Comments on: Beautiful but Expensive

By: Ryno

Ryno — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:15:20 +0000

I love all the interpretations of the Manolo’s “terse” answer. The thing is, it was a yes-or-no question. Many is the time I have asked a yes-or-no question and received neither a “yes” nor a “no” as an answer, although I have received something I can only interpret as somebody’s need to be heard talking about something. Not useful. I then have to ask “So… was that a yes or a no?”

Thank you, Manolo, for setting a shining example of responsiveness.

By: megaera

megaera — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 05:41:16 +0000

In response to Katherine’s comment, part of the reason these shoes are so expensive is that, in many ways, Manolo Blahnik is not just a designer but an artist. He has no interest in building a brand that will outlast him. When he dies (and he has stated this many times), his shoes die. (This hikes up your aformentioned exculsivity by automatically making sure everyone knows that the supply of these shoes will be finite. And we all are aware of how rarity affects supply and demand) Every shoe is designed by him, personally, not by the vice president of heel design. In this, I feel somewhat of a Kantian aesthetic toward Sr. Blahnik’s shoes. Put under glass these shoes would be just as useful as art as they are as shoes on one’s feet. People buy paintings for $600 and reckon them cheap. These shoes give me pleasure (and obviously not just me) just for existing and bringing that much more beauty to the world. So, joy for $600? A bargain at twice the price.

By: Benvenuta

Benvenuta — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:43:36 +0000

I would expect the Manolo we know and love to say “The Manolo is sorry, no.” or something along these lines.

By: GrammaK

GrammaK — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:14:56 +0000

I am going to blaspheme for a moment- I am indifferent to shoes. They do not excite or interest me beyond the utilitarian considerations of fit and cost and marginal attractiveness. But I read Manolo’s blog regularly because he writes wittily and well about his obsession, and I find the writings to be interesting and enjoyable even though I don’t share his fascination with foot coverings.

Manolo, in his writings, is often gently (or not so gently) pointed in his commentary about celebrities and designers. But until this entry, I had never seen Manolo be anything but courteous to his readers. I suspect that his terse reply to the substitute shoe questiont made the reader feel that not only was her question stupid, but that she was stupid for asking. I felt uncomfortable for the reader, and for Manolo as well. “No” may well have been the correct answer, but it wasn’t the right one.

By: Renee

Renee — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:47:17 +0000

… oh please. I am a mom who usually wears Tsubo’s with capri’s and I drive a mini van. But, I can dream can’t I? Those azure blue Blahniks are the stuff of dreams and the Manolo makes me laugh every day as I peruse the lives of the glamorous fashionistas with much amusement on his shoeblog.No means No.It was not meant to be construed as NO! or Nooooo!!!! Stop reading so much into a one word answer and have fun!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 17:21:49 +0000

Have you tried shoefly or endless.com or one of those sites that discounts designer shoes?

By: Manolo's Shoe Blog: Shoes, Fashion, Celebrity, and Manolo!

Manolo's Shoe Blog: Shoes, Fashion, Celebrity, and Manolo! — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 16:48:14 +0000

By: la petite chou chou

la petite chou chou — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 16:35:33 +0000

Exactly what are some of you so upset about?

You didn’t like the Manolo’s response? Was it that he couldn’t (or wouldn’t) locate some crummy knock-off? Because that’s what you would have to find to meet the questioner’s requirements. Bah. Or maybe that isn’t it and you simply don’t like the way he answered? Perhaps then, you might examine yourself to figure out why you are so easily offended by hearing the word “no.” In what world are we living in that a) we want crappy substitutes for proven quality, and b) require everything to be sugar-coated so we don’t feel “offended”?

Everyone who faithfully reads this blog knows that the Manolo has a beautiful personality. I found his answer to be perfect—to the point with humor.

By: Obis Sister

Obis Sister — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:39:45 +0000

Frankly, the color belongs in outer space - no matter how much they cost!

Tag!

By: Style Spy

Style Spy — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:43:21 +0000

On a practical note, I would suggest that the person in love with the beautiful turquoise sandals make friends with a friendly SA at her local NM store, and they will perhaps be able to give you some notice on when the shoes are going on sale. This will give you time to save up the money for them, if you really want to invest. (And I think they would be worth investing in — the value of a great pair of shoes is not only to be found in the dollars-per-wear equation, but also in the inexplicable way they lift the spirit whenever you put them on.) I keep what I call a Luxury Tithe — I skim off 10% of all the money I make and sock it away and that is what I allow myself to use — guilt-free — on extravagant purchases. But I do think that if the reader just holds out for a bit she will be able to find some similar styles at lower price points — this season’s Blahniks are just now reaching the stores, so other companies should be… *echoing* them soon.