Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, above you see the handsome dark navy and cream, mary jane pump from the Marc by Marc Jacobs.

And yes, the Manolo has already announced that 2008 will be the “Year of Color“, but as is so often the case, there is the counter trend to the main trend, running in opposition. So, for the example, the vertiginous platform heels of the last spring were countered by the Torey Burch ballet flats.

This year the counter trend to the colorful shoes are the shoes which combine white with black (or navy and cream, or other variations).

Here are the other example, the Stuart Weitzman peep-toe pumps.

Previously, Shoe Trends 2008, Part 1, Shoe Trends 2008, Part 2.

Manolo says, the Manolo loves these pink vinyl see-through pumps from the Marc by Marc Jacobs. Rarely has the Manolo ever recommended the vinyl shoes, but these are so delightful.

They are like pieces of pink confectionery –Cinderella’s glass slipper in spun sugar– to be gobbled up joyfully as if one were still the little girl.

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

Dear Manolo,

One of my husbands many cousins is getting married in October at a suburban synagogue. Afterward they’ll have a dinner reception at a hip downtown spot. I have found a knee-length shift dress with a Pucci-like print in fall colors (olive, deep orange, beige, and banded with black at the neck and hem). Please can you suggest something appropriate.

Dee

Manolo says, this wedding, it sounds like exactly the sort of celebration of which the Manolo approves: the traditional ceremony followed by dinner at the good restaurant.

Yes, the Manolo also enjoys the big $200,000 blowout, the sort which features liveried footmen delivering the bride and her monster gown in the silver sedan chair, while the prop husband stands there waiting, looking earnestly befuddled in his cutaway and ascot.

Still, the Manolo finds that in the midst of such Hollywood spectaculars he often longs for the sort of wedding that our grandparents knew, small affairs with the bride in the modest white dress and the groom in his best black suit, followed by the awkward celebratory dinner at the Italian restaurant in Hackensack.

Here is the respectable but fun black suede pump from Marc by Marc Jacobs, something perfect for the ceremony and the reception to follow.

Manolo says, the Manolo’s internet friend Wayne has alerted the Manolo to two pairs of the unusually life-like shoes…

Manolo says, perfect for the beach! And oddly preferable to the fishy Christian Louboutin monstrosities.

And the next shoes are not for the faint of heart..

(more…)

Manolo says, the Manolo’s internet friend Joan has alerted the Manolo to something very amusing.

Dear Manolo,
This evening, while reading James Lileks’ delightful ramblings on The Bleat, I was charmed to see that he had included a photo of the cover of the January 1955 issue of the pulpy magazine Galaxy Science Fiction. At first glance I took it to be nothing more than a typical almost-racy illustration of way-out stylings, but then the shoes caught my eye: Mr. Jacobs’ Backward Heel. Oh, yes, the left shoe looks a little odd, but I believe that’s because it’s being polished by that strange device. The right shoe, firmly planted, most clearly shows a backward heel.

And, if I may say so, in a lovelier line than

Is there ever anything new under the sun? Does it really matter? I don’t think so, but thought you would enjoy this nonetheless –

Best regards,

Joan

The Joan is exactly correct, those shoes on the future Rocket-Age hottie are far more spectacular than the more pedestrian Marc Jacobs backward heel shoes, or even the more fanciful Junko Shimada shoes.

And now the Manolo has begun to look for more examples of retro-future shoes, (shoes of the future as pictured in the past). If you know of any, please tell the Manolo.

Manolo says, apparently the conciet at Monday’s Marc Jacobs show was that everything was cuckoo-nutty bass-ackwards, and thus the show began with the designers bow, and went backwards (and/or downhill) from there.

Naturally, the perfect shoes for such presentation were those with the “backward heel.” The Manolo’s internet friend at the Cuffington blog suggests that there may be the physics lesson here.

Frankly, the Manolo is not feeling these shoes.

As for the clothes, this quote from the NY Sun’s Pia Catton made the Manolo laugh.

The evening dresses had a peculiar “Beetlejuice” quality: one-third Goth, one-third downtown, one-third cat-loving, nutty-artist girl — not exactly man bait.

Finally, you will notice from the short video clip below that the music was not played backward.

And for the very good reason, as everyone knows what happens when you play Ravel’s Bolero backward.

Manolo says, it is Friday, Celebrate!

Here is the new peep-toe platform pump from the Marc by Marc Jacobs which would be perfect for wearing during your frenetic and perhaps self-destructive, club-hopping, paparazzi-evading, typical D-list-celebrity summer weekend.

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

Dear Manolo

I handle show dogs and, unfortunately, dog handlers are notorious frumps; think no-wrinkle poly-knits and ugly shoes. I am resolutely unfrumpy, so I need a pair of low-heeled shoes that are sporty, great for both indoors and outdoors, and will work with a suit for a formal occasion. And because my dog is a black and white whippet, the shoes can’t be black or white.

Jennie

Manolo says, it is no secret that the Manolo is the dog person. Indeed, as the tiny impoverished boy he owned the small rat terrier, although, in hindsight, given that “Pepillo” lived in the hole in the baseboard, he may actually have been the largish rat.

This would have accounted for the rude reception the teeny Manolo received when he attempted to register Pepillo as the purebred with the Real Sociedad Canina de España.

Nevertheless, the Manolo and Pepillo were devoted to each other as only the small boy and the small dog and/or rat can be, and many were the times the Manolo was lulled to sleep by the sounds of his gnawing.

Here is the smart, tailored low-heeled shoe from the Marc Jacobs that would make the frumpier dog handlers envious of your style.

Manolo says, yes, it is not quite the robin’s egg blue, but to the Manolo these patent leather peep-toes from the Marc Jacobs nonetheless augur the coming of the spring.