Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m in the market for some fun, flirty, feminine spring/summer shoes. The only problem is that I have hideous feet. They’re fine in anything with a closed or peep toe, but I feel that sandals show something better left covered up. What would you recommend?

Christine

Manolo says, how the Manolo sympathizes with his many friends who have unsightly feets. Truly it is the curse!

When the weather turns warm after many months of frigidity, your toes wish to run free, manumitted from the leathern prisons in which you have confined them these many months.

But if you have the ugly feets, this cannot happen, for fear that your toes will terrorize the townsfolk.

Yes, it is true, your toes have nothing but good intentions, they mean well, and are not harmful to others; they are just misunderstood. But that will not prevent shouting and angry villagers, armed with pitchforks and torches, from chasing your toes back into their dark hiding places!

Better to avoid this embarrassing scene and keep your monstrous shame safely hidden in closed-toed shoes in festive spring colors.

Look, here is the Rona from Donald J. Pliner, the bright pointy-toed mule that is perfect for wearing with the white cropped pants and the summer tan.

Manolo says, over the next few days the Manolo will be sharing with you what he thinks are the shoe trends for the New Year.

Here is the new shoe, the Cary from Donald Pliner, which represents one of the coming trends.

Yes, it is the return of the pointy toed pumps. Although, they never completely went away, pointy toed shoes have been in eclipse for the past three years. But you may now look for them to begin to creep back onto the runways in the coming months.

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m going to Paris soon, and because I am no longer the tireless young woman I was when I last visited, I’ll need good shoes. Are there super fantastic shoes for days and days of walking? I’d even settle for semi-fantastic.

Kenna

Manolo says, this story is so common: many years ago, when you were young and lithe, you cavorted about Europe in high-heeled mary janes and bright red stilettos, your youthful feets able to quickly recover from whatever indignities you inflicted upon them.

Now, thanks to Father Time, you walk down the block at lunchtime to get your customary tuna hoagie, Snapple, and lottery ticket and your feets curse you.

“Ayyyyy!” they scream, “You are killing us with your addiction to the Powerball Pick-Six! You should be satisfied with the office football pool and something from the vending machine, you harridan.”

And, now you are not looking forward to when you will announce to them your plans for the walking tour of the Seventh Arrondissement.

But, fear not, for the Manolo now suggests to you the AAA from the Donald Pliner in the black silk elastic. This is the good basic shoe, one that is said to be exceedingly comfortable and yet would look very stylish with the pants.

Manolo says, here is the Rock from Donald J. Pliner, in the black suede and the brown antique “gator”.

The Manolo finds this shoe ever so faintly Marie Antoinette-ish, but in the good ball-gowns-and-frippery way, not in the “Let-them-eat-cake” while-being-dragged-to-the-guillotine way.

Manolo says, here is the simple wedge from the Donald J. Pliner which would be perfect for wearing to the lazy brunch at that waterside restaurant so favored by the man with curly blond hair and the dimpled chin.

Manolo says, once again the Posse Manolo has been on the polite and well-heeled rampage through the mean-girl streets of the Beverly Hills.

And as always, there is much to see on the Robertson Boulevard, such as the angry and importuning papparazzi swarms, the re-engineered faces of the ladies who lunch, and the occasional glimpse of the celebrity of no consequence.

Such things, although remarkably entertaining, are the not the point of the trip to the 90210.

In the stead, it is the shoes!

And here are two of the Manolo’s favorites purchased by the members of the Posse during the day spent on the prowl.

First the beutiful, gold sandals from the Miu Miu

And then the simple, t-strap sandal in the antique bronze from the Donald J. Pliner.

Both of these they have the understated panache that the Manolo finds appealing in those women who do not need to obsessively seek out the attention of the press.

As for the luncheon while shopping, the Manolo politely suggests this place, the Michelia Nouvelle, as being the relaxed and tasty alternative to the power-based snobbery of the Ivy.

Manolo says, this anklestrap shoe from the Donald Pliner it has the clean, classic look and the understated detailing that appeals very much to the Manolo.

Manolo says, here is the latest column of the Manolo.

Dear Manolo,

Can you recommend for me a fabulous boot? I wear a size 11N.

Rita

Manolo says, the size eleven narrow? Ayyyy! You have the Jackie O/Paris Hilton foot! You are indeed lucky to have the gigantic, elegant, aristocratic feets of the famosas. Dress accordingly.

Happily, for the Rita, and the other big feeted girls, there are many more of the big feeted shoes available, this it is because the feets of the modern woman they are much larger than before, nearly three sizes bigger since the 1950s. They are now, on the average, the impressive eight and the half.

We have indeed become the race of the Sasquatches!

If you are looking for the fabulous boot in the long narrow size, the Manolo he recommends to you the Leean from the Donald J. Pliner. It is the simple, classic, alluring boot that is available in the sizes you need.

Manolo says, Ayyyyy! The animal prints they are everywhere this season!

First the spectacular one from the Dolce and the Gabbana.

Then the semi-practical one with the round toe, from the Kenneth Cole.

Finally, if you are going to wear the animal prints, do not be shy. The super fantastic girl who would wear these boots from the Donald Pliner she is indeed the creature of dangerousness.