Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, it is so true. Hey, you put the new shoes on, and suddenly everything is right. And you don’t need no excuse for wearing your brand new shoes.

Manolo says, the Times of London has the short article on the life and times of the genius Roger Vivier.

The Queen was crowned wearing Vivier gold kidskin shoes, the heels scattered with garnets. Catherine Deneuve wore Vivier buckle pumps in Belle de Jour, turning them overnight into the iconic must-have shoe that they remain to this
day. Vivier is the man who invented stilettos and the ground-breaking curved “comma” heel. He dressed the feet – shod seems too ugly a word – of everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Sophia Loren. Known as the Fabergé of Footwear, his shoes have been woven into the fabric of fashion history since he was discovered in 1937 by Elsa Schiaparelli. As Claire Wilcox, curator of the V&A’s current show The Golden Age of Couture, puts it, “Vivier’s shoes are like pieces of jewellery setting off the clothes they are paired with. He was traditional and at the same time incredibly modern.”

Vivier died, aged 90, in 1998. But his spirit lives on in a brand that is now stronger than ever, thanks to creative director Bruno Frisoni. In 2001, Frisoni was asked to inject modernity into the rich heritage of the brand. First came sightings of the Belle Vivier buckle pump in fashion magazines. Then, new stores created a frisson of excitement, in Paris in 2004 and London in 2006.

“Our ambition,” says Frisoni, “was to create a brand, not to set up another shoe shop.” An art critic recently argued that Vivier shoes are high art, on a par with a Picasso or a Canaletto.

One does not need to “argue” for this, as if it were the matter of opinion. One need only show the shoes of the Roger Vivier to prove that they are art of the highest sort.

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

Dear Manolo,

The make of shoe I have been wearing for the past seven years is no longer being produced, and I’ve been unable to find a suitable replacement. The trouble is that I wear orthotics, and I have exceptionally wide and flat foot, and despite my best efforts I’ve found nothing that’s comfortable. What would you recommend for me that won’t be prohibitively expensive?

John

Manolo says, in such situations, the Manolo always recommends the custom made shoes, as nothing can compare to the fit of the best handmade shoes. Unfortunately, even the least expensive of these shoes can run to many hundreds of the American dollars.

To the Manolo such costs are justifiable, as nothing makes the Manolo as unhappy as shoes that do not fit well, except perhaps the ugly shoes that do not fit well.

But, others have the more prosaic attitude, and so for these peoples the Manolo would recommend the new Dunham Battery Park Oxford, which are available up to the American size 20 in length, and in the width EEEEEE (that is 6 E’s for those you who have lost count).

This brand Dunham, it is the new sub-brand of the New Balance, whose athletic shoes each morning grace the feets of the Manolo, and so you know they must be good.

Manolo says, but now the question is, did you miss the Manolo?

Manolo says, this post right here, from the brilliant Spirit Fingers, is the very definition of genius. It is why you should be checking the Manolo’s Ayyyy! blog every single day.

Manolo say, ayyyy! The Manolosphere crashed this afternoon! And for several hours all of the Manolo’s various blogs were unavailable to be read by the Manolo’s many internet friends.

Many and profuse apologies for this inconvenience. The Manolo’s web-hosting peoples assure him that it is all fixed now.

Manolo says, ayyyy! Kyra Sedgwick looks ready to elope!

Manolo says, the Manolo’s internet friend Wayne has alerted the Manolo to two pairs of the unusually life-like shoes…

Manolo says, perfect for the beach! And oddly preferable to the fishy Christian Louboutin monstrosities.

And the next shoes are not for the faint of heart..

(more…)

Manolo says, two thoughts: 1) Was this really 25 years ago? 2) Princess Di’s Hairdo! (Sort of!)