Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

I just purchased a Max Azria jersey knit wrap dress to wear during an upcoming trip to Ireland. It has ¾ length sleeves and is black with a green and white print. My question is, can I wear this dress with knee high boots during the early spring?

Leslie

Manolo says, Max Azria and Ireland! Truly, this is the combination the Manolo has never considered.

But then, the Manolo’s mental image of Ireland is firmly planted in the distant and picturesque past of red-headed peoples in tweed who carry the shillelaghs in one hand and the pints of Guinness in the other.

Of the course, the new Ireland is the dynamic and modern place where digitally-savvy immigrants from foreign lands mingle with the natives in the fancy gastro-pubs serving nouvelle Irish cuisine, like corned-kobe and bok choy.

Even Irish fashion has begun to make its mark, with designers like Pauric Sweeny, Margaret O’Leary, and the shoe designer Eileen Shields, whose main store is in the Old City part of Dublin, and is well worth the visit.

Natrually, you will need the boots to outfit you before your Irish shopping expedition, and so the Manolo recommends the Connie from Bruno Magli. It is simple, elegant, beautiful and eminently wearable.

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m a new stay-at-home mom living in the suburbs and I need a good shoe to go with my new lifestyle. In the summer, there are lots of chic flats and sandals, but here in the middle of winter I’m at a loss. Please help.

Allison

Manolo says, it is true, before the birth of the first child, you were the footloose and free fancy young person with the time and energy to do as you pleased. Now, after the arrival of your joyful bundle, your movements are restricted, you have not had the full night’s sleep in months, and all of your cashmere sweaters have spots of baby vomit on the shoulders.

Still, you are committed to dressing in the old way, if only so you can wash your habitual sweat suit and feel like the human, and not the dairy animal, once again.

But, as we know, the suburban mothers have their uniform, as surely as the downtown girls do. Thus the trick is to be casual, and yet also more stylish than the other “ladies who are lunch (for someone small)”.

Look here is the Cove from Ugg, the fun boot that stands out from the crowd.

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

Dear Manolo,

I am a young professor. My campus is hilly, the winters are brutal, and the laptop and books I lug to class are very heavy. Is there a pair of black winter boots out there for me? They have to withstand the long walks and the winter storms. They have to look good with black pants. And they should convey innate authority while subtly reminding the world that even professors can be super-fantastic.

Thank you,
No Corduroy Patches

Ayyyy, winter! Is it over yet?

It is no secret that the Manolo is the fan of the La Candadienne boots for the bad weather wearing, especially if one must maintain some level of decorum and professional appearance, even while tromping through the arctic tundra of the frozen northern campus.

And so the Manolo would recommend one of the following two boots as being suitable for his patchless friend.

Here is the Terry from the La Canadienne the retro-stylish, low-boot that is supposedly impervious to the elements. This is the sort of boot that one can wear profitably under the black-on-black urban chic pants.

If the Manolo’s friend were to broaden her wardrobe, with the addition of skirts and tights, the tall boot would be more appropriate.

This is the Katrina from the La Canadienne, which like the Terry is reputedly weatherproof.

Of the course, the Manolo is assuming that his friend is employed at the place where the bulk of the snow is removed by the appropriate authorities, thus allowing her to wear the heels.

If it is otherwise, where the ice and snow accumulate until the first thaw, and the hills are Himalayan in aspect, the Manolo would recommend something more technological in nature, with stout laces and perhaps crampons.

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the incomparable Loretta Lynn!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend K, who was the first to correctly guess the answer.

Manolo says, many of the Manolo’s internet friends have asked the Manolo to post the pictures of Faye Dunaway in the yellow, feathery, knee-high boots, and in the outfit with the PanAm logo.

The Manolo points you to these images, which you will view at your own peril…

The PanAm Bag

Yellow Boots One
Yellow Boots Two

Manolo, says here are the toasty-warm-looking knee high boots from Kors by Michael Kors that are selling at the deep discount of 40% off of the usual price, the savings of nearly $200 of the American dollars.

Even better, order them now and the Zappos will deliver them on the day after Christmas, just in time to wear to the mall for the day of returns/sales.

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

Dear Manolo,

I am 13 and I have a boot crisis. I want to wear boots to middle school, but I don’t have much money to spend, just $60 or $70. I like tall boots, preferably in a brown or hazel-ish color and with flat heels.

Sophie

Manolo says, the Manolo commends his young friend on her fashion sense and her desire to look stylish while she suffers the multifold emotional travails of middle school.

However, as always, the Manolo must note that it is exceedingly difficult to find decent boots for less than $150 of the American dollars.

Yes, there are many so-called boots available in the lowest price ranges, but these are dreadful things you would not wish upon your worst “frenemy” , seeing as they are most often fabricated from the toxic plastics recycled from the lead-filled toys recalled to China.

But, the Manolo understands what it is like to be poor, so poor that you must make your own boots out of buffalo hides you have softened by chewing, Comanche-style.

And so the Manolo would recommend the Gambit, the attractive tall suede boot from Penny Loves Kenny. Yes, it is $40 more than your budget, but trust the Manolo, you cannot find better for less.

Manolo says, the Manolo woke up this morning in the mood to look at some beautiful boots, and few boots could be more beautiful than these, the Onele from Jimmy Choo. Are they not are gorgeous?

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

Many peoples have asked the Manolo, “What should we wear with the thigh-high, over-the-knee boots?”

Well, the Manolo decided to defer to his many internet friends, who include among their number the excellent amateur stylists, and ask them, what would you do with these…

The Summer Boot from Modern Vintage. No, the Manolo does not know why these boots, which do not look very summery, should be called the “Summer Boot”, all he knows is that they are the handsome and rakish and worth wearing, but only if one can figure out what to wear them with.

And now, go build the outfit!

As always post your best outfit in the Manolo’s Super Fantastic Forums. On Saturday, the Manolo will pick the winner.

This week our competition is sponsored by the new online shoe company, Heels.com, who will be providing the winner with 1500 Heels Reward Points (which equals $100 of the American dollars!).

So, after you are done building your outfit (or even before) you must check out Heels.com, for not only do the have free overnight shipping, but they also have the free no hassle returns and 115% price guarantee. And, as the special offer, now through the end of the year, you can save $10 on orders over $100 if you use the special secret code “HEELSAFFQ4″ at the checkout. Truly, this is indeed most super fantastic!