Ayyyy!
Thursday, May 8th, 2008Manolo asks, who says there are no good roles for aging actresses? Certainly not Isabella Rossellini!
Archive for May, 2008
Is the Fashion Press to Blame?
Thursday, May 8th, 2008Manolo says, the Manolo’s indispensable internet friend Lesley of the Fashion Tribes has posted her thoughts on the most intriguing panel discussion at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Here is the excerpt.
In his opinion, since no one in the audience - comprised mostly of students - was dressed in a way that remotely resembled a fashion editorial, magazines were obviously out-of-touch and irrelevant. Galanos heartily concurred, and according to his extremely narrow-minded and dated definition of what can be considered “fashion,” anything fantastic but unwearable that walks down a runway is to be considered an exercise in self-discovery rather than fashion. Michael Fink noted that from his perspective as a retailer, he needs to focus on what sells. Sadly, there were neither actual women nor members of the press invited to participate, despite being the market in question and the apparent cause of the demise of modern fashion.
The fact is, in this age of too many trends, designers, and choices, the fashion press is the very reason why fashion remains vibrant and interesting to women.
Editors and fashion writers address this overload of information by sifting, editing, and curating what’s worth putting in your closet. […]
In addition, “unwearable” clothing and editorial spreads feed into the fantasy element of fashion: yes, it’s a business, but it’s one founded upon creativity, both of the designer, and of the wearer as a means of their self expression. “Crazy” clothes fuel people’s imagination, spark ideas, and, ultimately, help keep fashion interesting, aspirational, and in demand.
This point is exactly correct, that yes, much of that which is sent down the runway is unwearable by anyone other than the 14-year-old Belorussian anorexics, but the process of presenting such fantasy clothes does much to shape and reshape our perceptions of what is beautiful.
Query: Are the designers out of touch because they present clothing that cannot be worn by ordinary women?
Answer: In truth this question cannot be answered without specific context; without making reference to both the specific designer and the specific runway show. And even then out-of-touchness is not absolute; there are degrees, and thus the most obtuse show usually contains elements which are worthy of our attention, just as the most mundane may miss that quality which makes it relevant to the current cultural moment.
Query: Are the fashion magazines out of touch because they feature clothing that cannot be worn by ordinary women?
Answer: No. The fashion magazines have the dual mandate, to please readers and to please advertisers. And while there is some tension between these two goals, the Manolo suspects that this tension is less than many peoples imagine.
Query: Why do fashion magazine show us gangly, Ukrainian middle-schoolers in Dior couture?
Query: Why do car magazines spend enormous amounts of time reporting on test drives and specifications of exceedingly expensive and exotic super cars?
Answer: For the same reason, because we are entertained and motivated by such images. And because we aspire to have beautiful things (clothes, cars, homes, art) that reflect what we perceive as our inner persons. The magazines do not create this desire–as it is inherent in all of us–instead they merely seek to shape and direct our desires towards that which its editors value and advertisers wish us to acquire.
Query: Is the Manolo out of touch because he asks his readers to admire beautiful but perhaps unwearable shoes?
Answer: No. The goal of the Manolo at his humble shoe blog is to entertain and to educate, to share with his readers that which the Manolo loves the most, beautiful shoes.
Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Manolo asked, whose shoes?
Manolo answers, it is the Janice Dickinson!
Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Paula in Ohio who was the first to correctly guess this week’s cuckoo nutty celebrity.
The Divine Beverly Feldman
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Manolo says, here is the amusing article about the Manolo’s shoe designing friend Beverly Feldman.
Beverly Feldman is many things. Internationally renowned shoe designer. Dog lover. World traveler. The one thing she’s not?
“A person of moderation,” she says with a sly giggle.
And she wouldn’t have it any other way. This is a woman who believes diamonds should be worn during the day.
Women over 50 should be single and loving it. And that, “if you’re not born attractive, God, make yourself attractive.”
At 5 feet 4 inches, she’s petite in stature but big on opinions. She’s fabulous with a capital “F.” We found her to be nothing but delightfully fun and her bravado extraordinarily refreshing.
Although she’s not on par with Manolo or Louboutin in terms of name recognition - or pricing - Feldman has found other ways to connect with her audience. Can you imagine Mr. Blahnik writing a blog?
That question made the humble Manolo the shoe blogger laugh out loud.
Didn’t think so; but Feldman does. Her entries, available through her Web site, www.beverlyfeldmanshoes.com, give you insight into her whirlwind world.
Feldman’s designs have adorned the feet of women for 30 years.
When the now 61-year-old fashionista was starting out, she attached the tagline “Too much is not enough.” It’s a philosophy Feldman adheres to in all facets of life.
And this is exactly what the Manolo appreciates about the Beverly Feldman shoes, this spirit of exuberant excess.
Look here is the Silvanna, the gloriously bejeweled flat sandal from the Divine Miss Beverly.
Ayyyy! Puzzle Corner
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Manolo says, the Manolo has been feeling so under the weather, that he forgot to post the link to this week’s Monday Puzzle Corner, which is the real shame, because this week, Spirit Fingers has out did herself, by giving us us the hairy chested he-men.
Arabesque!
Monday, May 5th, 2008Manolo says, it is Monday, and the Manolo has the sinus infection that has left him unable to face the world with equanimity and good cheer. But, despite his painful infirmity, he has crawled to his computer to show you this…
Beautiful Capretto Arabesque thong sandals from Prada. Gorgeous, no?
And, while we are speaking about the arabesque, the Manolo gives you these delicate beauties…
These understated and so perfectly refined flat sandals are from Dior. Again, gorgeous.
The Manolo Week in Review
Sunday, May 4th, 2008Manolo says, here is the best of the week from the Manolosphere.
All these people who are screeching in outrage at the photo above of a “naked” Miley Cyrus need to step back for a second and take a deep Zen breath.
Congratulations Mariah, I don’t know too much about your new husband but may he bring you more bliss than a rainbow-soaked field of dolphins being held aloft by butterflies ever will!
Men’s jackets already have shoulder-padding, so why not some, er, rear-guard action
¡Oh, diosa! ¡Oh, grande! ¡Oh, Bundchen!
One doesn’t want to natter on about the Good Old Days before one was born (too much) because they were oppressive and hypocritical and full of ugly, synthetic garments and hostility towards the people who supply the toys for our Happy Meals and our mail order babies.
I am all for looking gorgeous and luscious and va-va-voom, but I find just as there is a fine line between stupid and clever there is also a fine line between sexy and blowzy.
As she does every year at springtime, Mrs. Henry once again announced her resolve to move back to California. When asked just why she feels this compulsion, she responds opaquely, “Wouldn’t you prefer to live in California?” as if such sentiment were self-evident to anyone with half a wit.
This swimsuit makes Francesca want to become an Angel of the Charlie.
This is precisely why I always advocate choosing furnishings and color schemes that have something of a timeless quality
Todo mundo sabe que el perro es el mejor amigo del hombre y por eso en la mayoría de las ocasiones es la especie elegida para ser ese compañerito que te espera en casa después de un largo día de trabajo o una decadente fiesta.
Adoro esos tacones de Valli con esos colores tan intensos y que me dicen de las botas de Gucci, que me recuerdan a los botos rocieros de las monterías andaluzas (calzado muy español, de Valverde del Camino - Huelva) y si no veánlo uds.
Tales of other peoples’ disasters tend to be a lot more entertaining than concentrating on your own miseries, after all. It feels good to be able to point and laugh and say ‘better someone who isn’t me than me.’ I’m not proud of it, no, but there it is.
The Fab Crush Interview
Friday, May 2nd, 2008Manolo says, the kind peoples at the Fab Crush blog have done the short interview with the Manolo. Here is the excerpt.
We like Manolo’s Gallery of The Horrors. If he had to choose one of the worst Shoe Crimes, which one would it be?The Croc; with out the doubt , the Croc. It represents all that is evil about the modern world; the ugly, cheap plastic object that infantilizes the wearer and abuses the eyes of the beholder. They are peasant clown shoes, for clownish peasants.
Naturally, you must go read all of this.
