Manolo says, apparently, Daniel is not the only Day-Lewis with the intense love of the beautiful shoes, for the past 35 years his sister Tamasin, the celebrity chef, has bought ONLY the shoes of the Maestro Manolo Blahnik

When did Manolo become a habit, an obsession, a loyalty? Is it odd that, since that first pair of purple shoes, I have never bought a pair of shoes anywhere else? Manolos have seen my feet through everything. I have climbed to the top of Mweelrea, the mountain behind my house in County Mayo, in a pair of bitter-chocolate-brown ponyskin desert boots, which my children loved and stroked until they were bald. Yes, I have wellington boots, but the perverse pleasure in being the only person ever to stride out across the bog and climb Mweelrea in Manolos was irresistible. They have accompanied me everywhere, on all occasions, and made light of the good and the bad times. I can never really afford them, but, I tell myself, I can’t afford not to have them, and many a heartbreak has been assuaged, or a crisis defused, by a spur-of-the-moment trip to Old Church Street. Contrary though it may seem, I often end up buying a pair when I am most broke, for after the initial guilt comes renewed optimism and the satisfying, if scrambled, logic that they are an investment, that they will give you pleasure, the next best thing to happiness.

It is so true, this ability of beautiful shoes to make us happy.

Beautiful, beautiful shoes…

We re-invent ourselves as much through our shoes as through our clothes. Pregnant with my first daughter, Miranda, I loathed the drop-waisted tents and elasticated trousers that turned glowing young womanhood to instant matron. I ran to Manolo. Draw the eye to the ankles and away from the middle, I thought. The Schiaparelli-pink peep-toes with their soft leather bow and kitten heels were the business. I remember Bernard Levin, whom I was producing in a series of television interviews at the time, staring open-mouthed, failing even to notice that I was pregnant. ‘Look at your feet,’ he said. ‘They’re the most beautiful shoes I’ve ever seen.’

And beautiful boots….

You need to take out a second mortgage to buy Manolo Blahnik boots, but the thing is they can last for decades. In fact, my honey suede riding-boots are moulded to my feet, patched and re-soled and all the chicer for it, and will live another decade if the cobbler can still cobble them. They are as comfortable as Clint Eastwood in the saddle and look better than they ever did new. But the most coveted by all who set eyes on them are my knee-length tapestry boots. They lay at the back of the cupboard for a decade until I took them to New York the past few winters and was stopped on the street every time. ‘Gee, are those boots vintage?’ everyone asked. Yes, I replied, vintage Manolo, not knowing when old becomes vintage becomes antique, but impressing the teenagers and young women who stopped and stared and wondered where they could buy them.

The Day-Lewises, truly they understand the beauty of shoes!

Manolo says, here is something bright and cheery with which to begin your Thursday, the red snakeskin pumps from the Maestro Manolo Blahnik.

If this does not get your day off to the good start, nothing will.

Manolo says, while the Manolo was away from his computer enjoying his Friday night, many of the Manolo’s internet friends were debating what the Manolo meant by his terse reply to the question about the Manolo Blahnik sandals.

Some peoples have interpreted the simple “no” as the rude and condescending rebuke to the questioner. Some have compared it to the reply of the zen master.

In the fact, it was the direct, if somewhat brusque admission that it would be impossible for the humble shoeblogger to find the shoe for any price that closely approximated the color, shape, and detail of these magnificent and unusual Blahnik sandals, much less for under $100 of the American dollars.

The Manolo is only the simple man who loves the shoes, not the magician.

Why, you may ask, can the Manolo not find the bargain basement knockoff of these shoes?

The reasons are legion. First, the teal-turquoise color of the Blahniks is unusual.

Currently, by the Manolo’s count, there are 227 “blue” high-heeled sandals at the Zappos. Now, please go look at these 227 shoes and note how many of them are close in color to this Blahnik teal.

How many did you find? One dozen?

Here is the closest match in terms of the color.

On the right is the Constance by Nine West, the shoe that costs the mere $63.

Yes, it appears to be the same color as the Blahnik, but this is only because of the infidelity of reproduction of the computer display. The Manolo guarantees that if this shoe were put next to the teal Blahnik in real life, you would be ashamed to have thought it was the same color.

It is made of some synthentic man-made plastic, and so how could it possibly have the richness and depth of color achieved only in the finest of satins?

However, even if we do find the color match, we must then address the braiding of the back strap. This detail is not just pretty, but it is also very rare.

There are approximately 7,200 high heeled dress sandals in the inventory at the Zappos. The Manolo has not looked at all of them, but he can tell you that in the 2,000 he has looked at there is no braided back strap.

Combine the teal color with the braided back strap, two details which the Manolo’s internet friend particularly praised, and you see that it is impossible to find something similar for any price.

In truth, truly beautiful shoes are inimitable.

It is not just the color, or the materials, or even the individual details, but the totality that produces this beauty. And this is ultimately what justifies the high price.

Look again at the Manolo’s discussion of the Prada which seemed to imitate the Louboutin

Even the untrained eye can clearly see how the Prada looks common next to the exalted Louboutin. Both use the best Italian leather, and are assembled by the best Italian craftsmen, but one is so very much better than the other.

This difference is the hand and soul of the designer.

And it is why sometimes the best answer is the simple “no”.

Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s internet friends has just asked the Manolo the question about these most beautiful shoes of the Maestro Manolo Blahnik.

Hi! I’ve just come across these beautiful sandals at Neiman Marcus, but the price is extremely harsh. The color’s awesome, so are the braiding details - I love them. Do you happen to have any recommendations about where to find similarly gorgeous sandals for under $100?

No.

Manolo says, in honor of the Maestro’s potential entry into the wilds of the blogosphere, the Manolo the Shoeblogger gives you this pair of the sweetly savage Maestro Manolo Blahnik mary jane zebra pumps.

Manolo says, ayyyyyyyy! This is perhaps the most wonderful internet news of all time!!!

FASHION is increasingly turning to the internet for inspiration. Manolo Blahnik has now announced the launch of his website, www.manoloblahnik.com , which he will update regularly with his thoughts, plans and information on store openings, to keep customers in-the-loop with all things feet-chic. “The new site will update Manolo Blahnik aficionados all over the world with his work by highlighting the season’s top shoes and giving an overview of the collection,” says a company spokesperson. The site, which launches this week, will also include a biography of the infamous designer, a comprehensive news section and a listing of all worldwide boutiques. We’ve only got one complaint though, Mr. Blahnik: we can’t snap up your heels online, and we’re hoping this service will be added to the site as soon as possible - so step to it!

When Maestro officially starts his blog, the humble Manolo the Shoeblogger can finally close down his, safe in the knowledge that he has been eclipsed by the superior being.

Manolo says, finally, it has happened! The internet is now complete!

The website of the Maestro Manolo Blahnik has arrived on the interwebs!

ManoloBlahnik.com

Hurry! Go look at it! You will not be disappointed.

Manolo says, it is Saturday, and Stavros has pointed the yacht to Mykonos. Your irresistible companion tells you that this means everyone on board will soon be dancing until dawn at the discos.

What will you wear?

Manolo says, here is the heartwarming and amusing story of the young woman’s first pair of the Manolo Blahniks.

When he got back, he took off my Isaac Mizrahi for Target shoe (Hey! It’s bargain basement, but still designed by Isaac Mizrahi, so I wasn’t embarrassed. Much.) and slipped the Manolo on my foot. I felt like motherfrickin’ Cinderella up in that piece!!!! That shoe felt like butter. It conformed to my foot, y’all. Oh. my. God. I actually closed my eyes and had a shoegasm. It was a religious experience. Sarai started talking and Vic actually shushed her because he could see that I was having a moment.

This made the Manolo the Shoeblogger laugh out loud.

P.S. From the Manolo’s internet friend Meimei