Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

Last fall, after eight years as a stay at home mom, I finally went back to work as a college teacher. As I look in my closet, I realize that I have nothing to wear on my feet when the weather gets warm except a pair of old Tevas. Please help me find something comfortable and confident that’s not too expensive.

Cathy.

Manolo says, Ayyyy! The shock of the returning-to-work mother! One minute you are in your kitchen wearing the sweatshirt covered with peanut butter and squeezable yoghurt, and the next you are standing before your class having just threatened the disruptive student with the “mother of all time outs, young man!”

But fear not, your experience as the parent will be useful, for after all, explaining to your three year old why the sky is blue is only slightly less difficult than getting the hulking All-American nose tackle to understand the three stages of the Hegelian dialectical process.

Of the course, first you need the shoes suitable to your new and intimidating station as the professor of useful knowledge. Shoes that say, “pay attention to me, for I am bringing you information that will enrich your life.”

Here is the Gloria, the sand-colored patent leather slingback from Cole Haan, the perfect combination of comfort and style.

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

Dear Manolo,

In March I’ll be accompanying my husband on a business trip to Australia. After three days of work in Sydney, we’ll then be free to do our own thing. What would you recommend for lots of walking and sightseeing?

Jennie

Manolo says, ayyyy! The Manolo loves Australia! Or perhaps, more correctly, the Manolo loves the idea of Australia, as sadly the Manolo has never himself made the trip to the land of the antipodean marsupials, where kangaroos and Crocodile Dundees roam the land in impressive herds.

Yes, the national fashion stereotype is of the rustic “swagman”, or “jackaroo”, in the khaki shorts, dirty singlet, and cork hat, the giant can of Fosters in his hand, and work boots upon his feets.

But the Manolo would suggest, to the contrary, that any nation that has produced the celebrities Hugh Jackman, Baz Luhrmann, and Dame Edna Everage clearly has much to offer in the way of the super fantastic.

As for his friend, the Manolo recommends to her the Cole Haan Air Gabi Boat Shoe in the color called Cranberry Satin. It is the pretty little reinterpretation of the classic that would be prefect for the casual sort travelling that she proposes.

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m going to have Thanksgiving dinner with my boyfriend at his ancestral home. In attendance will be his elderly mother and his teenaged daughters, whom I will be meeting for the first time. What would you recommend?

Olivia

Manolo says, congratulations to the Manolo’s friend who has just passed the Going-Home-to-Meet-the-Family test! This man likes you!

And now it is time for the more difficult challenge, winning the approval from the family. Your boyfriend’s mother will be relatively easy to please. Dress modestly and praise her turkey, her son, and her house, not necessarily in that order.

As for meeting the daughters, such new relationships are always fraught with emotions, this is to say nothing of the natural contempt teenagers feel for anyone over the age of twenty-five.

However, the most important advice not to attempt to dress younger than your age. Nothing is more mockable than the middle-aged “hottie” wearing the mini-dress and belly-shirt, talking about how much she loves Zac Efron.

Much better is the expensive but stylish skirt, blouse, and jacket worn with super fantastic knee-high boots, boots that even the most jaded teenager cannot but admire, like these beautiful Oriana boots from Cole Haan.

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

Dear Manolo,

I recently totaled my car (not my fault, I swear) and because I can’t get a new one for some time, I must now walk 20 blocks to and from the bus stop to get to my office. I can’t abide flip-flops and I think sneakers look silly with business attire. What do you suggest?

Alexis

Manolo says, the Manolo’s friend is so lucky. Many people pay hundreds of dollars each month to sign up at the health club so they can walk on the treadmill, when all they really need to do is crash their cars and walk to the bus.

Even better, at the end of six months, the Alexis will be healthier, happier, and have more money in the bank with which to buy beautiful shoes, than either the commuting couch potatoes in their motor-boxes, or the health club hamsters on their exercise wheels.

Of the course, if one wishes to engage in this practical fitness regimen, one needs the appropriate shoes. The Manolo has been impressed by the recent joining together of the Nike and the Cole-Haan to produce the business shoes with the athletic shoe insides, feetwear which are prefect for the working girl who walks.

Here is the Cole-Haan Air Genie Ballet, wear it in good health.

Manolo says, one of the most common questions the Manolo receives from his internet friends has to do with the boots for the super fantastic girls with the muscular calves, who lament that they cannot find the tall boots to fit their physique.

To which the Manolo now says, et voila! Behold the Nydia from the Cole Haan, the very handsome and classical boot with the stretchy material in the calves.

Last night the Manolo was dining at the home of friends of long standing when the talk turned, as it invariably does with the Manolo, to the shoes. The charming and beautiful young woman of the household, who had been the Olympian athlete, mentioned her love of the Cole Haan, thus reminding the Manolo of these simple and attractive boots.

Manolo says, it is not the secret that the Manolo likes the Gotham City Online for the boot shopping. But, shopping at the Gotham City it is the sort of shopping that requires the diligence and perseverance.

For the example, this handsome, low-heel suede boot by the Gucci, it is on the sale at the Gotham City, but, sadly, it is only available in the sizes the five and the half, and the six.

And so, because you are not the small footed girl, you must now go back to the board of drawing and look for the next boot, perhaps again the equestriany boot with the low-heels, because they are this season in the style.

Searching…searching.

Look here is another of the handsome boots!

This one it is from the Ralph Lauren. It is the good-looking equestrian style boot with the twist, which it is good because you do not want the equestrian boot that makes you look like the jockey of the lawn. Even the better it is almost 50% off of the normal price.

But, ayyyy! Curses, again! It is available only in the size six. Your foot it is not the size six!

And so you search the boots again.

Finally, you find this boot from the Cole Haan. It is the very nice boot, stylish, quasi-motorcyclish, quasi-equestrianish, nearly 50% off of the regular price, and Dios Mio! it is available in all of the sizes from the five to the ten! At the last, your search it is completed!

Manolo says, the Gotham City Online, it is the good place to look for the boots, if you are prepared to really look.

Manolo says, the Manolo he loves the GothamCity Online, especially if one is looking for the shoes of the Coach or the Cole Haan, for the example, here are three pairs of the high-quality brown shoes of the Cole Haan that are each almost 50% off of the normal price.

Manolo says, every super fantastic girl she should have the pair of the classic loafers of the brown for the weekend in the country, perhaps for the wearing while shopping for the antiques with that sophisticated gentleman in tweed. And those sandals, are they not handsome?