MAR
2014 31

Manolo the Columnist: Carina from Castañer

Manolo says, here is the recent column of the Manolo for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

I’ve got a destination beach wedding to go to soonish, and I was wondering if you could recommend any close-toed, preferably close-heeled, wedge espadrilles that aren’t too expensive and could be worn to a company picnic or a night on the town? Or, in the alternative, any other close-toed, close-heeled shoe that can survive a couple hours of sand and seawater and isn’t a Croc? Because I just don’t do sandals, and I refuse to let the sand ruin my nice work shoes.

Mary

Manolo says, ayyy! It is the same old dilemma! Soonish, the beach wedding at the destination will be upon us, and we shall be compelled by convention and custom to uncover our unsightly toes — toes that look as if they should be attended to by the emergency team of large animal veterinarians, armed with the stout rasps and the industrial hedge clippers—the uncovering of which will cause the other guests, such as the teeny flower girls and the elderly aunts, to cry out and recoil in horror, and after which we shall be forever known as the guests who, quote, “ruined Madison and Kyle’s wedding in Panama City with their toes.”

But, we have devised the clever plan to avoid that embarrassing eventuality. We shall locate the espadrilles with the wedge heel which will cover our gnarly secret shame and render their power to destroy the random social events inert.

It is foolproof!

Look! Here, from the Spanish company Castañer is the Carina, the simple and attractive wedge-heel espadrille. It is available in the variety of happy colors at their website. The Manolo prefer the yellow for the beach.

FEB
2014 13

Sigerson Morrison, Wedges

Manolo the Columnist: Wallace from Belle by Sigerson Morrison

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

Dear Manolo,

Valentine’s Day is coming up and it also happens to be my nephew’s birthday. My sister is throwing a big bash in his honor and said the attire is “whimsical yet casual” I like wedges but have small feet, What do you suggest?

Elizabeth

Manolo says, ayyyy! The Dia de San Valentin, it approaches! Woe unto the man who neglects his duty to provide for his beloved the items of sufficient quality, cost, and/or sentimentality to properly express his undying affection.

If you are at the loss for what to give, the Manolo suggests costly chocolates, whose cocoa has been delivered to the master-hipster chocolatier’s Brooklyn atelier by the labor-intensive and ecologically-sound modes of transportation, such the windjammer and the cargo bicycle, where it is mixed with finest heirloom ingredients, its mature and complex flavors swathed in luxury, and then lovingly urged into antique heart-shaped molds, plucked out at the exact moment and packaged in the hand-made letterpress box decorated with old-fashionedy 19th century lettering.

Or, you can do the same thing you did the last year, give to your fine lady the single red rose, procured from the $1.99 “Last Minute Valentines” bin at the Quik-Mart while you are filling the Honda Civic with fuel and yourself with Mountain Dew and beef jerky.

Or, you can do as the Manolo’s friend has done and give the whole love thing the pass, and go to the child’s birthday party. It sounds more sensible.

Here is the Wallace from the Belle by Sigerson Morrison, the moderately whimsical, moderately practical wedge heel shoe.

JUL
2013 29

Sandals, Wedges

Cherry-Fuchsia Wedge Sandals for the Monday

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your desk, slaving away for the Man, making hay for the ImEmTechCo, Inc, while the sun doth shine.

Lately, however, you are coming to the realization that perhaps you are trading your salad years for the mess of corporate pottage.

Yes, you have the roof over your head, and the organic food on your table, but you are finding that reporting in each morning for another spin on the hamster wheel is not as fulfilling as you had hoped it would be when you were hired, lo, these many years ago.

This is why you have lately been considering starting your own business. Either corporate consulting in your field or the cupcake bakery, although, frankly, you are worried that the cupcakes have peaked, which why the thoughts of mini-bundt cakes keeps swimming unbidden into your noggin.

Remember your friend Jilly, who left the very big-deal job as the lawyer to start her own quilting shop? It all happened the year after she won the second place ribbon at the state fair for her unorthodox triptych quilt depicting the life and works of Sir William Blackstone.

Next thing you know, she had sent in her notice, cashed out part of her retirement, and opened the “Gilded Needle Quilt Shoppe” in the converted Victorian two blocks up from Main Street in this twee little town filled with antique stores.

And now, five hard years later, she works mostly as the public defender, and has almost entirely given up the quilting.

You know, maybe the problem is that it is summer time and you are stuck indoors. Maybe you need to think about the flippy-fun, summery wedge sandals with the cork soles.

Lotus Fuchsia Wedge Sandal

From the Lotus, this is the Cherry-Fuchsia Corsage Wedge Sandal, which may well be the cure for what ails you.

JUN
2013 09

Cole Haan, Wedges

Manolo the Columnist: Air Talia Wedge from Cole Haan

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

Dear Manolo,

I’ve got this great summer internship at cable news network helping in the newsroom . I’m supposed to dress professionally, but since this is my first time in a professional setting, I’ve got to buy some new outfits. Can you please recommend some shoes that are not too expensive?

Emma

Manolo says, it would have helped if the Manolo’s friend Emma had mentioned for which of the various news networks she was interning, as it would have made the difference in what the Manolo would recommend. For the example, at the MSNBC the Manolo imagines that it is all sweaty people with bad haircuts in bulky sweaters and sensible shoes, while at the Fox News it is puffy frat boys in bowties and icy blonde beauties with big hair and cultured pearls.

Of the course, the Manolo could be completely mistaken, and that in fact, the production of the cable network news is more like the making of the tofu, in that it all comes out of the same unappetizing vat of flavorless bean goop. Only at the very end, do the crazy chefs add the little bit of flavoring and tons of the MSG to produce the All-American Fox News Tofurkey, or the Progressive MSNBC Vegan Hotdogs.

In this case, the Manolo would imagine that the same people work behind the scenes at both places — likely dressed in the sweat pants, tattered novelty t-shirts, and hairnets — as they go about the business of scooping out our daily ration of heavily-spiced, meatless news substitute.

Here is the Cole Haan Air Talia Wedge in the very becoming maple sugar color, perfect for the summery office work.

FEB
2013 25

Bargains, Kate Spade, Wedges

Vikki Wedge Sandal from Kate Spade for the Monday

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your work doing that thing that needs to get done so that you do not slip into poverty and find yourself living in the sewers that run beneath the streets of your town, pushing the shopping cart filled with smashed aluminum cans and cat pelts.

Frankly, you would rather be sitting at home in your pajamas, reading the Agatha Christie novel and eating potato chips, but the cruel realities of the modern world have forced you to venture out into the daylight and interact with the bosses, the coworkers, and the clients, three classes of humans without whom you can perhaps do.

Well, at the least, you can spend the few minutes sitting at your desk, pretending to work, while trying to find deals online. Or perhaps, thinking about how to make your yourself look smarter for work with new dress from Ted Baker, maybe something flowery that will get you out of your mid-winter rut and into the spring time mood.

Speaking of the the flowers, those love offerings that spring gives to us each year, here is the Vikki Wedge from the Kate Spade in the rose gold, the perfectly wonderful flowered sandal.

And here is the coupon for the free shipping from the Jildor shoes to help you make up your mind.

AUG
2012 13

Bargains, Wedges

Manolo’s Late Night Bargain: Alexandre Birman Python Wedge Sandals

Manolo says, here are the python and leather wedge sandals from the Alexandre Birman, which the Manolo considers the sort of late summer shoe, one that would find it’s home on your feets during the afternoon-to-evening transitions, when you are stepping out for the early dinner. And look! They are on the discounted sale, 54% off of the regular price, the savings of over $350 of the American dollars.

JUL
2012 19

Burberry, Wedges

Burberry Wedge Sandals for the Thursday

Manolo says, here is something to make your July Thursday afternoon more pleasant, the snappy wedge-heeled, espadrille sandals from the Burberry.

JUL
2012 12

Sandals, Shoes, Wedges

Manolo’s Late Night Bargain: Rosana from Mark & James by Badgley Mischka

Manolo says here is the fun, chunky wedge sandal from Mark & James by Badgley Mischka that kicks it bargain style, on the sale, reduced 50% off of the usual price.

JUL
2012 07

Sandals, Wedges

The Last But Not The Least from Seychelles

Manolo says, it is the lazy summer Saturday afternoon, and you need something fun, simple, and not overly expensive…et voila: The Last But Not the Least wedge sandals from the Seychelles (the cleverly named shoe company, not the tropical archipelago).

JUN
2012 28

Alexander McQueen, Platforms, Wedges

Alexander McQueen 3D Flower Platform Wedge

Manolo says, here is the pair of Alexander McQueen platform wedges with the all natural, organic-y, leather detail that pushes it out of the ordinary and into our cold, urban hearts.

APR
2012 20

Cole Haan, Shoes, Wedges

Manolo the Columnist: Cole Haan Air Lainey Chain Wedge

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

Dear Manolo,

My mom is going to appear on a local television show and is bringing me as her plus one. I need something that is casual but also comfortable.

Elisa

Manolo says, the Manolo has not asked, nor was the information volunteered, but the Manolo is now burning to know the context of this motherly appearance on the local television program. Indeed, in the absence of information, the possibilities to exercise the imagination are deliciously endless.

For the example, the Manolo wonders, is the Mother of Eliza being feted on the Channel 37 Action Eyewitness News at Noon for her recent victory in the National Corn Flake Bake Off? (Once tasted, who could ever forget Mom’s Crunchy Chicken Kiev, Iowa-Style?)

Or, perhaps, Mama Eliza is being arraigned on criminal charges resulting from the unfortunate events that occurred during the release of her new rap gangsta album?

Maybe, instead, she is the community activist, working to save the habitat of the greater crested greeble, who has finally been invited to say her piece on that community affairs show that airs at 5:30 on the Sunday mornings.

Whatever it is, the Manolo recommends that her daughter wear the sensible but attractive shoes, because undoubtedly it will be the wild time. Here is the Cole Haan Air Lainey Chain Wedge in nougat-colored suede and patentleather. Perfect for the sudden celebrity.