Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

I know how you feel about there being no season for white shoes, but what about suede? Can I wear a suede sandal year-round?

Gigi

Manolo says, suede in the morning, suede in the evening, suede in the summer time.

The Manolo loves the suede; it is one of his favorite materials for the less than formal shoes. Durable, tactile, frequently luxurious, often beautiful, this is suede at its best.

Yes, it is true, some peoples who live in the distant past of white gloves and pinkie-sticking-out tea parties believe that suede is suitable only for the fall and winter, that it is roughly the inverse of the white shoes, which supposedly may only be worn in the summer.

To these peoples the Manolo says, “if the shoe looks good, wear it.”

As for his friend’s question about the suitability of wearing the suede sandals around the year, the Manolo can only say, use your best judgment. If one lives in Miami or Los Angeles, it is fine, but if one resides in International Falls, Minnesota, you may wish to see if your health care coverage includes “fashion-inflicted frostbite” before leaving the house in mid-January.

Look, here are the gorgeous buff-colored suede sandals from Donna Karan.

Manolo says, this spring, the Manolo has decided that he (along with many of the major shoe designers) will be all about the beautiful, flowery, girly sandals.

Obviously, the Manolo’s friend Beverly Feldman has taken this message of blossoms and boughs to heart, for here is the Ondine, the super cute, super fantastic, kitten heel flowery sandal. It is wonderfully cheerful, no?

Manolo says, gaze upon these beautiful flowery sandals from the atelier of the Maestro Manolo Blahnik and contemplate the arrival of spring, which at this minute seems so very far away.

Manolo says, it is again Monday, the most dreaded day of the week, when you return to your desk and face up to the fact that you are still in thrall to “The Man”, and his insidious instruments of oppression, foremost among which is the so-called “paycheck”.

Ah, but even as your labor belongs to AmFaRexCo, Inc. (formerly Consolidated Widgets, until the branding experts stepped in) your mind is your own, and is thus free to spin you away to the fancy ball at the glittering palace of the tall, sensitively hunky prince who lives only in your mind and on the pages of the less tawdry romance novels.

But what will you wear with the silk and satin frou-frou that the Fairy Godmother and her rodent minions conjured up out of curtains and thread-bare bed clothes?

How about these beautiful, simple, elegant sandals from DSquared2?

Manolo says, winter still has its icy fingers around our collective throats, but that is not reason to dream of the day when you will be free of this pestilential weather. And when that blessed day arrives, you will walk out onto the warm sand, in shoes that make you feel like the Greek Goddess, shoes such as these beautiful Corallo Oro sandals from Prada.

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

Dear Manolo,

Valentine’s Day is coming next week and my husband is taking me out to a romantic dinner at a very expensive restaurant. I’ve got my little black dress, but I need some shoes that are suitably sexy. Please help.

Janice

Manolo says, Ayyyy! It is the Day of Valentine, one of the most potentially dangerous and depressing days in the entire calendar.

Those who do not have the beloveds are cast down into the pits of gloomy morosity.

While those who do have the beloveds sail dangerously close to the rocky shores of gift giving. Both the gift that is sent and the gift that is received reflect upon the character and depth of the relationship, and any error in judgment results in pain and suffering for all.

Woe be to the simple working man who brings home to his beloved the gift of cheap chocolates and small kitchen appliances. And woe be to the devoted woman who does not understand the necessity of providing her good man with the soft looks, the exposed flesh, and the physical enthusiasm demanded by the votaries of Eros.

Look, here is the Eiffel from Stuart Weitzman, the silver strappy sandal with the French name, so you know it must be romantic, no?

Manolo says, much to your chagrin, your color consultant has identified you as the “mid-autumn trending to Indian summer”, even though you have spent the last fifteen years completely convinced you were the “late spring, with the touch of crocuses.”

And now, thanks to this disaster, you must empty your closet of the lavenders and robin egg blues, and replace them with earth tones and warm oranges.

But first you need something to make you feel better about this shocking turn of the events, something that is both gorgeous and earth toney…look! Here are the absolutely gorgeous strappy, studded sandals from the Sergio Rossi. Perfect!

Manolo says, here is something new and beautiful from Giuseppe Zanotti. the strappy, high-heeled sandal with the unusual crystal ornamentation.

This is perhaps one of the most stunning shoes the Manolo has ever seen from Giuseppe Zanotti, truly among his best work.

Manolo says, Monday+January+Nasty Weather=Wicked Bad Depression

Louboutin Sandals+Crystals=Super Fantastic Happiness!