OCT
2013
30

Manolo the Columnist: Classic Wellingtons from Hunter

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

Dear Manolo,

With the arrival of fall, I find I need some new rain boots for my weekend outings in the country. What do you recommend?

Alison

Manolo says, there is nothing more satisfying than going out in to the world properly shod, which is why the God invented the shoe closet, because the properly dressed person of style needs many, many shoes for the many, many different occasions and conditions.

By the Manolo’s estimate, the well-dressed lady needs at the least 237 different pairs of the shoes and boots, although if one does much travelling or entertaining, then the number goes up the few dozen. Which is why the task of shoe shopping, like the grocery shopping, is never at the end.

Of the course, one can make do, if one must, with the far few pairs (say, 178) but only if one is prepared to show up at the various events improperly shod.

Happily, when it comes to the wellingtons, the Manolo believes you can get by with only the fifteen or sixteen different pairs. Although, if you absolutely must make do with only one, then there is only one that is worth the recommendating: the original tall boot from Hunter in the original green color. When it comes to standing outside in the rain, generations of horsey-outdoorsy-aristocraticy English women cannot be wrong. Hunter wellingtons are the best.

Hunter Original Tall Wellington

OCT
2013
16

Manolo the Columnist: Vino from Elizabeth and James

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

Dear Manolo,

A recent promotion has convinced me that I need to upgrade my professional wardrobe. The problem, however, is that I have no sense of style. My parents were hippies (sort of) and I find most of the stuff I see in fashion magazines ridiculous. Please help.

Stephanie

Manolo says, much more difficult than developing the distinctively personal fashion style is developing the distinctively personal fashion style that is suitable for the place of employment.

For the example, the jet black, asymmetrical, knee-length, leather jacket from Gareth Pugh you wore to your friend’s art opening (her primary medium is pudding… pudding and Etch-a-Sketch), might not work for your day job as the paralegal in the Law Offices of Stuffy, White and Bois.

Unaccountably, unless you are yourself the artist, or work from home as the independent blogger, as the Manolo does, clients, bosses and co-workers take the dim view of those who dress too far out of the ordinary. It is the sad truth that, in the world of working, the square nail that sticks out gets hammered down into the round hole.

Still, if one has the time and energy, and is devoted to the project, one can develop the personal style that is both exquisite and appropriate to the situation. It is the matter of training one’s eye, by looking closely at the peoples on the street, the clothes in the shops, and the pictures
in the magazines. Like anything that is worthwhile, learning how to dress with style is not easy. Go slowly at first and invest in the quality pieces.

The Manolo says, start with the shoes! Here is the Vino lizard-print leather pumps from Elizabeth and James, sharply distinctive, yet suitable for wearing to the office.

Vino from Elizabeth and James

OCT
2013
04

Manolo the Columnist: Loden from 10 Crosby Derek Lam

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

Dear Manolo,

Thanks to Congress and the President, starting this week, I have a lot free time on my hands. I’ve decided to go shoe shopping. I especially need new tall boots for fall. What do you recommend?

Amy

Manolo says, Ayyyy! To listen to the congress peoples shouting about the government “shutdown”, it is as if the mega-major-super disaster had struck the nation, such as the tsunami, or the big earthquake, or that the volcano had violently erupted in the courtyard of the Smithsonian, burying the entire Capitol Hill in hot lava. (Although, according to the recent opinion poll, the Pompeii-ization of Congress enjoys the hearty approval of 97 percent of the American peoples.)

And this is why the Manolo is the monarchist, because the worst king is better than the best gaggle of politicians.

Imagine how much more pleasant the United States of the America would be if, instead of the incessant politicking, we could all relax, safe in the knowledge that our sovereign was, like Charles the II of England, primarily interested in hunting, wenching, and amateur theatrics.

No longer will we need pay attention to our odious political class, always shouting for our attention and insulting our intelligence. Instead we will have the dignified pomp and circumstance of proper leadership.

And yes, the Manolo has the perfect candidate to be acclaimed our first king; Jay Leno. He is tall, sufficiently genial, and already possessed of the impressive Hapsburg chin. What more is needed?

Here is the Loden from the 10 Crosby Derek Lam, the dramatic, over-the-knee boot that will be the perfect feetwear to usher in our new golden age. Manolo shouts, Long Live the King Jay the First!

Loden from 10 Crosby Derek Lam

OCT
2013
01

Manolo the Columnist: Alicia from Aquatalia by Marvin K

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

Dear Manolo,

Thanks to my job, I’m on the road three weeks out of every four, logging hundreds of thousands of frequent flier miles every year. Worse, I’m in the unenviable position of often having to go straight from the airport into a meeting with a client. Please recommend some shoes that will see me through this ordeal.

Kathryn

Manolo says, call the Manolo old fashionedishy, but the Manolo believes all the business travel should be done exclusively by the locomotive and steamship. Was the world not already sufficiently interconnected in the year 1878, when the great cities of Europe were the mere two weeks away, and places like the Newark International Airport existed only in the dystopian parts of the Jules Verne novel?

As the Manolo’s friend has said, travel is now the ordeal, especially for the business personage, who must cram all of her clothing and toiletries into the tiny rollaboard suitcase, and shove her way through the teeming masses of airport troglodytes in their velvet tracksuits and plastic flip-flops.

How much better it would be if our young commercial traveler could have the porters carry her commodious steamer trunk to her small but clean stateroom, while she takes herself off to the dining saloon for the light repast. Meanwhile, down below, the dock agent is directing the people in the novelty t-shirts and booty shorts into the cramped and dimly-lit section of the boat known as coach class.

Here is the Alicia from Aquatalia by Marvin K. the suede wedge pump that is both comfortable and suitable for businessing.

Alicia from Aquatalia by Marvin K