AUG
2013
09

Manolo the Columnist: Mannie from Kate Spade New York

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

Dear Manolo,

With fall fast approaching, I’ve begun to think about what I’m going to wear, specifically, I need a pair of fun boots for the weekends. Please recommend something.

Doretta

Manolo says, it is never too early to think about what to wear for the coming season, or the coming year, or even the coming decade. Indeed, thinking about what to wear in the distant future is one of the Manolo’s favorite hobbies, right next to reading the frivolous novels and taking the long naps in the late afternoon.

Although the Manolo is the unusual, quasi-obsessive case, thinking about what you will wear in the time of twenty years hence should occasionally be on the mind of every adult person of any good sense. This is especially true when the adult person is doing the shopping, when one must ask oneself the question, “Will I still be able to wear this thing in two decades?”

This is the two-fold question about the style and the quality. Is this thing classic enough to withstand the vagaries of fashion, and is it well-built enough to withstand the vagaries of time and usage?

Of the course, there are the categories of things for which this does not apply. Some things are meant to be worn the few times when you are young and lissome and then forgotten forever, such as the micro-miniskirts and the teeny bikini swimsuits.

Still, thinking about what to wear in twenty years time is generally the good practice.

Here is the Mannie from the Kate Spade New York, the classic ankle boot that will undoubtedly still be wearable in the year 2033.

Mannie Bootie from Kate Spade New York

FEB
2013
25

Vikki Wedge Sandal from Kate Spade for the Monday

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your work doing that thing that needs to get done so that you do not slip into poverty and find yourself living in the sewers that run beneath the streets of your town, pushing the shopping cart filled with smashed aluminum cans and cat pelts.

Frankly, you would rather be sitting at home in your pajamas, reading the Agatha Christie novel and eating potato chips, but the cruel realities of the modern world have forced you to venture out into the daylight and interact with the bosses, the coworkers, and the clients, three classes of humans without whom you can perhaps do.

Well, at the least, you can spend the few minutes sitting at your desk, pretending to work, while trying to find deals online. Or perhaps, thinking about how to make your yourself look smarter for work with new dress from Ted Baker, maybe something flowery that will get you out of your mid-winter rut and into the spring time mood.

Speaking of the the flowers, those love offerings that spring gives to us each year, here is the Vikki Wedge from the Kate Spade in the rose gold, the perfectly wonderful flowered sandal.

Vikki Wedge Sandal from Kate Spade

And here is the coupon for the free shipping from the Jildor shoes to help you make up your mind.

NOV
2012
16

Manolo the Columnist:

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

Dear Manolo,

Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we’re having Thanksgiving at my house this year. I’ve never done this before, cooked a turkey-and-all-the-trimmings for 25 people. (How hard can it be, right?) So, I’ve ordered the turkey, and thought about seating arrangements, tried out various pumpkin-and-indian-corn centerpieces, but now I need some shoes, something comfortable enough for the kitchen, but attractive enough for the dining room.

Kelly

Manolo says, once again it is time for the peculiarly American festival of Thanksgiving, when we honor our Puritan ancestors, and give thanks to the God in the Heaven, by committing at least three, and possibly four, of the Seven Deadly Sins (Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, and if the traditional holds, Wrath.)

Speaking of the wrathfulness, this year, the conversations around the table should be especially fun, given the fact that 51% of the people present will be gloating about the recent election, while the other 49% will be working through the five stages of electoral grief.

Cooking Tip: For best eating results one should brine the turkey for at least 24 hours before the cooking. The Manolo the Chef suggests using the equal portions of kosher salt and the crushed Quaaludes, just to give the tryptophane that extra boost that will prevent your relatives from becoming too feisty, quoting Rush Limbaugh and Paul Krugman at each other during the timeouts of the football game.

Here is the Tiffany from the Kate Spade New York, the mid-heel, peep-toe wedge that has exactly the right amount of oomph to distract your guests away from the topic of the politics.

Tiffany from Kate Spade New York

Do The Right Thing

Whether Democrat,

Republican,

Or otherwise affiliated,

Get out there are vote! Oh, and click the images for links.

Manolo the Columnist: Manda from Kate Spade NY

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

Dear Manolo,

My fabulous cousin, whose birthday is the day after mine, and has been an anchor through many crises, turned 40 a couple of weeks ago. I’m sorry to say I had to miss her surprise party because I was away on a business trip. But, it is not too late for giving wonderful surprise birthday presents. Might you have a suggestion?

Monica

Manolo says, perhaps it is the gypsy in the Manolo, but the Manolo cannot help but love the giant, big families, with the thirteen children, and the twenty-dozen cousins of the varying degrees.

Especially the first cousins, who because they are not always around like the siblings, can be great sources of support and amusement, without the attendant rivalry, jealousy, and periodic fist-fighting. And this is the secret to the relationship, you have the same grandmamma and the same grandpapa, but you also have the different parents! The truth is hiding in plain sight, so obvious, and yet so powerful.

Who else but the first cousin would readily agree to accompany you your on your schemes of mayhem and glory, without trying to steal the parental affection that will be required when you return home in ignominy?

For the example, the teeny Manolo and his own favorite first cousin, Teofilo, often sought out adventure in the countryside around the caravans. Ayyy! How many times did they have to scamper back home covered in purloined watermelon, the authorities in full cry behind them, only to split apart at the final moment, Teofilo to his mother’s lap and the Manolo to his own beloved mama’s.

Here is the Manda from Kate Spade New York in the poetical anthracite starlight finish, perfect for the beloved accomplice on the occasion of her belated fortieth birthday.

Manda from Kate Spade NY

Clarice Satin Pump from Kate Spade for the Wedneday

Kate Spade Clarice PumpKate Spade Clarice Pump

Manolo says, this is how things sometimes work in the world of the Manolo: he is looking at the shoes, and suddenly, something catches his eye, and delights his fancy, and he is moved to cry hosanna and put it on the humble shoe blog for all to admire. Such is the case with this, the Clarice Satin Pump from the Kate Spade New York, the perfect shoe for the festive celebration where the bold color is required.

JUN
2012
18

Manolo’s Late Night Bargain: Olympia from Kate Spade New York

Kate Spade Olympia LoafersKate Spade Olympia Loafers

Manolo says, at 45% off of the regular price, it would be foolish to pass up these thoroughly practical, thoroughly handsome loafers, the Olympia from the Kate Spade New York. These could easily become one of the staples of your workaday wardrobe.

Manolo the Columnist: Licorice Too from Kate Spade

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

Dear Manolo,

I will be attending the entire Wagner Ring Cycle in April at the Lincoln Center. Since we had to almost refinance our home in order to afford tickets that do not require high altitude acclimatization, I cannot afford new shoes for each performance. So I am looking for one pair of Wagner-worthy shoes. The other three pairs of shoes needed I will have to fashion from scraps of vintage breast-plates and horn.

Lenora

Manolo says, how to explain the Cycle of the Wagnerian Ring to the person who has never attended the entire thing in the single marathon week, except to note that it is at once horrifically enthralling and terribly corny.

How is it possible, the Manolo asks, that the Richard Wagner converted such ridiculous and bombastic source material – the Norse Gods are having the bad hair millennium – into the work of supreme affect?

It is the music! What else?

This music of Wagner, so stirring, so brilliant, so memorable, works the transformational magic on what is essentially the elevated flapdoodle, and thus the tangled soap opera story of the comic-book super hero is converted into the purest gold.

Plus, how can one resist the over-the-top spectacle of the handsome men being assailed by stout women in armor? It is like the candy; very chewy, very dense candy

Speaking of the candy, here is the Licorice Too from the Kate Spade, glittery perfection for the opera.

Licorice Too from Kate Spade

NOV
2011
11

Manolo the Columnist: Case from Kate Spade

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m just about to turn the Big Five-O, 50 years old. I keep myself in good shape, and I think I still look great, but I am nonetheless somewhat depressed by passing the half-century mark, so I and need a pair of shoes to cheer me up. Can you recommend something youthful and sexy, but not inappropriate?

Carla

Manolo says, Fifty? Do not despair, for fifty is the new forty-seven-and-the-half!

Actually, thanks to the modern medicine, ubiquitous gym memberships, and the superior make-up technology, the women of today generally look much younger than did the ladies of the previous generations.

Indeed, the Manolo had just recently seen the 1971 Geritol advertisement, which showed the group of prematurely aged 46-year-old womens. Sadly, it was all grey hair, wrinkly faces, and bags under the eyes, as nearly all of the women looked at least the full decade older then their actual age.

But, then, what else could be expected if one grew into middle-age in the society that regarded liquid iron supplements and smoking cigarettes as sensible parts of any beauty regimen?

Of the course, it goes without the saying that in the forty years time, the future peoples will be mocking us for looking prematurely old, and following strange advice such as injecting botulism into our foreheads to eliminate the wrinkles

Here is the Case from the Kate Spade New York, the sexy but appropriate sandal to wear to wear to your birthday party.

Case from Kate Spade New York

SEP
2011
16

Manolo the Columnist: Tilly from Kate Spade New York

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

Dear Manolo,

I will be traveling to a wedding in Rome at the beginning of October. This will be my first trip to Italy, and needless to say, my first experience at a Roman wedding. While the issues of dress and such are important, I have the feeling that my choice of footwear will be paramount. Can you help me with a fabulous, stylish shoe that will fit in appropriately for such an occasion? I will note, the wedding will not be taking place in a church.

Amy

Manolo says, how wonderful the Manolo’s friend is to be visiting Rome in the month of October. This is undoubtedly the most beautiful time to be in the Eternal City, and if one is lucky, everything, from the crystalline blue skies and the gentle warm sun, to the charming way your waiter winks at you as he takes your order, will conspire to make you fall in love with the city. Even, the ever-present possibility of sudden death by taxi will only add to the magic of Rome.

Of the course, if one is not lucky, your bags will be plundered at the airport by the corrupt officials, gypsies will steal your purse near the Coliseum, and the crazy Roman drivers will douse you repeatedly with muddy water left in puddles along the street by the unseasonable rain.

But, such are the chances one takes when one travels, no?

Here is the Tilly from Kate Spade New York, the molto elegante demi-d’Orsay pump that would go well with almost anything.

Tilly from Kate Spade New York

AUG
2011
02

Party Shoes for the Great Outdoors

N.B. Our friend The Legatrix is back with advice about the summer-time party shoes.

‘Tis the season for outdoor parties, which invariably provokes harrowing shoe angst in me. I love the great outdoors. Really I do. They’re a lovely place to sprawl out with a good book and a Nalgene bottle full of mint juleps. But Mother Nature has a long-burning vendetta against me. Try as I may to be prepared for whatever gravel pits, mudslides, and rivers of lava she may throw in my path, I never seem to be wearing the right shoes.

This became painfully clear at a splendiferous wedding that I attended in the Hungarian countryside last month. Guests were treated to abundant wine, whole roast mammals, flitting cherubs, and gamboling fawns. The bride, ever attentive to her friends’ collective fabulosity, even had wooden walkways lain in the fields so people could walk comfortably from place to place. This worked marvelously until the walkways got wet and turned into a network of Slip n’ Slides.

By now I think you can see where this is going. . . two broken sandals and a solicitous Hungarian peasant boy later, I sorely lamented my choice of footwear.

The difficulty with picking shoes for outdoor events is that your footwear must be practical and adaptable to all sorts of terrain. That means no heels unless you’re out to aerate someone’s lawn. Bigger trouble still is that your footwear often winds up looking eminently functional. So here are a few shoe selections that are practical, adaptable and elegant. . . and even a couple with a little altitude built in.

Swoosie by Kate Spade

Swoosie, by Kate Spade, will keep your feet firmly planted on terra firma with arch support often lacking in strappy little sandals. Plus, they’re adorned with little golden grape clusters.

Oona by Loeffler Randall

And Oona, by Loeffler Randall, would be perfect with those white wide-legged trousers you have. You know, the ones that make your legs look a mile long. Those trousers.

Jean by Stuart Weitzman

Finally, Jean, by Stuart Weitzman, is the perfect combination of polished and relaxed elements. I usually get a little queasy at the sight of cork heels. But these are so pitch perfect that you don’t have to worry about looking like the sort of leather-textured woman who molests cabana boys with coconut oil.

Now go outside and play!

APR
2011
15

Manolo the Columnist: Blush from Kate Spade

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

Dear Manolo,

Every Easter since I’ve been a little girl, I’ve gotten a new spring dress and a new pair of shoes. Can you help me pick out this year’s pair?

Daria

Manolo says, it is the spring, the Manolo’s most favoritest time of the year, when the weather turns clement, and the flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the birds are singing their sweet songs of birdly love.

And, for the Manolo, Easter is the highlight of the season, when the church-going peoples get dressed up in their finery and parade themselves joyously before God, like the King David dancing in front of the Ark of the Covenant.

Of the course, for the children, Easter is the holiday that teaches the very important life lessons.

In the morning they will fling themselves headfirst into the pile of candy that has been delivered in the night by giant magic rodent. Afterwards, filled to bursting with the sugar, they will be forced in to the formal clothing and made to sit still on the hard pews while the preacher and/or priest waxes poetic at great length.

Excessive Indulgence and fairy tales, followed by the lengthy period of enforced obedience and boredom, it is good training for college and the working life that follows.

Here is the Blush from Kate Spade, the open-toe slingback with the tiny mesh daisies that are fully expressive of the unbounded joys of the season.

Blush from Kate Spade