Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, here is the inexpensive shoe the Manolo heartily endorses.

Waiting in a winding line for autographs from his favorite NBA player, 15-year-old Brian Cox lifted the lid of a shoebox to show off his synthetic leather high-top sneakers with black sides and blue-and-orange soles.

At a price his mother doesn’t mind — $14.98 — he got his fourth pair of Starburys this week, a sneaker created by New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury. Joanne Cox brought her two teenage sons to Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear after church Sunday for the launch of Marbury’s spring line.

The NBA star “grew up in a poor neighborhood just like we did,” said Cox, who is raising the boys on her own. She says it is not easy on the wages she earns as a city traffic officer, and she has spent thousands on her sons’ shoes over the years. “Now that we got a price of $15, we’re not going higher than that.”

This is the world the 10-year NBA veteran is trying to change with his $15 shoes — a world where parents are pressured to shell out money for expensive sneakers while struggling to pay rent and buy groceries; a world where kids get robbed, shot and strangled over the latest styles. (In January, 10 Detroit middle school students were robbed of their Nike boots and Air Force One sneakers at gunpoint.)

Marbury knows it will take a while to pull off a Michael Jordan impact at a Wal-Mart price. So far, he says, he’s willing to do it one sneaker-crazed teen at a time. Starburys have been holding their own in schools and on basketball courts alongside kicks that cost 10 times as much.

Marbury is so confident of the sturdiness of his shoes that he is wearing them on the court this season. He says his pair is straight off the shelf, with no alterations or enhancements. Chicago Bulls center and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace has also partnered with Steve & Barry’s to release his own inexpensive sneaker — Big Ben — in late August or fall.

As always, the Manolo would recommend the better quality shoes for those who can afford them, but for young peoples of limited means the Starubury sounds like the good choice.

Manolo says, here are the few pairs of the bouncy flats for the springtime which have been greatly marked down at the Shoes.com.

These beautiful brocade flats from the Delman they are 50% off of the regular price, the savings of over $160 of the American dollars!

These golden flowery flats from the Hollywould are also 50% off of the usual price, the savings of over $120 of the American dollars!

Finally, here are the flats from the Givenchy which have been reduced 75%!!! The savings of over $350 of the American dollars!

Yes, all of these beautiful shoes are from the previous season, but to the Manolo they still look just as fresh and as pretty as when they first appeared last year, and at these prices who could complain? Sadly, they are availble in the limited sizes, so hurry to see if they have yours in stock.

Manolo says, these shoes from the Sergio Rossi are beautiful and very much worth the wearing, however, to the Manolo’s eye they have two minor defects.

The first is the ridiculous name, the Glam Boat, which sounds to the Manolo like the second-rate cruise line, perhaps one that sails the waters off of Atlantic City. The second is the little tassle which depends from the instep. It is distracting, and adds nothing to the line of this fine shoe.

So, the Manolo recommends removing the tassle, and then calling the shoes whatever you wish, perhaps something like the “Sergio’s Super Fantastic Silvery Shoe”.

Even better, you may make these changes more cheaply than usual, as this shoe is currently 40% off of the usual price, the savings of $220 of the American dollars.

Manolo says, these understated and westerny suede boots from the Michael Kors would be perfect to wear with your flouciest skirt to go “whooping it up” with the sunburned cowboy whom you met at the feed store that had the special on the cat chow.

Even better, they are on the sale, 44% off of the usual price, the savings of almost $250 of the American dollars!

Manolo says, you must go read the most amusing sample sale adventures of the Claire at the Fashion Bomb blog. Be certain to scroll down to read about the sample sale of the Maestro Manolo Blahnik.

Manolo says, here is the beautiful pair of the super fantastic, spangly, star-fishy sandals from the Casadei which are on the sale! 60% off of the usual price, the savings of over $400 of the American dollars!

Manolo says, the Manolo he reminds you that the best bargains they are to be found out of the season, and although it is swelteringly hot, the autumn it is coming.

Here are the beautiful pair of the suede Stuart Weitzman boots suitable for wearing when the night begin to turn chilly. Even the better, they are on the sale, 50% off of the regular price, the savings of over $240 of the American dollars!

Manolo says, this sandal from the Isaac Mizrahi it would be perfect for wearing to the summery afternoon garden party, perhaps with the nice sun dress.

Even the better, it is on the sale, 55% off of the regular price, the savings of nearly $100 of the American dollars!

Manolo says, these attractive shoes from the Isaac Mizrahi, which come in the wide variety of the colors and the materials, they are on the sale! Nearly 60% off of the regular price, the savings of over $140 of the American dollars.