Manolo’s Shoe Blog

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

Dear Manolo,

I am a mom with active preschool and toddle-aged children, plus a babe in arms. I’m also building an at home business. My primary market is other moms, so I am often meeting potential customers while I’m out and about with the kids. I need to find a shoe that say pulled-together mom/successful business woman that can be worn to the park or zoo. Did I mention that I’m 5’4” and have wide feet?

Laura

Manolo says, it is lamentable, but the only truly suitable outfit for the mother of the young children is something similar to the toxic waste coveralls, cheap clothing that can be incinerated after being soaked in mucus, playground dirt, and partially-masticated arrowroot cookies.

Indeed, it is only with great effort that one can avoid the modern American version of the biohazard suit: the college sweatshirt and mommy jeans.

But, avoid it you must, for you are young and ambitious, and have plans for economic world domination, something that cannot be achieved while wearing such dowdy and dreary clothing.

As in many things, you should take as your model, the redoubtable Martha Stewart, who has perfected the entrepreneurial homemaking millionaire look: pressed and preppy, aggressively comfortable and no-nonsense.

Here is the Prari Cristina, the casually elegant, Italian wedge-heel loafer that would look perfect with jeans or khakis.

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

Dear Manolo,

I will be starting my new job as a children’s librarian next month, and my question is, how do you remain super fantastic while dealing with grubby little hands, gluesticks, crayons, and puppet shows?

Annabelle

Manolo says, back in the day, the stereotype of the librarian was of the humorless crone with the hair-trigger “Shsssssss”.

After that, it was the secretly hot librarian lady, the one who (from the lofty perch of her library ladder) removed her cat-eye glasses and let her auburn hair cascade down, forcing you to shout ,“Why Miss Yamamoto, you’re beautiful!”

Now, the librarians compete with each other to be the hippest young “information specialist” in the main branch, the one with the dreadlocks, the radical politics, and the uncanny ability to access arcane databases on remote servers in Tajikistan.

Through out this, though, it was the children’s librarian who remained the unwavering constant, the always cheerful, always helpful director of enthusiasms, soother of emotions, reader of Seuss, ever ready with the scotch tape and the antiseptic wipes.

Truly, this is the noblest of professions!

The Manolo recommends the Ollie by Helle, the wedge-heel mary-jane that is comfortable and fun.

Manolo says, what shoes could be better for wearing to the late-summer, Sunday brunch with that tall man who has the smiling eyes and the ready laugh, than these Angeline Tournier peep-toe wedges with the Veronica and the Betty upon them?

Manolo says, the Manolo is of two minds about the shoes. On the one of the hands, they are compelling and baroque, on the other they are slightly ridiculous.

However, despite this confusion, the Manolo does know that if the Kylie Minoque wishes to wear these shoes, she needs to pair them with something simple and elegant, something not as underwear-flashing busy-trashy.

Manolo says, the Manolo’s friends at the Due Farina (who need to update their web page) are having the sample sale!

The Manolo loves the crazy Due Farina ladies because all of their shoes are unusual, and many of them are lovely.

Manolo says, in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the House of Pucci, the Manolo presents to you these super fantastic wedge sandals from the Pucci.

As the Manolo has always said, Pucci makes the smiles!

Manolo says, this is unprecedented! The Manolo actually likes this shoe from the Irregular Choice, and believes that it could be worn to good effect by the right super fantastic girl.

In the past, the Manolo has found the shoes of the Irregular Choice to be too oppressively, self-consciously Hello-Kitty kwaii. While others have found that they may well provide the grounds for going to law.

But this shoe above is funky in the good way, and is not burdened by the piling on of the “whimsical” doody-crap.

Still, this is not to say that it is not without its cloying and superfluous details. Look at the sole.

Urgh.

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, the Manolo has been in the mood for the red patent leather lately. Here is the excellent manifestation of this material as the flippy and youthful wedge sandal from the Kate Spade, perfect for the spring casual look.

It is also available in the fun-looking bronze lamé.