalanxes of men and women with bright orange, yellow and red Bozo feet.

The shoes can look cute on children. But all those adults walking around in Crocs, going on about how comfortable they are, look like overgrown children. They are like the workday Peter Pans who carry backpacks in the city. Not grown-up leather backpacks, but the kind made of nylon with water bottles stuck inside a web of bungee cords and a canister of Bear Be Gone hanging off the side. They have mistaken their walk to the office for a climb to the summit of the Grand Tetons.

Why, oh why, must people assimilate perfectly reasonable, functional and cheeky sports attire into street clothes? Why couldn’t they keep their Crocs on the boat or in the garden?

Testify, Sister Robin, testify!

If this not enough to convince you that the Crocs are the abominations, perhaps you will listen to the Tim Gunn.

And if the combined weight of the Manolo, the Robin Givhan, and the Tim Gunn do not convince you that the Crocs should be avoided, you are perhaps beyond redemption.

P.S. Many thanks to the Manolo’s internet friends who sent him this important article.

Manolo says, the Manolo’s internet friend Michele at the wonderful blog My Fashion Life has said the nice things about the Manolo’s new work, The Consolation of the Shoes.

The Consolation of the Shoes is a short and sweet illustration of the young Manolo’s love for the shoes. With brief references to some of the most important shoes in history, Manolo comes to a life changing conclusion. It’s a light hearted read and one which I recommend after a stressful day, preferably with a glass of rosé. I felt an odd sense of fulfilment by the end. Definitely a must read…..especially for fellow shoe lovers.

Manolo says, wise words from the soon-to-be-former Prime Minister.

Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed Friday that he had worn the same pair of shoes to his weekly question-and-answer session in parliament since he became the country’s leader.

The shoes in question — an 18-year-old pair of hand-made leather Brogues that have only been re-soled once — were made by Church’s in Northampton, central England.

“I know it’s ridiculous, but I’ve worn them for every PMQs (Prime Minister’s Questions) … I’ve actually had them for 18 years,” Blair told The Times in an interview, adding that “cheap shoes are a false economy.“

The Manolo knew when he saw this picture that the Tony Blair was the fellow shoe lover.

Manolo asks, how are these beautiful Prada ballet flats produced?

This little movie is like the Holy Relic for the Manolo.

P.S. Many thanks to the Manolo’s friends at the Shoeflyer for this.

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m having a big, big birthday this year, and I’m throwing myself a big, big party. I bought a perfect little black dress covered with sequins. I never wear heels, but this dress requires them. So I need festive but comfortable shoes that will go with my fabulous be-sequined dress.

Sarah

Manolo says, it is sad, but once you reach adulthood you can no longer rely upon friends and family to properly celebrate the miracle of your birth.

Thus the Manolo recommends always planning your own birthday party. After all, the chances of being disappointed on the big day are greatly reduced if you have already made all of the arrangements, such as booking the marching band, ordering the roasted giraffe, and inviting the Pope.

The Manolo has long planned his own birthday parties, and his many of his friends now look forward to the two-week-long celebratory “Season of Manolo”, when they gather nightly around their “Manolo Trees”, drinking the traditional mugs of kir royale and singing bawdy songs.

The Manolo recommends for his birthday girl friend the Riogrande by Stuart Weitzman, as being the super fantastic party shoe that marries the sparkly beauty with the practical 2 ¾ inch heel.