Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

I very much empathize with your intent in posting cute and fun sandals in the middle of winter. Can I make a request, though? DC is on the middle of a massive snowstorm, and my plans for the weekend involve citywide snowball fights and frolics in the snow with a new beau. Can you suggest attractive boots that are still appropriate for Snowmageddon?

Amber

Manolo says, Ayyyyy! It is Snowmageddon! Snowpocalypse! Snowragnarok!

One minute you are having the normal sort of Washington winter, with the little bit of ice, the occasional dusting of snow, and the usual coolish temperatures, and the next, whammo! The Abominable Snow Beast has buried you under three feets of wintery white stuff, with more on the way, bub!

And the District of Columbia, which is not the most efficient governmental entity on the planet, simply throws up its hands and snuggles down by the fire with the warm cup of cocoa, while the citizens are left to their own devices.

Of the course, there is the upside to all of this snow, such as dozens of days off from your job at the Department of Homeland Phrenology, the giant hilarious snow ball fights with your neighbors, and the chance to finally meet Yukon Cornelius.

Look! Here is the Tami from La Canadienne. Perfect!

Manolo says, it is always sad when someone dies, and doubly so when someone in the prime of life, full of talent and promise, kills himself. And so it was with great sadness that the Manolo read this morning of the suicide of Alexander McQueen.

Although, not everything he made was to the taste of the Manolo, everything he made was emphatically his own, stamped with his own unique style and standards. And, his shoes were often undeniably beautiful, or striking.

He will be very much missed.

And now the Manolo must ask, why the prominence of the skull motif in his most recent collection?

And not just in shoes, but scarves, t-shirts, even the macabrely humorous rings.

The skull motif was among the most popular things Alexander McQueen had ever done, and yet the Manolo wonders, why?

Why did Alexander McQueen produce his own memento mori?

In retrospect, it is now all so sad.

Update: Catie at the Cuffington Blog has something important to say about Alexander McQueen’s suicide.

Manolo says, the Manolo’s friends at Zappos are offering several end-of-the-season bargains on the super fantastic Sigerson Morrison shoes.

For the example, these knotted high heel sandals from Sigerson Morrison are over 50% off of the regular price, the true bargain!

And these silvery thong Sigerson Morrison sandals are selling at the discount, over $170 of the American dollars off of the usual price!

And now you must hurry! Before these bargains are disappeared!

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

Hello Manolo,

I’m a college student and in serious need of a pair of wellies…I had two pairs of J Crew rain boots (flamingos and anchors!) until they both cracked in the same month! I’m looking for a pair of rain boots that I can walk around campus all day and still look banging. I’m in love with the silver Hunter’s and have heard Hunter’s are the best quality rain boots. Do you know of any other brands, especially affordable ones, that won’t crack?

Can’t wait to go stylishly puddle stomping again!

Caitlin

Manolo says, the Manolo adores the Hunter rain boots, as does the Posse Manolo, at least one of whom has adopted the Hunter boots as part of her usual rainy day outfit. (This tall, elegant woman wears her Hunter Original boots with her designer jeans tucked into the tops, together with the Barbour coat, giving her the English country look that seems to impress the natives in the rainier parts of Southern California.)

And so, the Manolo says, although the Hunter rain boots are on the high side of affordable, they are none the less worth the price, as their durability is legendary.

The Hunter Original in the silver is some what difficult to come by, which is why one may wish to consider them in aubergine or the eponymous hunter green.

Indeed, the Hunter boots fall under the category of all-time classic.

Manolo says, and now the Dia de San Valentin approaches and you have not yet purchased the gifts which you will shower upon that special man in your life.

But you are confuddled, as not only have you learned, through hard lessons, that the writers at Cosmo and Elle know next to nothing (NOTHING!!!) about how to make the man happy (despite what the salacious headlines say), but also that your man is the sort, who, like Octavian, adopts the facade of modesty, even as the gifts and honors are heaped upon him. And so you know from experience that he will stoically pretend to be unswayed by your acts of tribute, not letting on that he is actually thrilled that you love him, that he is the princeps civitatis of your Heart.

Because you have determined to make this the super fantastic Valentine’s Day, you must now locate the small gifts suitable to the Augustan tastes of your man, which is where the Manolo, your humble Attic slave, can help, by suggesting items that shall please the Emperor.

T Anthony Leather Ballpoint Pen —

Acqua di Parma Aftershave Lotion
–

Burberry Stainless Steel and Leather Wrist Watch
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(more…)

Manolo says, everyone is all hot under the collar for the clogs, which, when you think about it, is faintly ridiculous.

However, never let it be said that the Manolo does not respond to the latest fashion trends with useful advice, and so here are three pairs of French clogs from Robert Clergerie which are suitable for wearing out in public.

This is the Cuza from Robert Clergerie, the crisscross strapped open-toed clog that sacrifices nothing in terms of trend-gobbling hotness. Is it possible for the clog to be “hot”? If so, this is perhaps the closest you may come to such the state.

Here is the Pavane from Robert Clergerie another open-toed clog that is worth your time.

Finally, here is the Zhia from Robert Clergerie in the glossy plum color that makes wearing clogs almost bearable.

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your desk suffering from your traditional post Super Duper Bowl hangover. However, this hangover is not because you drank too much beer, for indeed you did not.

Rather, you are suffering because you ate too much of your neighbor’s infamous “Super Bowl Sunday Nachos”, the dish which involves five pounds of corn chips, two pounds of shredded pork carnitas, the jumbo can of sliced jalapeños, and the entire block of Velveeta “Cheese”, melted and jumbled together with assorted ornamental and condimental foodstuffs which are best forgotten.

Of the course, the whole time you were shoveling these into your mouth, during the first and second quarters of the game, you knew you should have stopped at none, but you couldn’t because they were delicious in that greasy, tasty way that the most horrible foods usually are.

And now, today, you are paying the price.

But, no worries, for you have resolved to go to the gym straight after work, where you will jog on the treadmill for five minutes before hitting the sauna for the good, long steambath.

Look! Striking Elizabeth and James Beaded Peep-Toe Slingbacks.

Perhaps not the cure for your tummy, but certainly the salve for your shoe-loving soul.

Manolo says, here are the few links which may amuse (or horrify)…

Stupid rain.

‘Absolutely! I’m not going to lie. But no pain, no gain, as they say. I don’t mind. I will suffer.

#15…Rupert Grint, Rich Man.

Manolo says, the Manolo admits to having had the mostly blah reaction to the recent rise of the ankle-bootie-sandal trend. Perhaps this is because the Manolo had not yet seen these spectacular Jimmy Choo Embellished Ankle Wrap Sandals!

Are they shoes? Are they booties? Are they sandals? Who cares! They are gorgeously super fantastic!