Manolo’s Shoe Blog

Manolo says, the Manolo has been feeling especially gloomy these past few days, and so naturally he does what he always does in such situations, look at the shoes.

These crazy, rainbow colored shoes from the Betsey Johnson have made the Manolo smile.

They are fun, and the simple line and lack of other ornamentations makes them wearable. Although, the Manolo suspects that the girl who would successfully wear such shoes would have to be charmingly wacky, the bit of the character, but also careful of avoiding seeming cartoonish or overly eccentric. It is the fine line that must be walked with these shoes.

How to wear such unusual shoes; such are the pleasant puzzles that can occupy the Manolo and take him away, however briefly, from the gloominess that has beset him.

Manolo says, over the next few days, the Manolo will be giving his forecast for the coming years shoe trends.

This next trend, which has been developing over the past year, has now fully arrived, and it is the brightly colored shoes. Currently we are seeing shoes which are saturated with color, not the primary color, but rich variations in the purples, the oranges, the yellows, the greens, the blues, and the reds.

In fact, the Manolo goes so far as to call this the “Year of Color”

This trend to color is visible at all levels of the market. Look, here are affordable shoes from Enzo Angliolini in bright orange and yellow.

And in the more expensive prices, here is deep purple satin slide from Ralph Lauren.

Yellow-ish platform shoes from Bruno Frisoni.

Two varieties of red from the Christian Louboutin.

So, add some colors to your feets this year.

P.S. Shoe Trends for 2008, Part One.

Manolo says, here are the beautiful Dolce and the Gabbana golden peep toe pumps, perfect for the most festive of holiday events not involving Santa-intoxicated children and mountains of tattered wrapping paper.

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

Dear Manolo,

I’m currently in my final year of dental school and next year I’m going to be a dental resident. I am doing my first grown-up job interview in an uber-conservative field at a fairly conservative hospital. What shoes should I wear?

Marie.

Manolo says, the Manolo has often thought about how difficult it would be to be the dentist, having to spend all day with your hands in other peoples mouths, repeating the mantras “wider please” and “this may sting the little bit”. Few of your customers are happy to see you, everyone thinks you are boring, and people are always spitting around you..

On the plus side, like the college professor, you get to carry on mostly one-sided conversations with people who would rather be anywhere else.

By the way, the Manolo is worried up by his friend’s use of the phrase “conservative dentist,” which conjures up in the Manolo’s mind the image of Lawrence Oliver, holding the pair of pliers, while standing over Dustin Hoffman in the movie Marathon Man.

In any event, the Manolo would recommend for his friend the Scorpio from Oh Deer shoes as being the reasonably priced, professional shoe with the little bit of flair.

Manolo says, the Manolo cannot recommend everything that comes from the atelier of Christian Louboutain. In this case, it is the Anemone, the Louboutin shoe with too much junk in the trunk.

P.S. Here is the Manolo’s internet friend Poochie expressing her disappointment with these shoess.

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

Dear Manolo,

My husband, who is an associate at a white-shoe law firm, says I must accompany him to his firm’s annual holiday party. Things will be especially tense this year as he’s up for partner. What do you suggest?

Ashley

Manolo says, what does the Manolo suggest? Selling your house and cars and vacation home, moving from the city to Tennessee, and taking up goat farming.

Undoubtedly the Manolo’s friend would be happier in the more relaxed setting, where powerful lawyers and their consorts do not do regularly do the stylized and brutal “Dance of Status and Position”.

Yes, this will be the giant expensive holiday party, but no one will be especially cheery, except for the most senior retired partners. These men, well into the second childhood of their dotage, will sit at the tables gumming sugar cookies, oogling hot young associates, and dreaming happily of raccoon coats and rumble seats. Having forgotten all that their profession forced them to learn, they alone will be content.

But, until the deed on Rancho Cabrón Encatado is signed you must make the most of the difficult situation. Go to the party, smile, be gracious, do your spouse credit with your composure and beauty. And wear especially beautiful shoes.

Here are the very elegant, sophisticated, and festive shoes from Christian Lacroix.

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, it is again Monday, and you are back at your desk, dealing with the petty demands of the working day.

Still, buried beneath your professional and business-like exterior, lies the softly beating heart of the free-spirited romantic, the sort of girl who would wear these red Miu Miu Vernice Pop Pumps with Harris tweeds and the felt cloche. This look is inappropriate for your office, faintly ridiculous, and somewhat anachronistic, and yet also completely adorable, and likely to attract the admiring gaze of poetic men.

Manolo says, it is again Monday, you are back at your desk, and worse, the cold rain is arriving this afternoon to gloomify whatever remaining Halloween cheer you may have had.

In such circumstances, one must do what the Manolo does when he is out bummed: look at the shoes!

Above are the beautiful and dramatic chunky-heeled shoes from Emilio Pucci. And, what better shoes to cheer you, for as we all know, Pucci makes the smiles!