Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

My husband has surprised me with tickets to see my favorite opera singer, Denyce Graves, in her signature role, Carmen. I have decided to wear my favorite “little black dress,” a vintage wrap dress that was my grandmother’s. Can you help me find the perfect shoes?

Molly

Manolo says, Denyce Graves as Carmen? Ayyyy! Que suerte, what wonderful good luck!

Of the course, whenever one attends the opera the temptation is strong to go beyond simply “getting dressed up” and move into the realm of costuming. The Manolo cannot tell you how many times he has seen buxom blonde women wearing pigtails to see Wagner, or dark-haired women with consumptively pale makeup for La Boheme.

However, it is Carmen that brings out the worst offenders, women who affect Spanish mantillas, and put tall combs in their hair, and the single rose behind ther ear.

Do not do this, unless you are prepared to go the full measure of costuming, by putting your husband into the matador’s traje de luces, the so-called “suit of lights”, with the be-sequined bolero jacket, pink tights, and bullfighting slippers. If you are going to do something silly, do not make it the half measure.

Look, here is the elegant black slingback pump from Christian LaCroix, the shoe with its very own “Flower Song”.

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Barbara Stanwyck!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend Long Island, who was able to get this week’s celebrity straight away.

Manolo says, for those who like to keep up with the exciting world of bridesmaid fashion, Never teh Bride has news, the butt bows have migrated!

Manolo asks, whose shoes?

Manolo says, meets Donatella McScreamy

Here for your Tuesday enjoyment are the incredibly, super fantastically, beautiful peep-toed pumps from the Elie Tahari.

Shoes so gorgeous that they may cause you to desire to strike your mother. (And here the Manolo notes that there are certain idiomatic English phrases that make absolutely no sense, but which sound marvelously evocative, no?)

Manolo says, like the Manolo, you may have heard about the uber-lux, uber-impractical AGA stove, well, so too has the Mr. Henry.

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

Reading…

Watching…

Listening to…

One of the more surprising and pleasurable thing about living in Argentina is the incredible number movies that are shown on the television here in Buenos Aires, dozens each night spread over several different cable channels. Most of these films are the usual Hollywood movies, both recent and classic, shown most often in the original English with the subtitles (although movies dubbed into Argentine Spanish are common enough).

However, also spread among the products of Hollywood are the goodly number of French, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian films, and occasionally, you will see things that are totally unexpected, such as movies from Usbekistan or Hungary (when was the last time you thought of the words “Hungary” and “movies” without also thinking “Gabor”?) shown in their original langues with the Spanish subtitles.

In all, it is most amusing.

Manolo says, our friend Spirit Fingers challenges us to solve the Celebrity Headband Challenge!