Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, from the Manolo’s internet friend the Triticale, comes this…

The picture of the John Fluevog’s sweet, sweet whip.

Here is the description from the Fluevog website..

T’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! IT’S A DRAWING ROOM ON WHEELS! Well, she was a rusted-out hulk, ready for the scrapyard. Somehow, the Jaguar MK 10 that Sigurd Fluevog bought, back in 1965, had fallen into such egregious disrepair that any sensible person would write her off, without a second thought. But true Car Guys, like John and his late Dad, have a special kind of X-Ray vision that enables them to see the glory within (it works on people, too). Faced with the choice to scrap the classic or bring her back to life, John of course took the Fluevog route and committed to fully restoring this lost beauty, better than new. In the process, he couldn’t resist getting out his sketchbook and ended up completely redesigning the car, inside and out. The frame was rebuilt; a V-8 engine was installed; the interior was transformed, the roof was lowered (think about that for a second: he chopped a classic Jaguar!). Two years and a whole lot of body work later, the world has one of the most original Fluevogs ever to strike the street (watch your local motorways - this automotive angel could descend upon a thoroughfare near you). You can’t miss it - she’s the car with the stitching on the side and Mister Vog behind the wheel. The one that almost looks like it could have come out of a Fluevog bag. All this is a very simple key to understanding John’s mind: when he’s drawing a shoe, he’s thinking about a car; when he’s drawing a car, he’s thinking about a shoe. It’s the Fluevog Continuum.

You must go to the wonderful-crazy Fluevog site and see the other pictures.

Manolo says, the long-time internet friends of the Manolo will remember his internet friend the Debutaunt, who has been fighting the serious illness.

Now, from the Debutaunt and her sister comes news of something we can do to celebrate the Day of the Mother. Register with the National Marrow Donor Program.

Starting May 7th the National Marrow Donor Program is typing people for free!

In an effort to help all patients in need, the National Marrow Donor Program kicks off its national Thanks Mom Marrow Donor Drive on Monday, May 7, with a goal of adding 20,000 new donors to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry in two weeks. Thanks Mom will run May 7-21 and sponsor free marrow donor drives online at marrow.org and in more than 350 cities nationwide.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60, in good health and willing to help any patient is eligible to join, free of charge, from May 7 - 21, at a donor drive in their city or by registering online.

This is emphatically the good cause.

Manolo says, To the many internet friends of the Manolo who read this humble shoe blog, the Manolo gives you his undying affection, and fervently wishes you the most super fantastic holiday of love. Truly, you are the Manolo’s most special Valentines!

Manolo says, once again, the Maestro Manolo Blahnik proves why he shall forever and eternity be our hero, he is simply the most witty, gracious, and charming person.

The word “y’all” comes with hesitation.

Manolo Blahnik sounds it out.

“Yaaaawwwl.”

If he practiced enough, he’d master a Southern drawl someday.

But not today.

“My biggest dream is to talk like a Southern person,” Blahnik says as he settles into a cozy chair at Neiman Marcus in Houston. He blots a trickle of sweat from his face and lets out a faint sigh.

“I need an aspirin. I have a headache,” he says, sweeping his hand across his forehead.

“I was in London on Monday, Atlanta on Tuesday, now Houston. I’m just crazy. I’m 63 years old, you know. I’m no spring chicken!”

[…]

On this day, hundreds of women have lined the shoe department at Neiman Marcus to have a moment with the designer. He signs the soles of their shoes, one by one, with pleasure.

“I’m so glad I don’t have high heels on,” he says laughing.

One woman kicks up her black patent-leather ankle boot. “I don’t know why they like this shoe, but they do,” Blahnik said. If anything, he’s without ego and shies from a chance to promote himself or his shoes.

Another woman shows him color photographs of her 80-pair collection.

“Now, that’s far too many shoes for anyone to own,” he said.

He signs the shoe, smiling.

Charm and graciousness, qualities in short supply in the modern world, but which our Maestro has in abundance.

Manolo says, what to get the person who has everything?

Perhaps the drink coasters that remind you of just how special you truly are.

Or maybe the hoodie with the Manolo’s favorite interjection.

There are many more such items available for the holiday shopping at the Manolo’s Shoe Blog Shoppe.

Manolo says, perfect for the coffee-swilling fashionista on your Xmas list!

Manolo shouts, Happy Voting Day!!!

Here are some appropriate shoes for the super fantastic girl who will today do her civic duty by voting.

Manolo says, not every person agrees with the suggestion the Manolo made in his most recent column.

Your suggestion that $449 shoes would be an appropriate accessory for a Halloween costume demonstrates that you don’t know your readers and don’t take their questions or pocketbook constraints seriously. Very few of your readers would be willing to spend $449 on any pair of shoes, let alone a pair which is meant to be worn for one night only. Sabrina the sexy witch would have benefited from a realistic recommendation in the realm of $50. Spending more than that on a Halloween costume, let alone breaking triple digits, would be an irresponsible move for even the classiest of Halloween revelers. The readers of your Express column are taking public transportation and picking up a free newspaper. We’re not cheap, but you can bet we will never, ever spend $449 on shoes. Your recommendation was ludicrous, wholly unhelpful, and a tad insulting to someone who wrote to you genuinely seeking fashion advice.

Kate

Ayyy! Many apologies to the Kate.

It was not clear in the column, but it was the intention of the Manolo to recommend boots which could be worn proudly long after the Halloween was over.

These boots by the Charles David they are not costumey. They are handsome and edgy, the sort of boot which almost any super fantastic woman, the sexy witch or no, would be most happy to wear.

As for the matter of the cost. The Manolo will admit that the $449 of the American dollars is the not inconsiderable sum. However, as the long-time internet friends of the Manolo know, the Manolo believes that one should never wear the cheap shoes.

Indeed, it has been the experience of the Manolo that the $50 boots are not even worth that amount. Here for the example is the pair of the $50 boots available for purchase at the Zappos.

Yes, when you first see these boots, at the distance, sitting on the shelf at the Meglo-Mart, they appear to be attractive.

As you approach, however, you will notice that they are not made of the leather, but of something which is euphemistically called the “man-made material”, the abhorrent combination of the plastic and the cardboard recycled from the discarded juice boxes and colored with the carcinogenic dyes.

This material, it will not breathe properly and will undoubtedly give you persistent toenail fungus.

Worse, because these shoes have been assembled in Myanmar by pre-pubescent workers chained to the sewing machines, they will not fit properly. (If you do not believe the Manolo, read the reviews at the Zappos.)

Trust the Manolo, there are few things that will sour your experience as the sexy witch faster than the unsightly cankles. You will attempt to be all Serena, but will end up looking like the Broomhilda.

It is the simple fact that the well-made and handsome shoes–shoes which make their wearers stand taller, walk straighter, and feel better about themselves–cost money, but it most of the cases is the money well-spent.

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

Dear Manolo,

How do you walk gracefully in a pair of beautiful high heels? I’ve never learned to walk in them because I always thought I was too tall until I started reading your column. But when I try to walk in them or even stand up in them, I resemble an ungainly water buffalo, and it is very hard to stay upright. Please help!

Thank you,

Kim

How does one get to the Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.

But in seriousness, the Manolo cannot enough recomend simply putting the shoes on the feets and striding out into the world, and doing this over and over again until the walking in the heels becomes the second nature.

However, if more guidance is needed, you may perhaps try walking like the native American scout, smoothly, heel-to-the-toe, while swinging the arms for balance and keeping the toes pointed to the front.

Start with the chunky heeled shoes for the balance and then move to the stilletos once you have mastered the basic stride.

Soon, with the practice you will be able to walk confidently in shoes like these beautiful open-toed pumps from the Giuseppe Zanoti.