Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, after much agonized deliberation the Manolo has picked the winner of the third Build the Outfit Contest, and it is the LaMaria!

Here is how she described the reasoning behind her choices.

Like some of you have mentioned, these seem like fall shoes but the current season and the open toe would suggest summer, so I tried to lighten up the look with complementary earth mama tones. I wanted the pants to pick up the color of the silvery rhinestones on the shoes and to minimize the tweedy look by using a variety of textures.

Picking the winner of this week’s contest was difficult, there were so many excellent entries.

However, as the Manolo watched the entries arrive over the course of the week, it was apparent that some things worked much better than others. The first was that these shoes were perfect for the cropped pants. The second was that the accessories would have to in some way highlight the rhinestones in these otherwise conservative shoes.

By the way, the Manolo must now praise the designer Laura on the rhinestone addition, these two little details are what make the shoe work for the Manolo, for they take what would be the otherwise overly subdued shoe, of tweed and brown, and give it the sparkle of life.

The LaMaria’s choice of scarf, purse, and bangle all complement the shoes in color and bling, while the pants and top are clean and spare and classical in line, and thus in perfect keeping with feeling of the shoes. Ultimately, though, it is the choice of accessories which make this whole outfit sing.

So, congratulations to the LaMaria! The Manolo knows dozens of the famous stylists who could not have done half as well when presented with the shoes such as this.

For her prize, the LaMaria will receive the pair of shoes from the Al-Amirah. This is certain to be the difficult choice for her as there are many beautiful shoes to be seen here.

Manolo says, the Manolo reminds you that his weekly Build the Outfit Contest is continuing at his Super Fantastic Forums.

Even if you do not participate you must go look at the marvelous entries which the Manolo’s internet friends have been submitting. Many of these outfits are better (and much more affordable) than those put together by the celebrity stylists for the supposed benefit of their clients.

Also, do not forget that this week the prize to the winner is the pair of shoes from the Al-Amirah, shoes which you would most happy to have and wear regularly.

Manolo says, once again the Manolo is impressed by the level of creativity and attention to detail shown by his internet friends for the Manolo’s weekly Build the Outfit contest.

Look here is the shoe, the Lala by the wonderful Al-Amirah, around which the outfits must be built.

As the regular reader of the Manolo you of the course know perfectly well what to wear with these shoes, but your timidity has prevented you from joining the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums and posting your entry.

The Manolo says, do not be afraid. The Manolo Super Fantastic Forum is the friendliest place on the interwebs, reflecting perfectly the civilized and gentle behavior of the average Manolo’s Shoe Blog reader. Here you would be among friends.

Also, the Manolo should mention that the winner of this week’s contest receives the gift certificate for the pair of shoes from the Al-Amirah catalog! The handsome Lala could be yours by the end of the week!

Manolo says, it is time once again to play Build the Outfit!

This time, the challenge is the opposite of the first week, which was then to build the outfit that would go with the exceedingly colorful and expensive shoes.

This week, the Manolo asks you to build the outfit to go with the more restrained and affordable shoe, the Lala from the Al-Amirah, the classic peep-toe, ballet flat.

The best part of this contest is the prize, the Laura Vanderhook the designer has graciously provided the gift certificate for one pair of the shoes from the Al-Amirah catalog.

So, rush off to the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums and post your outfit there. At the end of the week, the Manolo will award the prize to what he thinks is the best one.

Manolo says, because this is the short week for the Americans, the Manolo has decided to not run the Build the Outfit contest this week. It shall return next week, with the new challenge for the Manolo’s amateur stylist friends.

In the meanwhile, there are many amusing conversations about outfit building in the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums.

Manolo says, after much deliberation (for there were several excellent entries), the Manolo has finally selected the winner of his second Build the Outfit contest, and it is the Manolo’s internet friend Beth, who submitted this entry…

Here is what the Beth had to say about her entry.

I love the new silver trend that’s been popping up, so I decided to draw that silver out of the shoes and keep the accessories focused on that in order to calm down the pattern in the dress.

And she accomplished this goal marvelously.

For the Manolo, this entry was wonderfully unexpected. He would not have imagined that the outfit with the bold pattern and the handkerchief hemline would have worked with these shoes, but as soon as he saw it he knew that it would work beautifully.

So, congratulations to the Beth!

Manolo says, there is now less than 24 hours remaining to compose your fabulous out fit and submit it for judgement. The place to do so is the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums, which if you have not already joined you are missing out on the very amusing conversations, with titles such as “The Madness is Spreading” and “Mr. Henry, ou etes-vous?”

Hurry!

Manolo says, the Manolo reminds his internet friends that the latest iteration of the Build the Outfit contest is taking place in the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums. This is the difficult challange to build the budget outfit to go with the luxurious shoes. Of the course, the prize, the $100 gift certificate from the Zappos is not inconsiderable.

Go now and participate. It is fun!

Manolo says, many wonderful entries have already arrived at the Manolo’s Forums for the latest version of the the Manolo’s Build the Outfit contest, in which the erstwhile amateur stylist must put together the outfit to go with these Celine ankle strap pumps.

If you have not already registered at the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums and submitted your entry, go do so now, as on Friday, the Manolo will announce the winner of the $100 gift certificate from Zappos.