Manolo says, the Manolo has long been of the opinion that the tall girls should be free to wear the heels, that they should not, either through timidity, or the desire to protect the fragile egos of shorter mens, avoid wearing the super fantastic shoes.

Here, now, is the special case of the tall girl, her short man, and the flat shoes.

Left to right, you see before you, Prince Philip, Carla Bruni, the hotty-ish first French lady, Queen Elizabeth, and Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France.

And here is the reason for Ms. Bruni’s flat shoes…

The Telegraph explains all.

But the biggest gulf between the newlyweds is that the French president is just 5ft 6in tall, while his former model wife stands at a willowy 5ft 11in.

Accordingly she has been wearing flat heels constantly, according to French media reports, and forsaking potentially more fashionably shoes for the sake of Mr Sarkozy’s public image.

The president has, in turn, been wearing a pair of stacked shoes made to make him look two inches taller.

Normally, the Manolo would deplore acquiescing to the societal conventions that say the man should always be taller than his woman, especially when the tall woman in question would be absolutely stunning in beautiful high-heeled shoes.

In this case, however, one can argue that that the flat shoes are almost the matter of state.

P.S. Here is the super fantastic 6’4″ girl who sometimes rocks the heels.

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo says, this week’s Puzzle Corner contains the televised ladies of law enforcement.

Manolo says, the weather has finally turned warm, and that impeccably dressed man who looks vaguely like Derek Jeter has finally, after much hinting on your part, asked you to accompany him to dinner and the concert of jazz trombone at Carnegie Hall.

And while you have your doubts about the concert, this despite his assurances that it will be “off the hook”, you have no doubts about what shoes you will wear: these sleek and streamlined metallic wedge sandals from Botkier.

With luck, the post-concert evening will turn chilly, and he will offer you his coat.

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

Oh, Tory Burch flats. We had a good ride. I got you in February of 2007, and was so excited for your very existence that I wrote a story about it. About you, and me, and how we found each other.

Also, I don’t like peep-toes where you only see one toe; it feels too “my talon, let me show you it,” to me.

Across the parking lot the Crab Shack loudspeaker bellowed “Baker, party of six! Baker, party of six!” Even from 100 yards the air was thick with frying oil. He wanted to shout, “Bakers, save yourselves! Don’t do it!”

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is…

Reading…

Watching…

Listening to…

Typing on…

Normally, the Manolo is not the gadget person, someone who must each week rush out and obtain the latest piece of technological gimcrackery, however, many of the Manolo’s friends have been recommending the tiny little mini-computer, the Asus Eee PC as being suitable for the boulevardier blogger such as the Manolo.

“It is light and small and can be easily fitted into your man bag,” said one helpful friend.

“The Manolo does not have the ‘man bag’. It is the Swaine Adeney Brigg document case!”

“Whatever, it’s perfect for you, Manolo.”

And so the Manolo purchased this little inepensive computer and it arrived yesterday. And now, today, the Manolo is sitting in the cafe, sipping the cappuccino, and blogging to you with his new machine. Yes, the Asus Eee PC is very tiny, and light, and powerful enough to surf the internets, but unfortunately, the keyboard is too small for the Manolo’s thick and inelegant fingers, and this has been terribly frustrating, as the Manolo is the touch-typer of some ability.

The Manolo suspects that he will use this new machine occasionally, but will ultimately rely upon his beloved MacBook.

Although, this objet d’art calls powerfully to the Manolo.

“Buy me, use me, love me,” says its siren song.

Manolo says, here is the most desirable Jimmy Choo patent leather slingback sandal for your Monday evening enjoyment. This is the sort of classic shoe that reminds one that simple elegance is frequently better.

Manolo says, in celebration of the season, the redoubtable Bill Cunningham of the New York Times has a marvelous little video about the springtime shoes seen on the street.

Manolo wishes all of his marvelous and beloved internet friends the most joyous of holidays!

Manolo says, they do it differently in the State of the Lone Starredness!

P.S. Undoubtedly, the delightful Raincoaster will be jealous that the Manolo found this first.

P.P.S. From the Manolo’s friends at Scippican Cottage

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m in the market for some fun, flirty, feminine spring/summer shoes. The only problem is that I have hideous feet. They’re fine in anything with a closed or peep toe, but I feel that sandals show something better left covered up. What would you recommend?

Christine

Manolo says, how the Manolo sympathizes with his many friends who have unsightly feets. Truly it is the curse!

When the weather turns warm after many months of frigidity, your toes wish to run free, manumitted from the leathern prisons in which you have confined them these many months.

But if you have the ugly feets, this cannot happen, for fear that your toes will terrorize the townsfolk.

Yes, it is true, your toes have nothing but good intentions, they mean well, and are not harmful to others; they are just misunderstood. But that will not prevent shouting and angry villagers, armed with pitchforks and torches, from chasing your toes back into their dark hiding places!

Better to avoid this embarrassing scene and keep your monstrous shame safely hidden in closed-toed shoes in festive spring colors.

Look, here is the Rona from Donald J. Pliner, the bright pointy-toed mule that is perfect for wearing with the white cropped pants and the summer tan.

Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s internet friends has asked him the question.

Dear Manolo,

I am a young plant ecologist. I generally trudge around the forest in hiking boots whose original appearance is well disguised by a thick layer of mud. But soon I’ll be presenting at several scientific meetings. I am, of course, terrifically nervous and very anxious to make a good impression on future colleagues. If I am particularly impressive, I may be paid for my work (a novel idea after being an undergraduate for so long). I am having quite a lot of trouble choosing a shoe. You see, I don’t quite fit into a gender. I think “soft butch” describes me well. So what shoes should I choose to wear with my lovely, but almost masculine black suit?

Sincerely,

Suz

The Manolo loves the ungendered peoples of indeterminate gendering, with their girls-will-be-boys-will-be-huh? aesthetic. So wonderfully confusing!

And this story of the Manolo’s friend, it is marvelous. Indeed, it sounds like the Hollywood Indie Comedy, with the ambiguously gendered person living in the Edenic wilderness, with the plants and the hiking boots, who is forced by circumstances to emerge from this sanctuary to save the world from ecological disaster and/or deliver the academic paper.

But first, s/he needs suitable shoes for hir feets!

Luckily, the recent fashion trends, in which many of the best designers have shown masculine shoes for the women, means that there are many handsome shoes suitable for persons of ambiguity.

Behold, the beautifully constructed cap-toe oxford from Gravati!. Yes, it is somewhat costly, but this is the sort of shoe you will have your entire life.

Of the course, living in the forest generally does not pay well (just ask the chipmunks and the dryads), so perhaps the Manolos’ friend would require something slightly less costly, like this simple, handsome shoe, the Cloak from Franco Sarto.