Manolo says, two years ago, when the Manolo was living in Argentina, he purchased the pair of these boots, the Timberland Earthkeepers 6″ in preparation for tramping about the wilds of Patagonia. He admits to having been somewhat dubious about them at the time…

“Yes,” the Manolo said to himself, while examining them in the Timberland store in the Patio Bullrich, “they look very good, but they are not terribly expensive. Will they last?”

And now, the Manolo is happy to report that they have given good service over many, many miles, and have become one of the preferred boots for stumbling through the trackless wilderness of the Farmers Market.

The Female Guard on the Metropolitan Railway in 1916

Manolo says, the Manolo loves these boots on the English railway guard lady, so feminine and flattering, indeed, the entire costume is most super fantastic!

From the site of London Transport Museum

During the First World War, the Metropolitan Railway, like other services serving the City, was effectively taken over by the government. Its trains were extensively used to transport troops from London to the Channel ports. To replace its employees who left to fight, the Met began employing women for the first time in positions such as porters, ticket inspectors, and guards.

Here is another picture of these boots and uniform on the different woman…

(more…)

Manolo says, Ayyyy! The weatherman, he is predicting the return of the snow!

What will you do?

What. Will. You. Do!

Boots!

That is what you will do, boots!

Boots such as these snuggly-toasty warm, tall shearling boots from the Cole Haan, the Air Michelle, which are selling at the discount of more than $100 of the American dollars!

Manolo says, there is something exquisite about this suede, cuffed, ankle bootie from the Chloé.

This is not the big, flashy, glittery Louboutin platform, or the scheming-to-win-our-hearts Jimmy Choo pump. No, this is the subtle shoe, with the perfectly beautiful and restrained combination of colors and details. Look at the manner in which the buff color of the interior contrasts perfectly with the dove gray of the exterior!

This is that rarest of shoes, the one which can be worn profitably, to great effect, by the smart and stylish older woman, or the intelligent, young, sexy thing.

Manolo says, if you are looking for the good quality, handsome, equestrian-style boot from the designer the Manolo admires, than you could not do much better than the Edita from the Elie Tahari.

Nor could you get it at the better bargain: $150 off of the regular price, the savings of more than 30%!

Manolo says, outside it is 206 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit), and the snow is piled fifteen feets deep on the sidewalks, drifting to twenty-seven feets in the places.

But you have to go out to the Duane Reed because you need the milk, the toilet paper, the cat food, and maybe some smoky taupe eye-liner, because you have just read something at one of the beauty blogs, and you only have the smoky bisque color on the hand.

But you are in the quandary, because your flimsy, unlined rain boots, in the pinkish color, will not keep your feets warm. And the only other suitable feetwear are the fugly moon-boots you brought with you from Wisconsin, and you need to look your best, because you have heard that many of the major banks are closed because of the blizzard, and you suspect that there will be the hunky young investment bankers on the streets, having the spirited snowball fights. (This is Manhattan, yes?)

If only you had bought something practical and stylish, something like these Karisse boots from La Canadienne.

These are the sort of toasty-warm, weatherproof, feminine boots that, paired with the right smoky taupe eye treatment could win the heart of even the most jaded wunderkind.

Ayyyy! And look! They are on the sale! More than $115 of the American dollars off of the usual price!

Manolo says, you were struggling through the slush this morning to get to your place of employment, when suddenly it occurred to you that what you really needed was the sleigh, with the bob-tailed horse and the jingly bells,.

And then, as you were thinking this, your mind wandered, as it frequently does, to the costumery needed for the activity, at which point you realized that you had no boots suitable for the sleigh ride!

And then, this afternoon, you surf to the site of the Manolo, for your daily chuckle of shoe-based super fantasticness, and you see that the Shoeblogger is recommending these Oscar de la Renta Suede Lace-Up Ankle Booties for the sleigh riding.

“But, Manolo,” you might be saying, “these boots are not suitable for riding in the one-horse open sleigh.”

To which the Manolo would reply, “please, do not trouble the Manolo with your petty doubts.”

These boots are perfect for the sort of sleigh ride you would desire most. The sort where the strapping North Country Man, in the fur jacket and hand-knitted muffler, carries you straight from the front stoop of your building into the seat of his sleigh, without your feets touching the snow. Once properly seated, he would tuck you safely under the fur blanket (while perhaps stealing the most decorous kiss), take the reins and whirl you through the winter wonderland, laughing all the way.

So, of the course, these are the perfect boots for riding in the sleigh.

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

Dearest Manolo,

I would like to get a pair of rain shoes/boots. I live in Florida, with frequent trips to NYC and the lake region in Italy, so they need to be stylish. I would also be doing a lot of walking, so comfort is important, but second to style.

Yours,

Klee

Manolo says, the Manolo’s friend is regularly traveling to the New York City and the Italian Lake Region, home of the Lake Como? If she had also said that she spent much time in the Hollywood, the Manolo would certainly have thought that she was dating George Clooney.

But then, if she WERE dating the George Clooney, the Manolo’s friend would not be needing the rain boots, because no matter where she was it would be sunny.

Sadly, there is only one George Clooney, and it is unlikely that you will be “hooking up” with him anytime soon, given that you are probably not the statuesque, 24-year-old ex-bartender/lingerie model/club hostess/aspiring actress with the dubious background ( the Manolo apologizes to you, if you are.)

And because George Clooney is not your real boyfriend, only your secret, pretend boyfriend you WILL be needing the rain boots because it is probably raining where you are, hard.

Here is the Interlaken from Hunter, the wedge-heeled rain boot that will help forget about George Clooney and move on with your new secret boyfriend, Christian Bale

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

Dear Manolo,

I was lucky enough to have scored these beautiful, gray Manolo Blahnik Nesta fur ankle boots on sale for 40% off.

The problem is I’m not sure what to do with them. They’re so fabulous but in this peculiar retro kind of way that does not mesh with my usual sense of style. I’m more of an edgy, minimalist kind of girl; think skinny jeans, motorcycle boots, thigh high boots, lots of black, you get the idea.

These boots are so not part of my usual repertoire, but they captured my heart and now I am at a complete loss. The salesperson suggested a fur scarf or fur-trimmed something or other, but I’m afraid that would make me look like the White Witch from the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Is this the kind of footwear that can only be worn while sitting on a sleigh surrounded by elf minions? Say it ain’t so, because I live in Seattle where sleighs and elves are in short supply. Would you be so kind as to suggest a few possible outfits? Casual and dressy?

Thank you so much for all your awesomeness! You never fail to amuse and tempt me with your humor and delicious shoe selections. Love you!

Hien

For the Manolo, the biggest news in this note is that the Nordstroms now carries the shoes of the Maestro!

Soon, the Capital of Grunge shall become the Locus of Super Fantastic!

And this letter, it is proof of the civilizing qualities of the Manolo Blahnik shoes. Before this, our internet friend was content to wear the dour black, like the punk rock Spanish grandee.

But now she wishes to be… super fantastic!

Actually, the Manolo thinks that his friends fashion instincts, although perhaps overly muted, are essentially sound, especially as this magnificent shoe is one that will work with almost anything she might wear: tights, rocker-girl jeans, the shorty punkish skirt, with the black cashmere sweater

The one thing the Manolo would recommend, however, is the addition of the short flair coat, because these are the shoes for wearing when… Baby. It’s. Cold. Outside.

Perhaps something like this Diane von Furstenburg Lady Coat

But, regardless, these are indeed the most super fantastic booties!

Manolo says, and now, please allow the Manolo to recommend the few gifts for the menfolk in your life…

Above you see the Kindle electronic reader gizmo thingy from the Amazon. Frankly, the Manolo has had no personal experience with the Kindle thingy-gizmo, but, nonetheless, he is devoutly hoping that Santy Claus will bring him one, because it is cool, and he likes to read, and his shoulders hurt from carrying around the sack full of reference books and G.A Henty novels.

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This chukka-ish men’s boot from the Gucci, it is swanky and yet perfectly masculine, and green!

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“What is this, ties?” you are perhaps saying, “Please, Manolo, do not insult us with your weak gift-fu.”

But wait, says the Manolo, at the Personally Thomas Pink you can customize your man’s tie, picking out the exact colors schemes that match his peculiar ruddy-pasty-swarthy-freckled complexion. This is the perfect gift, for not only do you have the pleasure of selecting the colors, but he will now have the tie that makes him look his best!

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The cardigan, it has never really gone out of style for certain pipe-smoking, den-dwelling, model-ship-in-the-bottle segments of the population, but now, it is back, baby, with the vengeance, and here is the Allen from Jack Spade.

What, your man will not wear the sweaters? Show him this picture above, and tell him it will make him look like one of the young Beach Boys, before the crazy and gurus.

Manolo says, if you are intent upon doing part of your shopping from the comfort of your own computer, the Manolo has the

At the ShoeBuy, you may take 20% off of your entire purchase and get the free shipping if you enter the coupon code “KICKOFF”.

Perhaps it is time to finally buy those classic Blundstone 500 boots for your man?

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At the Shoes.com you may take 20% off of your entire purchase by entering at the checkout the coupon code “CYBER”.

Perhaps you can reward your own hard work in the run-up to the holidays with new shoes. These beautiful and happy-making Pucci shoes are already discounted 60%, and you may reduce it another 20%!

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The Shopbop.com has the big discounts for the purchases, if you enter the coupon code “BIGEVENT” at the checkout.

Your daughter, the stylish one, might very well appreciate these wedge-heeled Hunter rain-boots with the lace-up details.

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Of the course, many other retailers have the amazing Cyber Monday deals, retailers such as the Amazon, the Famous Footwear (coupon code “CYBER20″), the Soft Surroundings (coupon code “2211022″), the Brooks Brothers, and the Bluefly, also the Rock and Republic and the Kenneth Cole stores at the eBay.

Manolo says, these Alexander McQueen boots, they leave the Manolo…meh…not so excited.

What is the price? Ayyyyyyyy! The are made of pure unobtanium!